The 71^st annual meeting of the Austrian Physical Society (ÖPG [1]), held at the Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL) in Leoben / Austria from September 26^th to September 30^th, 2022, will go down in the annals of the Austrian Physical Society (ÖPG) as a very successful conference. The activities of the ÖPG Young Minds, with sponsorship of the EPS Young Minds, were a particular highlight to attract younger participants. Over 200 participants attended on site a very successful program [2], the main organization having been carried out by the Institute of Physics at the MUL and the Erich Schmid Institute (ESI) of the Austrian Academy of Science (ÖAW), the local organizing committee being headed by Prof. Christian Teichert, presently also vice-president of ÖPG. The program was composed of topical sessions of all ÖPG divisions, as well as the annual award ceremony for ÖPG prizes, which this year also included the celebration of two new ÖPG honorary members, Prof. Walter Kutschera and Prof. Anton Zeilinger [3].

The plenary speakers covered a wide range of topics, including the EPS Young Minds program, joint aspects of mathematics, physics and acoustics, symmetry breaking, magnetic adatom chains, quantum field theory, and bioinspired materials. Aspects dealing with physics and education were also successfully presented, in particular how to perform enjoyable and meaningful physics lessons.  The conference was also devoted to sustainability, in particular in connection with integration of renewable energy, e.g., in the steel production, with waste as energy, and with exergy, and the repercussion on the climate and with quality of life. 

A public evening lecture about climate, freedom and science, the movie "The Class of ‘38" with an introduction by Prof. Anton Zeilinger [3], and a lecture by Prof. Walter Kutschera on Otto Robert Frisch and its co-discovery of nuclear fission rounded up the week. Both Prof. Anton Zeilinger and Prof. Walter Kutschera were awarded with honorary ÖPG membership during the award ceremony.

Stimulated by the talks given in the plenary session and in the topical sessions, and by the personal exchange during the poster sessions, it was indeed again possible to show what the advantages of a personal exchange are.  When new contacts are made, when informal conversations spontaneously arise building up mutual trust, then the glue is formed to do further improved research, allowing trying out new ideas in physics, which are the base for the proposition and realization of new projects. It is this inspiring vibe that motivates young members to stay long-term members of the society and thus allows to actively shape the future activities of the society, being then also constructively reflected by the associated activities of the EPS.

Winners of the prizes of the Austrian Physical Society [1], awarded during the 71st annual meeting of the Austrian Physical Society in Leoben/Austria from 26th to 30th September 2022 [2], together with new honorary members Walter Kutschera and Anton Zeilinger (Nobel prize winner 2022 [3]), the president and vice-president of the Austrian Physical Society, and the chairman of the division physics and school.

[1] Austrian Physical Society http://www.oepg.at/ 

[2] Program of the Annual Meeting 2022 of ÖPG https://oepg2022.unileoben.ac.at/program  

[3] The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022, Anton Zeilinger Facts   https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2022/zeilinger/facts/, Physikertagung in Leoben mit Nobelpreisträger Anton Zeilinger (in German)

Author: SPS

The Austrian and Swiss physical societies have a well-established tradition in organising their annual conference every second year jointly. 
This will also be the case for the 2021 annual meeting, when they will meet together at the University of Innsbruck, in the week of 30 August - 3 September 2021. 
An interesting and rich program is thus guaranteed, with plenary talks in the morning and topical domain sessions in the afternoon, with oral and poster contributions. Evening lectures and a special session commemorating the 450th anniversary of Johannes Kepler will round up the week. 
The event is planned as an in-person reunion where participants will be able to meet, exchange and profit from each other, and there is good hope that this will be possible again. 
More information at the websites of the Austrian and Swiss societies.