EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize 2025

OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.
CANDIDATES: One or two persons that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking and agenda-setting contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality.
NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header "EPS-SNPD award nomination". We encourage nominations of scientists from groups currently underrepresented in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.
DEADLINE: 30th May 2025

EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize 2025

OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.
CANDIDATES: One or two persons in their early career stage (defined as having obtained the PhD degree less than 6 years ago at the time of nomination) that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality.
NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header "EPS-SNPD award nomination". We encourage nominations of scientists from groups currently underrepresented in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.
DEADLINE: 30th May 2025

Further information is available on the website of the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division of the EPS: https://www.eps.org/members/group.aspx?id=85204

Author: Kristel Crombé

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The Plasma Physics Division of the European Physical Society is happy to announce its 2024 prizes.

2024 EPS - PPCF Sylvie Jacquemot Early Career Prize

We are pleased to announce that we have received an outstanding array of nominations for the 2024 EPS - PPCF Sylvie Jacquemot Early Career Prize. The quality of submissions reflects the remarkable talent, the strength and vitality of our community. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who took the time to submit nominations.

After careful consideration and evaluation of numerous outstanding nominations, we are delighted to reveal that the winner of the first EPS - PPCF Sylvie Jacquemot Early Career Prize is:

Dr. Varchas Gopalaswamy from the University of Rochester, USA, for "the development of statistical modelling to achieve accurate predictions of laser fusion experiments thereby improving implosions and achieving record Lawson products for direct-drive on OMEGA".

His dedication, innovation, and commitment to advancing the field of plasma physics has truly distinguished him as a rising star in our community.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Varchas Gopalaswamy for this well-deserved honour. His exemplary work serves as an inspiration to us all, demonstrating the profound impact that early-career researchers can have on the field.

In addition to the prize of 1,500 EUR and a certificate, Dr. Varchas Gopalaswamy has accepted our invitation to give a talk on his work at the 50th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics, which will take place in Salamanca, Spain, from July 8th to 12th, 2024.

2024 EPS Plasma Physics Division Innovation Award

With great honour and admiration, we announce that Dr. Anthony B. Murphy from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia is the recipient of the 2024 EPS Innovation Prize. This honour reflects his significant role in the advancement of thermal plasma processes, showcasing his reputation as the leading expert in the field.

Dr. Murphy’s extensive research over more than three decades has led to groundbreaking developments, especially in predictive modeling for arc welding. His innovations have improved the precision and efficiency of metal fabrication processes, marking a significant step forward in the application of thermal plasmas. His current work in expanding these models for use in wire-arc additive manufacturing represents a promising frontier in manufacturing technologies.

His venture into green plasma technology, particularly his research on the plasma-catalytic production of ammonia, underscores his commitment to pioneering sustainable industrial processes. These efforts highlight Dr. Murphy’s ability to blend scientific inquiry with practical solutions for environmental sustainability.

Dr. Murphy’s collaborative endeavors and dedication to the field have not only contributed to the scientific community but have also spurred innovation across industry. His work embodies the spirit of the EPS Innovation Prize, celebrating not just scientific achievement but the practical application and societal impact of these innovations.

By awarding Dr. Murphy the EPS Innovation Prize, we not only honour his past contributions but also recognize his ongoing commitment to innovation. His work serves as an inspiration for future advancements, embodying the innovative spirit and pursuit of excellence that the prize aims to celebrate.

2024 EPS PPD PhD Prize

The 2024 EPS PPD PhD Prize has been awarded as follows:

• Dr Lucas Rovige (Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France) for his thesis “Optimization, stabilization and optical phase control of a high-repetition rate laser-wakefield accelerator“
• Dr Baptiste Frei (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland) for his thesis “A Gyrokinetic Moment Model of the Plasma Boundary in Fusion Devices“
• Dr Toby Adkins (University of Oxford, UK) for his thesis “Electromagnetic instabilities and plasma turbulence driven by the electron-temperature gradient“
• Dr Mathias Hoppe (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden) for his thesis “Runaway-electron model development and validation in tokamaks”

 

FLTR: Monika Ritsch-Marte, Petra Rudolf and Ilaria zardo - images: Gina Gunaratnam/EPS

Author: Gina Gunaratnam

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The award ceremony of the joint meeting of the Swiss Physical Society (SPS) and the Austrian Physical Society (ÖPG) took place in early September at the University of Basel. Started with several awards of the SPS, the event continued with the prizes attributed by the ÖPG and with the distinction of the European Physical Society (EPS) dedicated to female physicists.

Prof. Petra Rudolf, chair of the EPS Equal Opportunities Committee and former president of the Society, handed over the EPS Emmy Noether Distinction 2022 to Prof. Monika Ritsch-Marte (full career) and to Prof. Ilaria Zardo (mid-career).

Monika Ritsch-Marte, from the Institute of Biomedical Physics, Dept. of Physiology & Medical Physics, the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, was awarded " for exceptional contributions to optical microscopy and manipulation methods and for the promotion of women’s careers in physics. "

Ilaria Zardo, researcher at the Department of physics of the University of Basel, Switzerland, was awarded "for her contributions in the methodology of characterizing nanoscale materials and the consequent discovery of their new functional properties. "

The ceremony was followed by an interview of both EPS laureates by Prof. Rudolf and a group photo with laureates of all the presented prizes in the beautiful botanical garden of the Swiss university.

More info

• EPS Emmy Noether Distinction
• SPS-ÖPG meeting 2023
• A complete report of the meeting will follow in the next issue of SPS Communications
  

Petra Rudolf presenting the EPS Emmy Noether Distinction to the SPS-ÖPG audience at the University of Basel

Group photo with all laureates of SPS, ÖPG and EPS prizes in the university's botanical garden

Author: Raffaella Burioni

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The EPS Statistical & Nonlinear Physics Division is calling for nominations for its 2023 prizes.

EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize 2023

OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.
CANDIDATES: One or two persons that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking and agenda-setting contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality.
NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header "EPS-SNPD award nomination". We encourage nominations from groups currently underrepresented in the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division.
AWARD CONTENT: A glass trophy and a cash sum.
DEADLINE: 20th June 2023

EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize 2023

OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.
CANDIDATES: One or two persons in their early career stage (defined as having obtained the PhD degree less than 6 years ago at the time of nomination) that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality.
NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header "EPS-SNPD award nomination". We encourage nominations from groups currently underrepresented in the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division.
AWARD CONTENT: A glass trophy and a cash sum.
DEADLINE: 20th June 2023

Further information is available at the website of the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division of the EPS.

The European Physical Society’s Accelerator Group (EPS-AG) has announced the winners of its 2023 prizes, which are awarded every three years for outstanding achievements in the accelerator field. The prizes will be presented at an awards session during the International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC’23), which takes place from 7th to 12th May in Venice, Italy.

The EPS-AG Rolf Wideröe Prize for outstanding work in the accelerator field has been given to Katsunobu Oide, KEK and visiting scientist at CERN / University of Geneva, for his many conceptual contributions to linear and circular particle colliders. Examples include the Oide limit of final focus systems and the design of the final focus test beam at SLAC, crab crossing in circular colliders, the beam optics design code SAD, design work for KEKB and KEK-ATF, advanced lattice design for the FCC study, and his leading role in design, commissioning and performance optimization of KEK accelerators.

The EPS-AG Gersh Budker Prize for a recent, significant, original contribution to the accelerator field has been awarded to Mikhail Krasilnikov, DESY/Zeuthen, for his achievements in the development of high brightness electron beams and a high power, tunable THz SASE free electron laser based on those beams, demonstrating lasing at the PITZ facility in 2022.

 

More info

• Website of the EPS Accelerator Group
• Website of the International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC'23