Editorial – Celebrating 50 years of EPS
As every reader of e-EPS knows, our society is celebrating this year its 50th anniversary – to be precise, on 26 September, the day in the year 1968 when the EPS was formally launched in the Aula Magna of the University of Geneva. From its very beginnings, the EPS has federated both Individual Members and national societies, and it was the first scientific society that brought together members from Eastern and Western Europe under a common roof. At a time when the Iron Curtain was firmly in place and Warsaw Pact troupes had just marched into Czechoslovakia to crush the Prague Spring movement of liberalisation, this was a non-trivial achievement. It remains a lasting testimony to the far-sighted vision of our founders, and to the capability of scientific collaboration to build solid bridges across political divides and cultural barriers.
From comparatively modest beginnings, the EPS has developed into a society of universal stature: today it unites 42 Member Societies, 3500 Individual Members, and more than 40 Associate Members; our Member Societies represent nearly all European countries plus Israel, with a total of more than 130’000 members.
Measured against the fast pace of progress of the scientific enterprise, 50 years are a long period of time, and represent an important anniversary that wants to be celebrated. Indeed this has happened throughout the year, and continues to happen, in a way that reflects the international character and the many faces and facets of the EPS: in different places, at different times, and in different frameworks and formats. Meetings of our Member Societies, conferences organised by our Divisions and Groups, and inaugurations of EPS Historic Sites – for which we had a rich harvest in 2018 – have all been wonderful occasions to celebrate, and to showcase EPS’ achievements and the services which it provides to our community. I am grateful to all organisers, far too many to list them here, for highlighting the European Physical Society and its history on these many occasions.
But of course, the EPS has also celebrated its birthday with a central Festakt, at exactly the same place where it was born, and almost exactly 50 years later: on 28 September in the historic “Les Bastions” building of the University of Geneva, which today is itself an EPS Historic Site. It was a pleasure to welcome almost 300 participants representing all parts of our Society: Individual Members; representatives of Member Societies, Associate Members, of partner societies, and of EPS Divisions and Groups; past EPS Presidents; and many more. Following introductory greetings and remarks – including a video message by EU Commissioner Carlos Moedas, who unfortunately could not attend in person – four keynote speakers examined the history of the EPS, and the scientific, societal, and political context for our present and future action: Luisa Cifarelli, EPS President 2011-2013; Serge Haroche, Nobel Prize in Physics 2012; Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council; and Ernst-Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Co-President of the Club of Rome (which also celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018). A milestone anniversary is a reason to look back, a reason to celebrate, but most importantly an opportunity to look ahead, and all speakers, in their presentations and the concluding round-table discussion, provided deep, fascinating, yet highly complementary insights into the past, present and future role of physics, and the role of science at large, in our society.
The anniversary celebration was a truly memorable highlight of the EPS jubilee year, and I take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to making it so successful: the speakers; the staff of the EPS Secretariat in Mulhouse; the volunteers from the EPS Young Minds; and of course all participants who made the effort to come to Geneva, many of them from far away. A special “thank you” goes to the University of Geneva and Vice-Rector Jean-Marc Triscone for their generous hospitality; and last but not least, to my predecessor Christophe Rossel who has chaired the organising committee and who has spared no effort to put in place an excellent and appealing programme.
Rüdiger Voss
EPS President
