Author: DPG and EPS

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On 7 June 2021, the European Physical Society (EPS) awarded the honorary title of "EPS Historic Site" to an entire city for the first time.

Bad Honnef, Jena, Germany, 10 June 2021 – "Since modern times, Jena has had an extraordinarily high density of historic buildings that are of vital importance for physics and astronomy," says Lutz Schröter, President of the German Physical Society (DPG): "That is why we have been keen to designate the entire city as an historic site." This act is itself historic in the truest sense of the word, because until now the EPS has only honoured individual research facilities, laboratories or scientific institutes; in Germany, for example, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Berlin, the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, the former Institute of Physics in Würzburg, the former laboratories of the Heidelberg scientists Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824 to 1887) and Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811 to 1899), the former Institute of Physics at the University of Frankfurt, and the RWTH Aachen.

"The History of Science in Jena starts in 1548 with the Collegium Jenense, the oldest University building still in use today, then with the practical astronomy connected to the construction of the Jena observatory. " recalls Luc Bergé, President of the European Physical Society. "In parallel, Jena is the 'City of Light' imprinted with the discovery of the UV radiation by Johann Ritter, then by the microscope theory developed by Ernst Abbe who was moreover employed by Carl Zeiss Company. Carl Zeiss, Schott, Jenoptik … all are distinct examples of fruitful and early cooperation between academic science and the industrial sector, demonstrating that the EPS Historic Site distinction cannot be attributed to one particular building. Therefore, the City of Jena is recognised as an EPS Historic Site as a whole."

"Since the early modern period, physics and astronomy in Jena have played an important part in the formation and consolidation of scientific modernity. Particularly noteworthy are the city´s contributions to optics, gravitational theory, and solid-state physics, which were developed in close cooperation with scientific instrument makers and other scientific disciplines," reads the text on the honorary plaque that was unveiled at the entrance to the main physics building at Max-Wien-Platz 1 on Monday, 7 June 2021.

A "physics travel guide" helps track down the historic sites

"The award for Jena recognises the very special local culture of innovation," says Christian Forstner, who heads the DPG Division History of Physics. "Starting with the `Kaiserreich´, this has outlasted all systems and is still decisive for the successes of the science location today."

Forstner, who currently teaches as a Heisenberg Fellow at the University of Jena, initiated the city's application. To help visitors to Jena learn about the history of physics at the site, a "Physics Travel Guide" was published to coincide with the award ceremony, bringing together a selection of the historic sites. In addition to the central commemorative plaque, the relevant buildings were provided with a QR code so that visitors can obtain information directly on site.

The entire spectrum of physics in Jena

The series of historic sites begins with the Collegium Jenense, the university's founding site, and continues all the way through the observatory in the `Schillergasse´. The focus is, of course, on optics with, among others, the `Hellfeldsches´ House in the `Neugasse´, where Ernst Abbe founded his microscope theory, as well as buildings of Jena physics on `Helmholtzweg´ and `Fröbelstieg´. Furthermore, solid state physics has a long tradition in Jena as well as theoretical physics, for example with its contributions to gravitational physics.

Unveiling of the commemorative plaque. Image: Jürgen Scheere / Friedrich Schiller Universität

FLTR: Carsten Feller (state secretary), Christian Forstner (DPG Division for the History of Physics), Thomas Nitzsche (Major of Jena), Luc Bergé (EPS president), Walther Rosenthal (President of the Friedrich-Schiller University Jena), Christian Spielmann (Dean of the Physics Department, behind W. Rosenthal), Lutz Schröter (DPG President)

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EPS Historic Sites programme

Brochure of inaugurated EPS Historic Sites

Author: Bart van Tiggelen

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A young French mathematical physicist, Cécile DeWitt-Morette, founded the Les Houches School of Physics in 1951. In less than 4 years, the unique formula of the School had already achieved a worldwide reputation. At that time there were no advanced courses, equivalent to today’s Master classes, on contemporary topics such as quantum physics or statistical mechanics anywhere in France or even in Europe. Brilliant physicists were mostly in the US, among whom were many European physicists that had moved to the US after the war, including Cécile DeWitt herself. France and Europe were lagging seriously behind in the teaching and practice of modern physics. The Physics School in Les Houches attracted many top physicists to teach on a blackboard for two months in the summer period. The formula was unique, simple and efficient. With an amazing view on the Mont Blanc mountain range, far away from the laboratories and university classes, the “hanging gardens” of the Les Houches School became a place where students could interact directly with Wolfgang Pauli, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger, Alfred Kastler, Nicolaas Bloembergen, Kip Thorne, Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and many others over a cup of coffee. Léon van Hove, future CERN Director, actually held the first class, on quantum mechanics, in 1951. Today, 51 Nobel laureates and Fields medal winners have been teaching in Les Houches.

In bringing together the greatest physicists in the world and successive generations of young researchers in a spectacular and stimulating location, the Physics School has strongly contributed to the development of French, European and international physics. Many other Physics Schools have been created since, with essentially the same principle of providing tutorial courses on contemporary topics, combined with informal exchanges and geographic isolation. However, as recalled by Jean Zinn-Justin, one of his former directors, “the École des Houches is the mother of all modern schools of physics”. Its success has revealed the importance of training and informal discussions to the progress in physics. Created almost 70 years ago, the École de Physique des Houches has been recognised, on October 5, 2020 and upon proposition of the French Physical Society and the Direction of the School, as an “EPS Historic Site”, in the presence of all scientific authorities concerned. Before unveiling the commemorative plaque, Luc Bergé, EPS president-elect, underlined that “The European Physical Society is happy to recognise the École de Physique des Houches as one of its most precious Historic Sites, enriching the scientific cultural heritage not only of Europe, but also of all humanity.“

From left to right: A.Fontaine, L. Bergé, G. Wormser, B. Van Tiggelen, C. Salomon - Image credit: François Henry/Les Houches

27 October 2016 - APS

 

The Institute for Advanced Study, one of the world’s foremost centers for curiosity-driven basic research, will be recognized by the American Physical Society (APS) and the European Physical Society (EPS) as their first Joint Historic Physics Site in the United States. The award ceremony will immediately follow  The Institute for Advanced Study: The First 100 Years, a public lecture that author and historian George Dyson will give at 5:30pm on Wednesday, November 9. Both will take place in Wolfensohn Hall, on the Institute campus.

The APS-EPS award recognizes the Institute’s pivotal contributions to the development of theoretical physics, including the work of Albert Einstein, one of the Institute’s first professors, who remained there from 1933 until his death in 1955. Also among the Institute’s past Faculty are distinguished scientists and scholars spanning a range of disciplines, including  Robert Oppenheimer, Clifford Geertz, Kurt Gödel, Erwin Panofsky, Hermann Weyl, Hetty Goldman, Homer A. Thompson and John von Neumann. The APS-EPS Historic Site award puts IAS in the company of the Einsteinhaus, the apartment where Einstein lived in Bern, Switzerland, from 1903 to 1905, and the first European site to receive a joint APS-EPS designation, in September 2015.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with the European Physical Society in the first-ever Joint Historic Site for physics in the United States,” said  Homer Neal, President of the American Physical Society. “The Institute for Advanced Study has been one of the premier centers for theoretical physics in the world, hosting physicists in all stages of their careers.” 

Christophe Rossel, President of the European Physical Society, added, “The European Physical Society is particularly pleased to be a partner with the American Physical Society in declaring the famous Institute for Advanced Study as a joint APS-EPS Historic Site. This collaboration, as well as the world’s leading researchers hosted by the IAS since 1930, demonstrate that physics is truly international. The APS and the EPS work in their respective regions to promote physics and its societal impact to the general public and policy makers, linking the past to the future for a successful curiosity-driven pursuit of knowledge.”

Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor of the Institute, said, “We are deeply honored to be recognized by the American and European Physical Societies, and particularly pleased to be acknowledged for the work of Albert Einstein, who exemplifies the Institute’s commitment to curiosity-driven research and academic freedom and their capacity to produce knowledge that results in technological and cultural advances.”

In celebration of this honor from the APS and EPS, George Dyson, a frequent Director’s Visitor at the Institute, will deliver a public lecture on the creation of the Institute and its early years. In March 1916, social theorist Thorstein Veblen, who coined the phrase “conspicuous consumption” in his 1899 Theory of the Leisure Class, completed his Higher Learning in America, published at the close of World War I in 1918. Veblen called for the post-war institution of “academic houses of refuge,” including “a freely endowed central establishment where teachers and students of all nationalities, including Americans with the rest, may pursue their chosen work.” In 1923, Oswald Veblen followed his uncle’s lead by suggesting to Simon Flexner, director of the Rockefeller Institute, that he help “found and endow a Mathematical Institute.” Noting how often “an attempt to solve a physical problem has resulted in the creation of a new branch of mathematics,” Veblen sought to add other sciences to the mix. 

Simon Flexner answered that “I wish that sometime you might speak with my brother,  Mr. Abraham Flexner,” and Veblen did. Their conversation led, in 1929, to siblings  Louis Bamberger and Caroline Bamberger Fuld, who had launched their retail fortune by selling distressed merchandise out of a vacant Newark storefront in 1892. The Bambergers saw the flood of distressed intellectuals fleeing Europe as an opportunity not to be missed. To advance not only the pursuit of knowledge, but, as Abraham Flexner put it, “the cause of social justice which we have deeply at heart,” they opened a department store for the freedom of ideas.

Support for this event is provided by a grant from the Schwab Charitable Fund made possible by the generosity of Eric and Wendy Schmidt.

About the  Institute for Advanced Study

The Institute for Advanced Study is one of the world’s leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. The Institute exists to encourage and support curiosity-driven research in the sciences and humanities—the original, often speculative thinking that produces advances in knowledge that change the way we understand the world. Work at the Institute takes place in four Schools: Historical Studies, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Social Science. It provides for the mentoring of scholars by a permanent Faculty of approximately 30, and it ensures the freedom to undertake research that will make significant contributions in any of the broad range of fields in the sciences and humanities studied at the Institute.

The Institute, founded in 1930, is a private, independent academic institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. Its more than 6,000 former Members hold positions of intellectual and scientific leadership throughout the academic world. Thirty-three Nobel Laureates and 41 out of 56 Fields Medalists, as well as many winners of the Wolf and MacArthur prizes, have been affiliated with the Institute.

About the American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a non-profit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents over 53,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world. Society offices are located in College Park, MD (Headquarters), Ridge, NY, and Washington, D.C.

About the European Physical Society

The European Physical Society is a not for profit association whose members include 42 National Physical Societies in Europe, individuals from all fields of physics, and European research institutions. As a learned society, the EPS engages in activities that strengthen ties among the physicists in Europe. As a federation of National Physical Societies, the EPS studies issues of concern to all European countries relating to physics research, science policy and education.

The Blackett Laboratory, home of the Department of Physics, was designated an historic site by the European Physical Society (EPS) on 30 Apirl 2014.

Read the full article on the website of the Imperial College. 

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EPS Historic sites

The complex and its associated area have been in use for more than four decades and have been marked by a number of milestones, among which:
- the first electron-positron collisions in the AdA collider (INFN Frascati);
- the pioneering use of synchrotron light in physics, chemistry and biology;
- one of the first free-electron lasers in the world.
 
The "Laboratoire de l’Accélérateur Linéaire” (LAL, CNRS-IN2P3 and Université Paris Sud) was born in 1956 primarily to host a state-of-the-art linear accelerator aiming at providing electron and positron beams of 1 GeV or more with high intensities. The machine operations started in the early 1960’s and lasted until its final shutdown in 2004. It is now the main piece of a "Museum about Light and Matter”. It is recognized as a ‘historic monument’ in France, visited by more than 1,000 people a year.
 
A detailed article will soon be published in the EPS newletter e-EPS.

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LAL LURE
EPS Historic Site LAL LURE