Editorial – 15 years already
I was speaking with a colleague recently, and we were reminiscing over my first Council meeting in Leiden (NL) in 1998. That’s when it dawned on me that I have been working for the EPS for fifteen years.
As can be expected, many things have changed. In 1997, the European Union had 15 Member Countries and the EPS had 37 Member Societies. The EU now has 27, and the EPS has 41, respectively. In 1999, the EU adopted the Euro as a single currency for 11 of its Member States (now 17). The budget for research framework programmes has increased dramatically: FP6 total approx. 29 billion €; FP7 approx. 50 billion €, and H2020 projected more than 80 billion €. The technological evolutions over the period are too numerous to list, but as an example: I started with a 56k dial up modem, and now have access to an 8 mb fibre optic internet connection.
The EPS is constantly adapting to the new challenges arising from the political and economic changes thanks to the creativity and devotion of its members and Presidents. The EPS signed its first contract for an EU financed project in 1999 (for conference grants) and piloted its first project in public understanding of science in 2000. The EPS Conference Service Department was created in 2001, and now organises many of Europe’s leading conferences. In 2003, The EPL Editorial Office was re-located to the EPS Secretariat in Mulhouse. In 2004, the EPS was one of the founding members of the Initiative for Science in Europe, an independent platform of European learned societies and scientific organisations, whose support was a determinant factor in the creation of the ERC. In 2005, the EPS initiated the World Year of Physics, … More recently, the EPS and the AAPPS joined to create the Asia- Europe Physics Summit, began the EPS Young Minds group, re-launched its website, created e-EPS, begun designating significant locations in physics as EPS Historic Sites…
Policy makers need to be convinced of the importance of scientific research to the social, cultural and economic development of Europe. In the coming years, the EPS will be working to establish itself as the natural interlocutor of policy makers for a dialog with the physics research community.
The EPS derives its credibility from its members and their excellent contributions, not only to physic research, but to education, publication, communication, and to civil society. Through high visibility and high impact activities, the EPS can to continue to affirm itself as the voice of physics in Europe. The International Year of Light in 2015 is one such example.
My decade and a half as EPS Secretary General has passed quite quickly. I believe that this is due mainly to a challenging position and intelligent colleagues and passionate Presidents. As the saying goes, time goes by fast when you are having fun…
David Lee, EPS Secretary General
