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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 13 February 2025
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Gražina Tautvaišienė - image credit: Gražina Tautvaišienė
In 2024, the European Physical Society released a calendar of inspiring physicists.
Gina Gunaratnam, EPS communication coordinator and initator of the
project, interviewed Gražina Tautvaišienė, president of the Lithuanian
Physical Society. Professor Tautvaišienė works as an astrophysicist at
the Vilnius University (VU) and is also vice-president of the
International Union of Astronomy since December 2024.
How did you get to know the European Physical Society?
The
European Physical Society is a well-known organisation for all
physicists. It cooperates with national physical societies to promote
physics, to support physicists worldwide, and to foster international
collaboration. My first encounter with EPS activities probably occurred
in 2000 when the EGAS 32 conference was organised at our Institute of
Theoretical Physics and Astronomy in Lithuania. I started to follow EPS
activities more closely when I became a vice-president of the
Lithuanian Physical Society in 2007.
Why is it important for you to be an EPS member and to participate in its activities?
International
collaboration is very important for such a small country as Lithuania.
EPS has divisions covering all main fields of physics. As EPS unites
scientists from 42 National Physical Societies, it is an essential
platform for developing international collaboration. Lithuanian
scientists often need collaboration to access large international
infrastructures like CERN, ESO, ITER, etc. Collaboration is also
important in order to prepare large groundbreaking research projects,
networking, and mobility.
We are very glad that quite many international conferences of EPS have been organised in Lithuania. We had the 14th
European Conference on Atoms, Molecules, and Photons (ECAMP) in 2022.
This conference brought together atomic, molecular, and optical physics
experts to discuss recent developments and research in the field. In
2024, we held the 11th EPS-QEOD Conference “Europhoton”,
where the latest developments in solid-state physics, optical cables and
waveguides were presented. In 2025, we will host the 51st EPS Conference on Plasma Physics.
An
outstanding example of a close relationship with EPS was the
inauguration of the Grotthuss Laboratory as the EPS Historic Site in
Žeimelis, Lithuania. This is the first EPS Historic Site in the Baltic
states.
What is the aim of the Lithuanian Physical Society and its main activities?
The
Lithuanian Physical Society was established in 1963. The main goal of
our society is to unite Lithuanian physicists, coordinate and support
their activities in order to contribute to the development of physics
research in Lithuania and take care of physics teaching in universities
and other educational institutions. We organise the National Conferences
on Physics every two years, which attract about 600 participants. Every
year, we support the physics olympiad and summer school “Fotonas” of
schoolchildren. We organise annual public events dedicated to e.g.
Quantum Day and European Researchers Night. Various recent events marked
the UNESCO International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable
Development. Now we prepare for the UNESCO International Year of Quantum
Science and Technology.
Why did you study physics and become an astrophysicist?
I
liked sciences that required logical thinking. Physics is exactly like
that. However, physics is a very broad science, and I had to decide
which field to turn to. And here, the decisive role was played by the
meeting of the Lithuanian Astronomical Union at the Molėtai Astronomical
Observatory, which I attended after finishing the 10th grade. There, I
won a place on the Lithuanian team for the meeting of young astronomers
of the Soviet Union. Then my path to astronomy began. All summer, I
studied astronomy at the Kaunas Public Library, studied constellations,
and read various books. By the way, being a schoolchild, I really liked
reading books, especially about scientists, politicians, and artists and
how they lived and worked. The story of Marie Curie was very memorable.
She was an inspiring role model for me.
Could you describe your current field of research?
Currently,
together with my colleagues, I am working on improving methods for
determining the age of stars. Knowing the age of stars is very important
in many aspects. It is very important to know it in order to clarify
the evolution of our and other galaxies, the evolution of stars, the
characterization of exoplanets, etc. The period for such investigations
is very favorable because NASA's TESS telescope is now orbiting in space
and is providing important asteroseismic information for determining
the stellar age. If robust seismic pulsations could be detected in all
stars, there would be no problems in stellar age determinations.
However, it is not possible to reliably record the pulsations of many
stars, and other methods must be sought. Among these are the so-called
chemical clocks - the abundance ratios of various chemical elements. The
Science Council of Lithuania is funding our research “Chemical elements
as clocks for determining the age of stars”. We are analysing the use
of the abundance ratios of carbon and nitrogen and yttrium and magnesium
chemical elements in order to determine the age of stars. Several other
projects also are on the way, including the one on the investigation of
planet-hosting stars.
What are the challenges of your field?
There
are many challenges. As Lithuanian folk experience says - the deeper
into the forest, the more trees... Much is expected in the field of
exoplanet search and research. This is a relatively new field of
research. Incredible planets are being discovered around other stars
which are not found in our solar system. The question arises of how
planets form and what their characteristics depend on. Several space
telescopes have been launched into space and are planned for exoplanet
research. As Vice President of the International Astronomical Union, I
am entrusted with the coordination of space and ground-based research.
Here, my experience in coordinating the Europlanet telescope network,
which currently unites 17 observatories with medium-sized and small
telescopes, will come in handy. Ground-based observations for space
missions require a lot of time, and smaller telescopes are very suitable
for this. I plan to significantly expand the Europlanet telescope
network, which also includes the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory in
Lithuania.
How would you encourage students to work in this field?
Lithuania,
as a country with strong traditions in astronomy, opens up very wide
opportunities for research and international cooperation. The first
observatory in Lithuania was established back in 1753. The Vilnius
University Astronomical Observatory is one of the oldest in Europe. At
that time it had over 100 different instruments. Currently, the VU
Molėtai Astronomical Observatory is also no less known. It operates the
largest telescope in Northern Europe with modern instruments, and is
recognized as a place for organising international schools for young
astronomers.
International collaboration opens possibilities to
accomplish indeed a very high level of research. E.g., the research team
I am leading participated in the Gaia-ESO Public Survey, uniting more
than 300 researchers. We obtained more than 300 observing nights on the
8,2-metre telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
Presently, we participate in several other large spectroscopic survey
projects (4MOST on the 4.1-metre ESO VISTA telescope and WEAVE on the
4.2-m William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands).
Education
in physics and astrophysics also opens many other opportunities for a
future professional career. Lithuania is nurturing an innovative
ecosystem, particularly in deep-tech and quantum computing, giving
physics graduates opportunities to be part of groundbreaking projects
including space research. The Research Council of Lithuania is
organising enjoyable student training visits to NASA science centers in
the United States.
Do you think it is important to encourage girls to study physics? What would you tell them?
I
think that girls have been underrepresented in physics due to societal
biases. More and more amazing women are thriving in physics today. It is
important to show them as role models to girls. The EPS calendar of
inspiring female physicists is playing this role perfectly.
Tags:
astrophysics
EPS Equal Opportunities Committee
IAU
Internationla Astronomy Union
outreach
women in physics
women in science
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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 16 January 2025
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Author: Michael Gregory
The European Physical Society (EPS) is at the forefront of
integrating innovative technologies into education with Discovery Space
teacher training including AIMLOW: Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning Online Workshops. These initiatives aim to inspire educators,
equip them with modern pedagogical tools, and provide students with
engaging learning experiences rooted in inquiry and critical thinking.
Discovery Space: A Gateway to Exploratory Learning
Discovery
Space is an ambitious EU-funded project designed to facilitate
students’ inquiry-based learning using an online Enhanced Learning
Environment. Students are guided through differentiated pathways
tailored to students’ progress. Learning scenarios engage learners in a
variety of physics and non-physics topics, from genetics to
astrophysics and everything in between. Discovery Space seeks to
transform traditional education by placing students in active
problem-solving roles while leveraging AI as a guiding tool.
EPS
project officer Michael Gregory is in charge of the Discovery Space
Teacher Training Academy, providing professional development online and
across Europe. In-person workshops have already taken place in Bulgaria
and Spain, with more planned for 2025 there, in France and across
Europe. Keep an eye on the Discovery Space website: https://discoveryspace.eu/ or contact the author to be informed of when there are upcoming workshops near you!
Training
sessions are planned and executed in collaboration with local partners,
and the specific contents adapted to local needs and requests.
Workshops last anywhere between 1.5 hours and a whole day, and either
focus exclusively on Discovery Space or often include more general
sessions on AI in the classroom and low-cost experiments. These
sessions introduce educators to the platform’s features, and
differentiated learning scenarios like “The Magic of Refraction” and
"Zookeepers of the Galaxy."
Discovery Space Learning Scenarios
“The Magic of Refraction”
is a learning scenario that kicks off with live demonstrations inspired
by the popular Science on Stage webinar series “It’s not magic, it’s
science you don’t see”, (https://www.science-on-stage.eu/event/webinar-its-not-magic-its-science-you-dont-see-part-7)
followed by guided experimentation with simulations, collaborative data
collection, and differentiated analysis to explore Snell’s Law and
refraction. The scenario’s emphasis on whole-class data fosters a
collaborative learning environment. Students analyze results with
varying levels of complexity, from reviewing individual data points, to
taking averages, to linearizing data to plot trend lines - the
experience is adapted to the learning needs of each student. This
differentiated approach to analysing whole-class generated data was met
with considerable enthusiasm - when piloted at the National Science and
Mathematics Gimnazija in Sofia, Bulgaria, students asked to stay late on
Friday evening to continue their analysis and discussions.
Michael
presenting Discovery Space scenario “The Magic of Refraction” at
National Science and Mathematics Gimnazija, Sofia, Bulgaria.
(Photo
taken by Nasko Stamenov)
“Zookeepers of the Galaxy”
is a versatile learning scenario that blends astrophysics and
artificial intelligence, offering teachers a novel way to make complex
topics engaging and interactive. First piloted during the final session
of AIMLOW, then further developed for various workshops across Spain -
in Cuenca, Burgos and Espinosa de los Monteros. Its dual focus—covering
key curriculum concepts like the known universe while introducing
machine learning—has been enthusiastically received and highlights the
growing need for resources that bridge 21st-century skills with
traditional science education.
Students begin by categorizing
galaxies based on visual patterns, foreshadowing the creation of a
machine learning model in later phases. The scenario progresses with
adaptable activities to extract a dataset of images from the Zooinverse
dataset (www.zooniverse.org),
then guides learners to use their dataset to train Google Teachable
Machine to classify galaxy images. Through experimentation, they explore
how dataset size and training parameters impact the success of their
models. Reflection phases encourage critical thinking, with learners at
varying levels discovering the balance between accuracy, training time,
and resource use. By combining astrophysics with cutting-edge AI
concepts, “Zookeepers of the Galaxy” empowers students and teachers
alike, sparking curiosity and building essential skills for the future.
Student view in the “Zookeepers of the Galaxy” Learning Scenario
Several
more learning scenarios are already available on the Discovery Space
Enhanced Learning Environment, with even more in development, and the
possibility for teachers to copy, modify and create their own scenarios
adapted for their own classrooms! Topics currently covered range from
evolution, genetics, astrophysics, seasons and electricity. Topics in
the works include taxonomy, microscopy, modern physics and more!
AIMLOW: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Online Workshops
Complementing
the Discovery Space initiative is AIMLOW, a six-week online course that
introduces educators to the world of artificial intelligence and its
practical applications in teaching. Spearheaded by Michael Gregory of
EPS and Kalina Dimitrova from Sofia University, AIMLOW is a hands-on
course that demystifies complex AI concepts and showcases their
relevance to the classroom.
Kalina works on creating AI algorithms
for particle physics experiments and takes interest in explainable AI
methods. She used her expertise to create our own simplified language
model, image classifier and image generator for AIMLOW to explain how
all of these aspects of AI work. To learn more about these, see the
AIMLOW course outline: https://discoveryspace.eu/join-the-aimlow-courses-and-empower-your-teaching-with-ai/ and the recordings of the sessions on the EPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EuroPhysSoc.
Throughout
the course, AIMLOW shared the focus on a theoretical foundation of how
AI works and applications to classroom practice, with sessions focused
on language models, image classification and image generation. The
final two sessions were more focused on classroom applications, with one
session on sharing best practices and teacher resources, and the final
session took teachers through the Discovery Space learning scenario
“Zookeepers of the Galaxy”, which guides students to create an image
classifier using Google Teachable Machine, while learning about galaxy
classification and Hubble’s Tuning Fork.
Fostering a Community of Innovative Educators
A
key outcome of Discovery Space and especially AIMLOW has been the
creation of a vibrant community of educators eager to embrace technology
as a transformative force in education. Workshops and training sessions
often serve as a platform for collaboration, with educators exchanging
ideas and sharing best practices.
Feedback from AIMLOW
participants has been especially positive, with teachers reporting
increased confidence in using AI and a deeper understanding of its
potential. With the fast-pace with which AI is becoming increasingly
present in society, teachers are hungry to learn more - both to help in
their work, and to teach students about this constantly evolving
technology. Following the enthusiasm for “Zookeepers of the Galaxy”,
more Discovery Space learning scenarios are being developed to combine
areas of the science curriculum with basic AI skills.
Michael
presenting Discovery Space at “Un Viaje en el Espacio” teacher training
day at Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla la Mancha, Cuenca, Spain.
(Photo by Jose Luis Olmo Risquez)
Discover the future of education with EPS—where curiosity meets innovation.
Discovery
Space professional development for teachers will continue to take place
online and in-person across Europe. For information on upcoming
workshops, check the Discovery Space website: https://discoveryspace.eu/ or contact the EPS Project Officer Michael Gregory: michael.gregory@eps.org.
Tags:
AI
Artificial Intelligence
Discovery Space
Europe
outreach
teaching
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Posted By Gina Gunaratnam,
Tuesday 22 October 2024
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Author: Lorena Ballesteros Ferraz and Gina Gunaratnam
Lorena Ballesteros Ferraz is postdoctoral researcher
at the Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modélisation, CNRS Unité
8089, CY Cergy Paris Université in France. She participated in the writing of the editorial of the EPS calendar of inspiring physicists in 2024, together with Sébastien Mouchet and Riccardo Muolo. They are engaged in gender equality and inclusion in physics.
How did you get to know the European Physical Society?
As
a bachelor’s student at the Complutense University of Madrid, I was
fortunate to have several professors who were actively involved in the
management of the Spanish Physical Society. Through their connections, I
gained access to the society’s publications, sparking my interest in
the field. Later, when I pursued my PhD in Namur, Belgium, I was
introduced to Europhysics News through the Belgian Physical Society,
further broadening my engagement with the European physics community.
Could you describe your current field of research in a few words?
I
am currently focused on various aspects of measurements in quantum
physics, where, unlike in most everyday situations, measuring
fundamentally disturbs the system's state. For instance, when we measure
the temperature of an oven, the measurement does not alter the
temperature. However, in quantum physics, measuring the state of an atom
changes that state. My research explores different techniques for
extracting information from quantum states, ranging from weak, where the
disturbance is minimal, to ideal strong measurements. Additionally, I
am interested in understanding the energetic balance involved in these
measurement processes.
What are the challenges of your field?
Quantum
physics is a fascinating and deeply intriguing field. Despite its
status as one of the most reliable theories in science, it remains
highly counterintuitive, leading to rich and ongoing debates about its
interpretation and real-world implications. Among the most surprising
aspects of quantum physics is the role of measurement, which continues
to be a subject of intense discussion and diverging interpretations. On
the technological front, the challenge lies in refining measurement
protocols to achieve greater precision and energy efficiency. These
advancements hold significant potential for future applications,
including the development of more sensitive sensors and the advancement
of quantum computing.
How would you encourage students to work in this field?
I
find quantum physics, particularly the study of quantum measurements,
to be an incredibly exciting and intriguing field. I encourage students
who enjoy thinking outside the box and grappling with counterintuitive
phenomena to join and contribute to the evolution of this discipline.
Quantum physics also has a bright future, with numerous advanced
applications on the horizon. Therefore, I also suggest students
interested in driving technological innovation to explore this field and
be part of its development.
Why is it important for you to encourage girls to study physics?
Early
in my education, even during the final years of secondary school, I
noticed that I was one of the few women pursuing a path in science and
technology. This trend continued as I began my degree in Physics. I
believe this imbalance exists because women are not sufficiently
encouraged to pursue these fields. However, research shows that
diversity is crucial for advancing scientific innovation. The
involvement of women in our field is not only essential for the progress
of science, but also for empowering young girls to pursue their dreams
without being constrained by traditional gender roles.
More info
Tags:
diversity
EPS Emmy Noether Distinction
gender equality
inclusion
outreach
young physicists
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 21 October 2024
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Authors: Riccardo Muolo & Gina Gunaratnam
In 2024, the EPS released a calendar of "Inspiring Physicists". Read
the interview of Riccardo Muolo, postdoctoral researcher at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. He wrote the editorial of the calendar, together with Lorena
Ballesteros Ferraz and Sébastien Mouchet. They also published an opinion letter about the Matilda Effect in the Society's magazine EPN.
How did you get to know the European Physical Society?
Some
colleagues in Namur, Belgium, told me about the society and its monthly
magazine, so I checked it out and I was impressed by all the
initiatives regarding outreach and education.
Could you describe your current field of research in a few words?
My
field is complex systems, at the edge between physics and applied
mathematics. More specifically, I study the emergence of collective
behaviors, such as synchronization, in an ensemble of elementary units.
They way in which such units interact with each other shapes the
collective dynamics, which is way richer than the individual ones. The
whole is much more than the sum of its parts.
What are the challenges of your field?
Until
now, we have developed solid theoretical tools, but what is missing is a
bridge towards observations and experiments. There are some models with
many variables claiming that they explain certain phenomena, but to me
they don’t make much sense because they work only for a specific
phenomenon with variables and parameters chosen ad hoc. I think
the main challenge now is to build models closer to reality that are
still meaningful and can help us not only explain, but also understand,
what we observe.
How would you encourage students to work in this field?
Be
curious. The field of complex systems is intrinsically
interdisciplinary and gives the chance to work with researchers from
many different fields. Besides the technical skills that are required to
carry out any research in physics and mathematics, in complex systems
the key is to be curious and open minded: one has to be able to
communicate with scientists from sociology to biology, meaning that we
need to understand different approaches and ways to treat problems. It
can be hard at first, but in the end it is so rewarding.
Interdisciplinary research is very exciting!
Why is it important for you to encourage girls to study physics?
I
think that we need science to reflect the composition of society. So
this is related to have more girls in physics, but in general to have a
more diverse and heterogeneous environment. This mainly for two reasons.
First, because only a truly diverse environment can foster new ideas
and tackle the many challenges ahead of us. If we put in a room only
people with the same mentality and background, we are missing a whole
lot of perspective. Second, because, whether we like it or not, science,
and physics in particular, is a tool of power. Our research shapes the
future in good and in bad, and our discoveries have a tremendous impact
on society. Given its importance, we need everybody at the table and we
must keep it democratic and transparent as much as possible.
Short Bio
I
studied physics (Bachelor) and applied mathematics (Master) in
Florence, Italy. For a year, I was PhD student of biology at the VU
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, but then moved back to mathematics starting a
PhD in Namur, Belgium. After my graduation, I moved to Tokyo for a
postdoc, position that I currently hold.
Besides my academic
activity, I’m involved in an outreach project in Italy called “Penne Amiche della Scienza” (the Italian version of the US Letters to a Pre-scientist) in which we connect a scientist with a primary or middle
school class and have them write letters to each other.
Tags:
diversity
EPS Emmy Noether Distinction
gender equality
inclusion
outreach
young physicists
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 21 October 2024
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Sébastien Mouchet - image credit: S. Mouchet
Authors: Sébastien Mouchet & Gina Gunaratnam
In 2024, the EPS released a calendar of "Inspiring Physicists". Read
the interview of Sébastien Mouchet, researcher & honorary senior
lecturer at the University of Mons, Belgium and the University of
Exeter, UK. He wrote the editorial of the calendar, together with Lorena
Ballesteros Ferraz and Riccardo Muolo.
How did you get to know the European Physical Society?
As
a master’s student at the University of Namur, Belgium, I attended the
annual meeting of the Belgian Physical Society (BPS) organised in Namur
in May 2011. BPS is a member society of the European Physical Society. I
became a member of the BPS and started receiving the Europhysics News. I
remember that the issue that I got at that conference featured an
introduction to natural and bioinspired photonics co-authored by Pete
Vukusic (https://www.europhysicsnews.org/articles/epn/abs/2011/03/epn2011423p20/epn2011423p20.html)
whose group hosted me for about 4-5 years as a postdoctoral researcher
later on in my career. It was a surprising coincidence as I was at the
time carrying out my master’s thesis in this field.
Could you describe your current field of research in a few words?
The
field of natural and bioinspired photonics investigates optical effects
in natural organisms, typically phenomena arising from photonic
structures, and takes inspiration from these effects and the related
optical structures to develop novel technological applications.
What are the challenges of your field?
One
of the main challenges in natural photonics is to understand how nature
produces photonic structures, often very regular structures at the
100-nm scale that compete in terms of performances with structures
fabricated by nanotechnology. Unveiling the exact developmental stages
of these structures would be a big step forward.
How would you encourage students to work in this field?
This
field of research is very multidisciplinary. It involves some aspects
of physics and photonics, of materials science as well as of biology. It
also relies on both experimental and numerical approaches. I often try
to adapt the project of eager students to what they want and what
motivates them: more simulations, only simulations, more experiments or
only experiments; more physics, more materials science, or more biology
depending on what they are interested in.
Why is it important for you to encourage girls to study physics?
Since
the second year of my bachelor’s degree to the end of my master’s
degree in physics, my cohort was exclusively composed of men. I had a
great time but one must admit that it was a bit peculiar. I could not
imagine that girls and women are less good at or less interested in
physics. I think that science and research have much to gain from being
more inclusive and diverse.
More info
Tags:
diversity
EPS Emmy Noether Distinction
gender equality
inclusion
outreach
young physicists
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Posted By Administration,
Monday 19 February 2024
Updated: Monday 19 February 2024
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Author: Monica Constatin and Enrique Sánchez Bautista
In an ever-evolving landscape of scientific progress, where breakthroughs continually reshape our understanding of the world, the role of civil society in science is becoming increasingly vital. Recognising this mutual exchange between civil society and researchers, initiatives like Citizen Science[1] have emerged as powerful conduits for public engagement with scientific research. Strongly supported by the European Commission, Citizen Science fosters collaboration between citizens and the scientific community, paving the way for impactful contributions to knowledge and policy formation.
The Surrounded by Science (SbS) project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, promotes and advocates for Citizen Science and other forms of informal scientific education. The European Physical Society (EPS) continues its committment of promoting scientific engagement by holding the second EPS Citizen Science Competition. This is an initiative designed to bring citizens closer to current research projects via Zooniverse, an online platform facilitating civil society to get involved and to engage in scientific research.
Building upon the success of the first EPS Citizen Sience Competition 2022, this second edition invites individuals to embark on a thrilling scientific journey between 1st-29th February 2024, where participants are encouraged to join the GWitchHunters project on the Zooniverse platform and participate in the classification challenge posed by the project. The GWitchHunters project focuses on enhancing the capabilities of the Virgo Gravitational Wave detector, offering participants a unique opportunity to contribute to a real gravitational wave astronomy experiment. The competition not only empowers citizens to actively participate in scientific research, but also offers enticing incentives, namely the change to win one of the three travel grants to explore the cutting-edge facilities of EGO-Virgo, European Gravitational Observatory, located in Pisa, Italy. As such, winners of these grants will gain firsthand experience in state-of-the-art research facilities, further enriching their scientific knowledge.
Beyond this competition, initiatives like Surrounded by Science and the Science Chaser app offer additional avenues for engagement of civil society in STEM subjects, underscoring the multifaceted nature of informal science education. By leveraging digital tools and innovative methodologies, these initiatives strive to democratize access to scientific knowledge and foster a sense of ownership and empowerment among citizens who are not professionally involved in research. If you want to participate in the competition, visit the competition page on the SbS website.
Tags:
CERN
EGO-Virgo
EPS Science Competition
outreach
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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 8 February 2024
Updated: Friday 9 February 2024
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EPS calendar of Inspiring Physicists 2024 | images and design: Xavier De Araujo
Author: Anne Pawsey
The 2024 EPS Calendar of Inspiring Physicists has been released.
Featuring EPS Members, Laureates of EPS awards and Nobel Prize Winners
this initiative aims at presenting inspiring female physicists who can act as role
models for the next generation of scientists. Every month, a new
physicist can be discovered in the calendar with a portrait, a short
description of her field of research and a sentence to inspire and
encourage young people to study physics.
The project was led by
Gina Gunaratnam, communication coordinator at the EPS secretariat and
bought to the page by Xavier de Araujo, the EPS graphic designer. The
rationale behind the project is to increase the visibility of women in
physics. Although in recent years women have become more visible in
fields where historically they were a minority, women are still missing
in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). There is
therefore a need to attract more youngsters to these fields. Not only to
work as researchers but also as technical staff, lab assistants, IT
specialists, to name but a few. The panel of professions related to the
sciences is wide and requires all talents, girls as much as boys.
Society
does not always send this message: girls need to be encouraged in their
choice of studying science by everyone at every stage of their
education: families, teachers, media and government all have a role to
play. When girls show interest in sciences, they should not be diverted
from their objectives, but helped and stimulated in every possible way
to facilitate their aspirations.
Our calendar is currently being
distributed to our member societies and associate members throughout
Europe. We hope that with this initiative and the help of enthusiastic
teachers and scientists, it will inspire young pupils in 2024 and
beyond.
The January
Physicist is Dr. Sara Bolognesi, staff researcher in experimental physics and
laureate of the 2021 EPS Emmy Noether Distinction. Read her interview
here.
Stay tuned, more to come!
More info :
Tags:
EPS Awards
EPS Emmy Noether Distinction
EPS EOC
EPS Equal Opportunities Committee
outreach
STEM
women in physics
women in science
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Posted By Administration,
Thursday 1 February 2024
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Starting from 1st – 29th February, engage in the GWitchHunters project on Zooniverse. This competition offers you the unique opportunity to impact Gravitational Wave Astronomy by improving the Virgo Gravitational Wave detector
detector capabilities and win one of four exclusive travel grants.
These grants are your golden ticket to explore the cutting-edge
facilities of EGO-Virgo,
European Gravitational Observatory, located in Pisa, Italy. Await the
unveiling of the entry date and ready yourself to contribute to science
that shapes our understanding of the Universe!
Detailed info at: https://surroundedby.science/2024/01/31/eps-citizen-science-competition-2024/
Tags:
EGO
EGO-Virgo
EPS Citizen Science competition
European Gravitational Observatory
outreach
Surrounded by Science
Virgo
Virgo Gravitational Wave
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Posted By Administration,
Tuesday 17 October 2023
Updated: Tuesday 24 October 2023
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Author: Sascha Schmeling
Beamline for Schools
Beamline for Schools 2024 is about to start! This physics competition for high school students from all around the
world invites them to propose an experiment that they want to perform
at a beamline. The popular competition reaches its 10th anniversary
in 2024. Three winning teams will be selected, two teams will perform
their experiments at CERN and one at DESY.
There will be additional
prizes for up to 40 selected teams (https://beamline-for-schools.web.cern.ch/bl4s-competition/prizes). All the prospective participants who preregister to the competition (https://beamlineforschools.cern/form/preregistration-2024)
will have the possibility to follow online events and virtual visits
prior to the submission of their proposal.
The deadline to submit a
proposal is 10 April 2024 at 23:59 CEST.
Further information can be found in the official invitation (https://beamline-for-schools.web.cern.ch/sites/default/files/Invitation_BL4S_2024.pdf).
CERN International Teacher Programmes 2024
The
application process for CERN’s international teacher programmes 2024
opens on 1st November 2023! The HST Programme will take place from 30 June
- 14 July 2024 and the ITW Programme will take place from 4th-17th August
2024!
Apply via http://teachers.cern!
Tags:
Associate Members
B4S
Beamline For Schools
CERN
CERN International Teacher Programmes 2024
education
EPS AM
EPS PED
EPS Physics Education Division
outreach
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Posted By Administration,
Tuesday 10 October 2023
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Authors: Francesco Berrilli and Francesca Zuccarello
The conference “Sun in Science and Society” (https://solarnet-s3.com/),
organised in the framework of the H2020 SOLARNET Project by the
University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy) and the University of Catania
(Italy), was held in Venice/Mestre (Italy) at the Museo del 900 M9
from 11th – 15th September 2023.
It is well known that the Sun is a
variable magnetic star that modifies the physical conditions in space
creating “space climate and space weather” that can influence
terrestrial environment and worldwide technological infrastructures
affecting the global economy. The meeting “Sun in Science and Society”
allowed heliophysics scientists to illustrate the state-of-the-art in
solar theory, Sun-Earth connection and forecasting capabilities, while
stakeholders and economists examined user needs and requirements.
Moreover,
considering the Sun as a paradigm in astrophysics, the meeting provided
a forum to discuss how recent advances in the study of the Sun can be
applied to other astrophysical contexts, to identify the problems in a
selected number of fields that could be tackled using methods, tools,
points of views used by the different communities, and to foster
collaborations between researchers working on solar studies and those
working in other fields, in order to generate synergies between these
communities.
The scientific programme included six sessions: 1)
Solar activity and its drivers; 2) Sun, Space and Society; 3)
High-Resolution ground-based telescopes and technology for solar
physics; 4) Sun, Space and Society (solar physics impact on economy and
society, data for 'civil 'society, education and outreach); 5) The Sun
as a Rosetta Stone for astrophysics; 6) The Sun as a Rosetta Stone for
physics.
The meeting was very successful, with 90 participants
from European and non-European countries. The definition of the
scientific programme took into strong consideration the geographical
distribution, the gender balance and the relevance of the proposed
contributions to the main objectives of the Conference.
During the
Conference, a public event took place: “Un Sole, Nessun Sole,
Centomila Soli“. Besides some outreach talks on the Sun and on the
instruments needed to observe our star, with particular emphasis on the
European Solar Telescope, the public had the opportunity to enjoy the
documentary “Reaching fort he Sun“. At the end of the documentary, a
public debate on the importance of the Sun in our lives took place.
image credit: Francesco Berrilli and Francesca Zuccarello
Tags:
conference
ESPD
EST
European Solar Physics Division
European Solar Telescope
outreach
Solar physics
space weather
telescope
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