EPS and APS: An ongoing tradition of partnership
The American Physical Society (APS) and European Physical Society (EPS) have enjoyed a long partnership. While APS has established Reciprocal Agreements with many of the national physics societies in European countries, an APS-EPS Reciprocal Agreement was established through an exchange of letters in 1984, allowing the individual members of both APS and EPS to register and present papers at each other’s meetings at member rates.
In 2008, the APS and EPS worked together to establish the SESAME Travel Award Program that enables Middle eastern scientists to receive training for using the SESAME synchrotron – a research facility that brings together scientists from Israel and Arab countries. The SESAME Travel Award program has now grown into a partnership of 11 scientific organisations, including the German Physical Society, German Chemical Society, German Mathematical Society, French Physical Society, French Chemical Society, UK Institute of Physics, Italian Physical Society, American Chemical Society, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
Since 2012, the APS Committee of International Scientific Affairs (CISA), a 9-person advisory committee appointed by the APS President, has included a member of the EPS leadership. As CISA is responsible for recommending and implementing many of the APS international programs, this ensures that EPS perspectives are included in APS international planning. Likewise, the 2013 APS Executive Board Retreat that was held in the UK provided an ideal opportunity to meet with leaders of physics societies in Europe, including the EPS President, and to explore joint meetings, workshops, or other programs.
Perhaps the most significant was the launch of a new EPS-APS Historic Sites initiative. In 2015, APS and EPS worked together to designate the Einsteinhaus in Bern, Switzerland, as a “joint” EPS-APS Historic Site. This was the first joint historic site designation by either society. In November 2016, the APS and EPS also designated the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, as the first-ever joint APS-EPS Historic Site in the United States.
Beginning in 2017, APS launched the “Physics in Africa Project” with the EPS, the UK Institute of Physics, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, and the South African Institute of Physics. The project continues today, with our organisations working with the African physics community toward addressing their needs and interests.
APS continues to seek EPS perspectives in its long-term strategic planning for international affairs. In March 2017, APS CEO Kate Kirby appointed a 12-person “Task Force on Expanding International Engagement”, to develop an over-arching strategy to ensure that APS activities serve the needs and interests of the global physics community. Its final report with recommendations and suggested actions is available here. Prof. Luisa Cifarelli, Past President of EPS and current President on the Italian Physical Society, served on the Task Force. Prof. Cifarelli also serves on CISA and Chairs the APS Forum on International Physics. These connections ensure that European interests are included in APS programs.
Given our joint activities in so many areas, it was an honor for APS to participate in the EPS 50th Anniversary celebration, where Prof. Roger Falcone, 2018 APS President, delivered remarks during the celebration held in Geneva, Switzerland on September 28, 2018.
The EPS and APS enjoy an ongoing tradition of collaboration. The history of cooperation described above provides a strong foundation for our growing and strengthening partnership–and friendship–and our continued efforts to serve physicists across the globe.
Amy Flatten
Director of International Affairs
American Physical Society
