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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 15 September 2022
Updated: Thursday 15 September 2022
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Author: Andrius Juodagalvis, Lithuanian Physical Society
On 2nd July 2022, Lithuanian enthusiasts of history of physics
gathered in Žeimelis, Lithuania, where the first EPS Historic Site in
the three Baltic states was inaugurated. Having reviewed contributions
of Theodor von Grotthuss (1785-1822), a scientist who lived in the
region in the beginning of the XIX century, the EPS Historic Sites
committee agreed that his laboratory in Gedučiai, near a small town of
Žeimelis, has influenced the development of physics to a comparable
extent as other scientific centres in Europe.
Theodor von
Grotthuss work gained world-wide recognition in 1806, after he published
an article on his theory of electrolysis of water, proposing to base
the electrolysis process interpretation on physical-chemical phenomena.
In his view, the electric field was polarizing molecules in a solution,
and continuous dissociation and recombination of molecules resulted in
the electrolysis effects visible only at the electrodes, where the chain
of pairs was broken. Since 1808 he worked in a laboratory at his
mother's estate in Gedučiai, which is currently a small village close to
Žeimelis in Pakruojis municipality district, Lithuania. Electrolysis
research was supplemented by various studies of interaction of light
with matter, which included phosphorescence and photochemical reactions.
Around 1817 he discovered regularities, that were later called the
Grotthuss-Draper first and second laws of photochemistry. Attempting to
create a unified concept of physical and chemical phenomena based on
charge and molecular constituents, in 1818-1819 Teodor von Grotthuss
concluded that interaction of opposite charges (positive and negative),
depending on conditions, manifests as light, heat, and electricity. The
same publication also proposed that water liquid contains molecules and
their elementary parts even in the absence of an external electric
field. The collective action of molecules that leads to the electric
conductivity of solutions due to proton jumping from one molecule to
another is still called the Grotthuss mechanism.
The EPS Historic
Site sign was placed in a central square of Žeimelis, where the statue
of Teodor von Grotthuss by a sculptor Kęstutis Balčiūnas was erected
earlier this year, in March. The recognition ceremony in Žeimelis was
opened by the chair of the EPS Historic Sites Committee, Karl Grandin.
His speech was translated into Lithuanian by a scientific secretary of
the Lithuanian Physical Society, Andrius Juodagalvis. The chairman of
the EPS selection committee for historic sites congratulated the
participants who witnessed inauguration of the first EPS historic site
in the three Baltic states. He also explained the meaning of distinction
as "a historic site," and highlighted Teodor von Grotthuss'
achievements that contributed towards his recognition by physicists, and
challenged chemists to weigh his influence, since his research topics
are on the borderline between physics and chemistry. Had the Nobel
Prizes been awarded when Grotthuss lived, he might have been awarded
one. Karl Grandin also gifted the local museum with a copy of the last
Theodor von Grotthuss' letter to his colleague in Sweden, Jacob
Berzelius. The president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Jūras
Banys cherished that a small town of Žeimelis joined the league of other
famous places in Europe, where the foundations of modern physics were
laid. Other speakers of the official ceremony were the president of the
Grotthuss' Foundation at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Aivaras
Kareiva, the initiator of the EPS historic site application and a former
president of the Lithuanian Physical Society, Juozas Vidmantis Vaitkus,
the president of the Lithuanian Physics Teachers' Asociation, Rigonda
Skorulskienė, the dean of the Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University,
Juozas Šulskus, and the mayor of the Pakruojis municipality district
Saulius Margis. At the end of the ceremony, Karl Grandin declared the
EPS historic site in Žeimelis to be officially inaugurated. The entire
ceremony was started and finalized with live saxophone melodies.
The Lithuanian Physical Society
is grateful to the EPS Historic Site committee for recognition of
Theodor von Grotthuss research results, and the Pakruojis district
municipality for providing local support. Theodor von Grotthuss
scientific contributions are described following the EPS historic site
application written by J. V. Vaitkus and A. Kareiva, and an overview
article by B. Jaselskis et al, Bull. Hist. Chem. 32 (2007) 119-128.
Official participants of the EPS Historic Site inauguration in Žeimelis, Pakruojis municipality district, Lithuania.
Photo by A. Skorulskas
More info
Tags:
distinction
Electrolysis
EPS Historic Site
EPS Historic Sites
light
Lithuania
Lithuanian Physical Society
Theodor von Grotthuss
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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 15 September 2022
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Author: Gina Gunaratnam
Mulhouse, 6th September 2022. Today, representatives of
the French research agencies CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique) and ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) together with
the UHA (Université de Haute-Alsace) and the coordinators of the project
Mat-Light 4.0 held their kick-off meeting at the EPS
headquarters. Among 35 candidates, this project is one of the 15
selected by the ANR programme called "ExcellenceS".
The
project, whose name is inspired from material, light and innovation,
received an envelope of more that 10 million Euros and will run over 10
years, from 2022 to 2032.
The initiators, Vincent Roucoules,
Laurent Simon and Arnaud Spangenberg, aim to promote the research
fields of the university. The three scientists also wished to highlight
the cultural heritage of the city of Mulhouse (textile, chemistry,
colorants) as well as the strong partnership between the local industry
and the institutes, laboratories and faculties on the campus.
The
project will be a driving force for the university to make the range of
its actions more visible. The building of an innovative pole of research
and education around materials and light, especially photopolymers, a
domain of expertise in Mulhouse, will emerge and be followed by the
hiring of staff. A common workplace will be set up in the
current buildings of the Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse
(IS2M), nearby the EPS headquarters.
The education and the
outreach will also be developed during this long-term project. The local
laboratories, teachers and students will benefit from the development
of unique research tools, specialised courses and new activities around
science.
The project will progress under the governance of three
committees: Research, Promoting & Outreach and Training. The EPS
will be involved in the second committee, bringing its help in
communication campaigns and its expertise in publishing. The
headquarters of our Society will also serve for the meetings of members
of Mat-Light 4.0. It is a challenging project in which the EPS is happy to take part.
More info:
Tags:
ANR
CNRS
EPS
innivation
light
photoploymers
publication
teaching
UHA
Université de Haute-Alsace
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Posted By Gina Gunaratnam,
Monday 13 May 2019
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On 18 May 2019, Mulhouse will celebrate the International Day of Light (IDL2019) with a series of workshops for adults and children.
The European Physical Society supports the event.
 View the complete programme on the flyer below.
View the IDL2019 events worldwide: https://www.lightday.org/
Attached Files:
Tags:
IDL2019
International Day of Light
IYL2015
Light
Mulhouse
outreach
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Posted By Gina Gunaratnam,
Tuesday 12 September 2017
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After the success of the International Year of Light in 2015, the International Day of Light will be proclaimed at the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2017 and take place on 16 May 2018 in Paris.
Stay tuned by following #IDL2018 on Twitter and by subscribing to the IDL2018 newsletter here.
Tags:
IDL2018
International Day of Light 2018
IYL 2015
Light
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 6 June 2016
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The French Nobel Laureate Serge Haroche will give a lecture at the Université de Haute-Alsace in Mulhouse (France) on June 10th as the final event of the European project LIGHT2015 coordinated by the European Physical Society.
Serge Haroche was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physics jointly with David J. Wineland for "ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems", a study of the particle of light, the photon. Since 2001, Haroche is a Professor at the Collège de France and holds the Chair of Quantum Physics.
S. Haroche’s talk will discuss how quantum physics was born from fundamental questions about light and will serve to close the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015) activities in Mulhouse, France.
The lecture will be the final event of the LIGHT2015 project, which is funded by the European Commission H2020 programme, and that have organized around 120 activities in 30 European countries during IYL 2015 to promote the importance of photonics to young people, entrepreneurs and the general public in Europe during the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015.
The event will be organized on Friday 10 June 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Amphitheatre WEISS
Université de Haute-Alsace,
6 rue des Frères Lumière - 68200 Mulhouse, France
Free admission
About LIGHT2015
LIGHT2015 is a European project funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme of the European Commission. It aims to promote the importance of photonics to young people, entrepreneurs and the general public in all Member States of the EU during the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015 (IYL 2015).
LIGHT2015 Partners include the European Physical Society (EPS), the European Optical Society (EU), the Institute of Photonics Sciences (ICFO), Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) the National University of Ireland Galway (NUI), Universiteit Leiden and EYESTvzw.
About European Physical Society
The European Physical Society (EPS) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote physics and physicists in Europe through methods such as physics outreach. Formally established in 1968, its membership includes the national physical societies of 42 countries, and some 3200 individual members. The EPS Secretariat is based at Mulhouse, France.
Contacts
Jorge Rivero González
LIGHT2015 Project Manager
jorge.rivero@eps.org
David Lee
European Physical Society Secretary General
d.lee@eps.org
Tags:
conference
IYL2015
light
LIGHT2015
quantum mechanics
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Posted By Administration,
Tuesday 15 December 2015
Updated: Tuesday 15 December 2015
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Overview
The Quantum Electronics and Optics Division [QEOD] of the European Physical Society is presently soliciting nominations for their biennial prize in ‘Research in Laser Science and Applications’ to be presented at the 2016 Europhoton Conference on Solid-State, Fibre and Waveguide Coherent Light Sources. Details of the application procedure and information required are given below.
Nominations are to be received online by April 15th, 2016 at the latest.
The European Physical Society (EPS) Prize for Research in Laser Science and Applications is a major prize awarded on behalf of the European Physical Society through its Quantum Electronics Optics Division (QEOD). The prize is awarded every 2 years in recognition of recent work by one or more individuals (no more than three) for scientific excellence in the area of laser science and applications in its broadest sense.
The work for which the individual(s) is (are) nominated must be such that a significant component of it was performed during the period 5 years prior to the award. In addition, the award will recognise research for which a significant portion of the work was carried out in Europe or in cooperation with European researchers, and may be given for either pure or applied research.
The award is accompanied by an engraved glass medal, a certificate, and a monetary sum of 2000 euros.
The Prize Ceremony and Lecture will be highlights of the EPS Europhoton Conference in Vienna, Austria between the 21st and 26th August 2016.
Nominations must include:
- A cover letter provided by the nominator with proposed citation
- A two-page summary of the significance of the work which is the subject of the nomination. For a nominated team of more than one person, the summary should clearly specify the individual contribution of each nominee, and when and where the work has been performed.
- Nominee CV(s)
- A list of publications covering the last five years (a few earlier articles particularly relevant for the nomination can also be included). Five articles of most significance should be highlighted.* Up to three letters of endorsement of the nomination.
Online Submission Details
All material must be prepared in English and combined into either a single consolidated PDF file or a ZIP archive. Please click the link below to access the submission site: http://qeod.epsdivisions.org/RLSP/
European Physical Society: http://www.eps.org/
Email: conferences@eps.org
Tags:
EPS QEOD
Light
prize
Quantum Electronics and Optics
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 16 June 2014
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The European Physical Society (EPS) Prize for Research into the
Science of Light is awarded on behalf of the European Physical
Society through its Quantum Electronics & Optics Division
(QEOD). The prize is awarded every 2 years in recognition of recent
work by one or more individuals (no more than three) for scientific
excellence in the area of electromagnetic science in its broadest
sense, across the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves.
The first Prize for Research into the Science of Light was awarded
on 3 January 2013 during Nanometa 2013 in Seefeld, Austria, to
Philip St J Russell, from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of
Light in Erlangen, Germany.
The 2015 Edition of the Prize for Research into the Science of Light
is now open for nominations. Please click here to access
full details of the call on the submission website.
Read moreQEOD websiteQEOD Prizes
Tags:
Light
prize
QEOD
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 7 November 2011
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The European Physical Society is
delighted to announce the official start of a global project aiming at a
United Nations proclamation of an International Year of Light in 2015.
The project prospectus can now be downloaded here.
Light plays a central
role in human activities in science, technology and culture. Light
itself underpins the existence of life, and light-based technologies
will guide and drive the future development of human society. Light and
optics have revolutionized medicine, have opened up international
communication via the Internet, and continue to be central to linking
cultural, economic and political aspects of the global society.
Advances in lighting and solar energy are considered crucial for future
sustainable development.
Scientists and educators,
in a large variety of scientific disciplines ranging from physics, to
astronomy, to chemistry and material science, to biology, etc., are very
well aware of the tremendous importance of optical science and
technology for future international development. But as the application
of light through the field of photonics becomes the key cross-cutting
discipline of science in the 21st century, it is critical that the
brightest young minds continue to be attracted into science and
engineering careers in this field.
It is the need to promote
improved public and political understanding of the central role of
light in the modern world which has motivated EPS to coordinate a
proposal for the proclamation of an International Year of Light in 2015
under the auspices of the United Nations. As well as celebrating the
anniversaries of important milestones in the history of science that
fall in 2015, the International Year of Light project will include
important aspects of education and development, focusing specifically on
how the science of light can improve the quality of life in the
developing world and in emerging economies.
"Light is an immediate and
fascinating topic, but also inter- and multidisciplinary in all its
numerous forms,” says EPS President Professor Luisa Cifarelli. "It is
ideal to be chosen for the declaration of an 'International Year'.”
The project involves many
international partners, representing major international scientific
societies from all branches of physics. The release of the prospectus
will be followed by a formal request for endorsement at the
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) General Assembly
in November 2011. This is the important first step in the process to
approach the United Nations.
Contacts:
Luisa Cifarelli, EPS President luisa.cifarelli@unibo.it
EPS Project Secretariat light@eps.org
Tags:
events
Light
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