Editorial – 2015, a contrasted year
2015 is coming to an end, and with it, the International Year of Light 2015 with numerous closing ceremonies around the world, after a very successful and colorful year launched last January in Paris. ‘Our life depends on Light’ stated Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, in her introductory message to the delegates at the opening ceremony. The magic of light and the success of thousands of specific events have demonstrated the enthusiasm generated worldwide by this initiative. With over 100 partners in more than 85 countries, the IYL 2015 has been a global cross-disciplinary, educational and outreach enterprise, also celebrating a broad cultural heritage. It is well recognised that the science and applications of light will continue to generate many new technologies in health, communication, economy, environment and social areas, with a direct impact on the quality of our lives. I cannot avoid mentioning here the last issue of EPN, devoted to the science of light, as a tribute to IYL 2015, and this thanks to the dedication of Luc Bergé, chair of the Quantum Electronics and Optics Division.
New guest house of the Physics Centre in Bad Honnef
EPS President has expressed his great appreciation for the new guest house of the Physics Centre in Bad Honnef, Germany, as a forum for international meetings and views it as a characteristic example that physics and research in general brings people together no matter what their nationality, colour, sex or religion.
The Hotel Metropole in Brussels distiguished as EPS Historic Site
On 24 October 2015, the European Physical Society [EPS], the Belgian Physical Society [BPS, short for ‘Belgische Natuurkundige Vereniging – Société Belge de Physique’] and the International Solvay Institutes [ISI] honoured the Hotel Metropole in Brussels as EPS Historic Site. At the initiative of Ernest Solvay, the Hotel Metropole hosted in 1911 the first Solvay Council where the foundations of Quantum Physics where laid. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in the lobby of the hotel by the President of the EPS, Christophe Rossel, and the President of BPS, Jef Ongena, following an academic session attended by 80 participants.
Portraits of young physicists: Fatema Tanjia, a pursued dream
I met Fatema years ago. In our Physics Department we were not used to hosting foreigners, but one day I saw an elegant young woman of oriental descent, dressed in a beautiful sari. I thought immediately we were going to have the chance to exchange about our cultures. Indeed, now, after 5 years, I have a story to tell: the story of a young courageous woman physicist, a great example of cultural integration.
Season’s Greetings from the European Physical Society
Gentle Reader of e-EPS,
The European Physical Society would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your interest and support throughout 2015. Everything the EPS does depends on the active involvement of its members and volunteers. And you should be proud of your accomplishments, in particular the International Year of Light. We hope that you spend a peaceful and restful holiday season, to prepare for 2016, and its challenges. We look forward to regularly providing you with content of interest to and about the physics community in Europe.
International Year of Light News
IYL 2015 in France: a great success!
IYL 2015 in Spain celebrates closing ceremony in Madrid
Light and Dark Matters – the Institute of Physics at the Tate Modern
100 years of general relativity
Proposal to increase Individual Membership fees
The Executive Committee has decided to propose to the EPS Council Meeting on 1-2 April 2016 to increase the membership fees for EPS Individual Members.
Any increase decided by Council 2016 will not take effect until 2017.
2016 APS-EPS Landau-Spitzer award: call for nominations
The Landau-Spitzer Award on the Physics of Plasmas for “Outstanding contributions to plasma physics” is jointly sponsored by the Plasma Physics Divisions of the American Physical Society and the European Physical Society.
The Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität becomes EPS Historic Site
On 6 May 2015, the Ludwig Maximilian University Munich (LMU) has been named a “Historic Site” by the European Physical Society (EPS). After the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Berlin in 2013, LMU is the second German institution to receive this honour.
Designing three-dimensional nanostructures in a single step
Scientists have devised a novel approach to 3D nanofabrication that brings closer the day when electronic and photonic devices become truly three-dimensional.
Featured in EPL
Recent updates and changes can always be found on the journal homepage
EPS Executive & Staff activity for November 2015
The EPS works to support its members. Find below the list of activities of the EPS Executive Committee and staff for November 2015:
2 November 2015: John Dudley, EPS vice-president, represented EPS at an IYL 2015 event at the Louvre (France) on Augustin Fresnel and the boundary between art and science seen through his works.
