Activity Report 2011 C Ouncil Meeting, 30-31 March 2012, CERN (CH)

Activity Report 2011 C ouncil Meeting, 30-31 March 2012, CERN (CH)

European Physical Society more than ideas activity report 2011

Luisa Cifarelli, EPS President Introduction from the President

In 2011, Council adopted EPS Strategy American Physical Society (thanks, in workshop is planned in 2012 as a kick- Plan 2010+. It is now time to take stock particular, to our joint involvement in off meeting. of what we have achieved. ‘Physics for Development’ actions such In 2011 energy has also been central Many actions of the EPS as a ‘federa- as the SESAME grant scheme). Relations to EPS activities, with the prepara- tion’ of European national physical with the American Physical Society tion for 2012 of the second European societies have been undertaken, such and the pursuit of common objectives Energy Conference in Maastricht (NL) as the ‘ Second Asia Europe Physics will be further enhanced, as I have re- and with the establishment of the Joint Summit – ASEPS2’ in Poland, the cently been elected member-at-large EPS-SIF International School on Energy launch in Italy of the International of the APS Forum on International in Varenna (IT), whose first summer Year of Light initiative which is likely Physics and appointed member of course will also be in 2012. to be soon approved by UNESCO, the the APS Committee on International In addition a conference on ‘Physics start of a dedicated study on ‘Physics Scientific Affairs. for Development’ at ICTP (Trieste, IT) and the European economy’ that will For the EPS activities as a ‘learned so- has been planned as well as a very in- be presented in 2012, etc. ciety’, we are of course very proud of teresting session of our EPS Forum on The EPS has been active in respond- e-EPS, our electronic bulletin, started Physics and Society, focused on ‘Physics ing to various EC consultations, for in May 2011, which is now becoming and the marketplace’. instance the ERA Framework Public rather popular. Finally the EPS has also undertaken a Consultation on ‘Areas of untapped Also a brand new EPS web site has just series of reorganisational steps, in par- potential for the development of the been released, with new structure, lay- ticular concerning its committees (for European Research Area’, or the con- out, contents, facilities, etc. We strongly instance, the Grants Committee). The sultation on the Green Paper: ‘Towards encourage our members to send us staff and Secretariat are also regularly a Common Strategic Framework for EU comments and suggestions for fu- monitored, and a young science com- research and innovation funding’, or the ture improvement. municator has been hired. The financial one on ‘Access to and preservation of The number of EPS Individual Members results for the year 2011 are positive and digital information’. (and of Associate Members) has been the budgetary extrapolation for 2012 ap- Contacts with the ERA representa- slightly increasing during 2011 and we pears to be good. tives have also been established, as well hope that this trend will continue in 2012. I would like to express my thanks to all as with representatives of the OECD The conferences and prizes of EPS that have worked to implement the EPS Global Science Forum. Divisions/Groups have been outstand- Strategy Plan 2010+. Let’s go on. n Links with other Societies outside ing, the EPS Historic Site programme has Europe have been strengthened, for started, and the first EPS Historic Site was contents instance with the African Physical created in Warsaw, on the occasion of the 02 Executive Committee Activities Society and the Federation of Ibero- Marie Curie celebrations in 2011. 06 Financial Report 2011 American Physical Societies (notab ly The revival of the EPS in the field of tech- 07 Secretariat through to the International Year of nology has begun. The Technology Group 08 EPS Committees Light), with the Association of Asia now includes innovation in its remit, and 11 EPS Divisions and Groups Pacific Physical Societies (who were has been renamed the Technology and 17 +ournals co-organisers of ASEPS2) and with the Innovation Group (TIG). A special TIG

council meeting 01 activity report 2011

E xecutive Committee Activities

The Executive Committee meets on a common approaches in different do- Executive Committee members are also regular basis, in order to give timely input mains (policy statements, prizes, physics in charge of specific tasks, which are listed on EPS matters. Since the 2011 Council, for development…). in the following table. Reviews of Action the committee has met in May 2011 in The Executive Committee members Committees, Divisions and Groups are Sofia, BG, in October prior to the ASEPS have been very actively involved in pro- ongoing; the outline of a new organi- meeting in Wroclaw, PL, and in January viding input (from the point of view of sational scheme is under discussion. 2012 in Mulhouse, FR. A core group physics) into policy development at the Moreover, each Executive Committee meeting (vice-President, Treasurer, European Commission in areas such as member is the privileged contact point Secretary, and Secretary General) with the European Research Area, Horizon for a set of Member Societies. President Luisa Cifarelli was held at the 2020 and Gender Equality. All Executive beginning of September in order to fol- Committee members have contributed low up on on-going activities. to the ongoing Associate Member re- Education At most Executive Committee meet- cruitment campaign. The Executive Bologna Process Doctoral Study ings, particularly those that are not Committee has actively prepared the The EPS Study of the Implementation of held at EPS headquarters in Mulhouse, renewal of its members for the elections the Bologna Process has now been com- guests are invited. Special care is taken at Council 2012. The implementation of pleted. The project brought together 24 to invite representatives of the local the new distribution scheme with a topi- EPS Member Societies as partners to National Physical Society. In 2011, the cal and geographical balance had to be investigate the implementation of the Executive Committee discussed with adapted to the existing, renewable mem- Bologna reforms in physics studies in representatives from the Bulgarian bers of the Committee. European universities. This was the first Physical Society and the Balkan Physical Union, as well as with the Executive Committee - Distribution of tasks Polish Physical Society and Wroclaw Executive Activity Review University Physics Department. Committee Member J. Langer (IF Pan, Warsaw, PL & Marcis Auzinsh European Integration EPN Academia Europaea, London, UK) pro- Caterina Biscari Member Services, Large Facilities Division and groups vided insight to the future EU research Technology Network activities and services strategy and expected developments for Luisa Cifarelli Alliance for Physics Publishing, General Poland. These privileged meetings be- President Conference, Energy, Initiative for tween the EPS Executive Committee Science in Europe and its Member Societies are impor- Hendrik Ferdinande Education activities, European tant, in order to strengthen links, and Education Platform, Bologna Process gain awareness of particular situations Anders Kastberg Conférence Exceptionnelle PhysNet

in different European countries. They Maciej Kolwas Young Minds, General Conference give the opportunity for both sides to Past President ASEPS/Chinese Physical Society, Forum Physics and Society, Initiative for be better informed about on-going ac- Science in Europe tions, and to discuss points where help Martina Knoop Conférence Exceptionnelle EPS Secretariat and/or input is needed. Secretary Grant's scheme

Among the individuals invited to the Colin Latimer Finances Executive Committee meetings were Treasurer

the officers of international relations Ana Proykova Gender Equality, Student Liaison of APS, DPG and IOP, with whom Els de Wolf European Integration, Education activities the Executive Committee discussed

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discipline specific study of this type, and Communication Visibility has led to the publication of three reports, e-EPS The Executive Committee has actively based on the research and analysis of in- In the second quarter of 2011, the EPS encouraged the development of EPS put received by the International Centre launched e-EPS, the electronic newslet- communication policy. I. Randall has for Higher Education Research, Kassel ter of the EPS. It was created to pub- been hired as the technical editor for (DE). The three reports are available at: lish timely information of interest to e-EPS and is providing valuable com- www.eps.org/?page=bologna_process the members of EPS, and to the physics munication services. B. Huchet, a master community. Ten issues of e-EPS have student in Science Communication at Specification descriptions been published since May 2011 with a the University of Grenoble (FR) is an in- The 24 Member Societies that worked large success and 35,000 subscribers. tern at the EPS Secretariat in Mulhouse. together for the Bologna Process Study, EPS Member Societies and Divisions Martina Knoop, the Honorary Secretary under the leadership of H. Ferdinande and Groups are encouraged to submit of the Executive Committee continues and with the input from the STEPS con- information for publication about their to prepare publishable summaries of the sortium have prepared a ‘European spec- activities, including prize announce- Executive Committee meetings. These ification for Physics Bachelor Studies’, ments, conferences and developments summaries are sent to Member Societies, a ‘European specification for Physics in their field. It is complementary to and are available on-line for EPS Members. Master Studies’, and a ‘European speci- EPN, publishing news items that have The visibility of the Society has increased but fication for Physics Doctoral Studies’. a relatively short lifetime. The edito- should be further enhanced, in order for EPS Each of these documents is a primary rial team is: Caterina Biscari, Luisa to become a recognized player in policy input. external source for higher education Cifarelli, Martina Knoop, Maciej institutions when developing new pro- Kolwas, David Lee & Ian Randall. grams, providing guidance for learning www.epsnews.eu Policy outcomes for these new programs. They EC Consultations are available on the EPS website at: EPS.ORG EPS provides input from European Physical Society Response to the ERA Framework Public Consultation: Areas of untapped www.eps.org/?page=studies_reports. The Executive Committee has followed the physics community to potential fot the development of the European Reasearch Area and provided input into the imple- European institutions for EASPA mentation of the new website. With a the development of sci- 29 november 2011 The EPS is a founder Member of the cleaner design and easier navigation, ence policy in Europe. It ‘European Alliance for Subject-Specific eps.org provides up to date information consults with its members,

European Physical Society and Professional Accreditation and on EPS and its activities. This website is and coordinates replies more than ideas Quality Assurance’. EASPA was created 29 now online, providing new functionali- that represent the views of November 2011 and is a pan-European ties which the Executive Committee had European physicists. In 2011, the European platform for quality assurance in higher the pleasure to inaugurate. The shared Commission has actively solicited input education, uniting eight member profes- document space (also used for Council) from learned societies, including the EPS, sional associations in Europe, which act allows a modern, rapid and secure ex- for the development of ‘Horizon 2020’, the as European field-specific networks. change of documents. Information on research and development funding pro- The common goal of the alliance is to Executive Committee activities (mem- gramme that will start in 2014. maintain and further develop Europe- bers, meetings, executive summaries) The EPS provided piloted replies to con- wide disciplinary learning outcomes, are also available on the website. sultations on ‘Areas of Untapped Potential competence profiles and qualification The completely renovated directory of for the development of the European frameworks; as well as corresponding EPS members is destined to become a Research Area’, ‘Towards a Common quality assurance tools; thereby making lively exchange platform, with the publi- Strategic Framework for EU Research an important contribution towards the cation of more detailed member profiles, and Innovation Funding’, and ‘Scientific development and implementation of aca- which give the opportunity to detail sci- Information in the digital age’. The com- demic and professional mobility within entific expertise and competences. plete EPS responses are available at: the European Higher Education area. www.eps.org www.eps.org/?page=eu_policy

council meeting 03 activity report 2011

Policy statements The2 nd ASEPS meeting in Wrocław to- The Executive Committee is reviewing gether with 15th EPS General Meeting a draft statement regarding assessment took place 26-29 October 2011 in the of physics research and researchers. dynamic Polish city of Wrocław. The Scientific excellence and peer review participants included researchers, policy are considered to be essential elements makers and representatives of science in any assessment exercise. anniversary in 2008, with a special event funding agencies from Asia, Europe and The EPS also reacted to the Fukushima in Mulhouse. EPS Divisions and Groups the USA. The main theme of ASEPS earthquake and subsequent tsunami, continued to be active, organising pre- 2 was “Excellence in Physics through expressing our sympathy and support mier physics conferences in Europe and Cooperation”, to address major topics (www.epsnews.eu/2011/05/earth- awarding many of Europe’s most prestig- related to: ‘Grand Challenges in Physics’, quake-japan). The EPS Energy Group ious prizes, including the EPS Europhysics ‘Large Research Infrastructures’, 'Trends in prepared a statement. Prize in 2008 to A. Geim and K. Novoselov, Physics and Science Policy’, and ‘Promoting The Executive Committee is consid- 2 years prior to receiving the Nobel Prize. Individual Excellence in Physics’. ering a procedure that will allow joint In 2010, the EPS undertook a strategic statements by the EPS and the APS. This review, which was adopted by Council in will provide a global platform for impor- 2011. C. Latimer, EPS Treasurer, reported tant announcements. that the finances of the Society are satisfactory, especially in light of the financial Physics and the EU Economy difficulties in Europe. Not only were most The Executive Committee has agreed activities maintained, many new activities to undertake a study of Physics and the were started, including for example the EPS The ASEPS working groups looked at: EU Economy. One of the roles of the electronic news bulletin, . e-EPS. M. Knoop, Joint large scale programmes & networks: EPS is to explain to policy makers that EPS Honorary Secretary, reported on the crisis creates opportunities; Physics at physics makes an important contribu- work of the Executive Committee. The frontier of grand challenges: Energy and tion to the economy, and is not limited Members of the Executive Committee are sustainable development, alternative en- to university research. Ownership of the elected by Council and support the EPS and ergy resources; Education is a must: needs definition of what constitutes a physics the President in developing and piloting of more and better educated people for sci- industry is with the physics learned so- EPS Activities. Much effort has been de- ence and industry; Mobility of scientists, cieties, and not policy makers. Defining voted to improving communications with exchange programmes, obstacles, scholar- the physics industry and demonstrating Member Societies, and with Divisions and ships versus hiring people; Industry versus its importance in the economy is used to Groups. The Secretariat is evolving, pro- Academia: cooperate or die. argue for continued support to physics viding support for EPS activities, as well The Wroclaw Declaration and the research. The study is based on the study as institutional organisation for the EPS. recommendations from the working conducted by the IoP on ‘Physics and the Staffing over the period 2008-2011 has groups are available at: UK Economy’ (www.iop.org/publica- remained stable. More information on the www.eps.org/?page=eps_projects%20 tions/iop/2007/page_42716.html) and EPS General Meeting is available at: #ASEPS should be ready in 2012. www.eps.org/?page=general_meeting Physics for Development The EPS recognises that physics makes th 15 EPS General Meeting International Relations significant contributions to cultural, eco- The15 th EPS General Meeting was held Asia-Europe Physics Summit nomic and social well-being. The EPS has with 27 October 2011 in Wroclaw (PL). The ASEPS meetings are organised by repeatedly defended this position in its The President, L. Cifarelli , summarised the the EPS and the AAPPS to strengthen communications with the European Union. development of the EPS over the period collaboration in physics research be- Physics can also be a powerful tool for im- 2008-2011. The EPS celebrated its 40th tween Europe and Asia. provement in developing countries outside

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Europe. The Executive Committee is cur- was part of the ‘Varenna Fisica Festival’ rently considering collaboration with other that presented a large variety of scientific physics societies (notably the IOP and APS) events in the region of Lecco-Merate- to combine our activities. This was success- Varenna, Italy, for a widespread dissemi- fully implemented with the SESAME travel nation of scientific culture on physics. grant scheme (www.sesame.org.jo). Links More information is available at: with the International Centre for Theoretical www.sif.it/SIF/en/portal/activities/ Physics (ICTP) have been strengthened (S. Didactics Department at the University passionforlight Randjibar Daemi, Deputy Director of ICTP of Bayreuth (DE). The project has 25 was present at EPS Council 2010). The EPS partners from Europe, Russia and the Physics for Development Group and the USA. The PATHWAY project propos- Executive Committee are working on a sem- es to develop a standard based model inar in Brussels on Physics for Development, enquiry based science teaching. The and with the ICTP for an International PATHWAY website is: Conference on Physics for Development. www.pathway-project.eu

EU Projects Outreach The EPS is actively engaged in EU fund- International Year of Light Historic Sites ed projects, in areas of science education The International Year of Light is a glob- The EPS Historic Sites Award was and outreach. Through these projects, al initiative, which was started by the launched in 2011. It commemorates the EPS promotes physics education at EPS Quantum Electronics and Optics places in Europe important for the all levels, and highlights the importance Division in 2010. Following the ap- development and the history of phys- of physics in society. proval of the EPS Council, a resolution ics. The first EPS Historic Site was at- was presented to the General Assembly tributed during Marie Skłodowska Odysseus of the International Union of Pure and Curie Symposium co-organized by The EPS is a partner in the Odysseus Applied Physics (IUPAP) in November EPS in Warsaw (PL) in November project, Odysseus is a contest for young 2011. Work is on-going to gain support 2011 to the Institute of Theoretical students. Under the guidance of their from UNESCO and the UN to have Physics of the Warsaw University teachers, students will prepare projects re- 2015 declared the International Year of situated at Hoża 69, a famous centre volving around one of three major themes Light. A prospectus describing the IYL for research on fluorescence where, in space science: Solar System; Spaceship – is available at: in particular, the Jabłoński diagram, global cooperation; and the Co-evolution www.eps.org/resource/resmgr/activi- a fundamental concept in molecular of life. The contest and the project aim to ties/eps_iyol_2.pdf physics, was invented. This site is of engage and inspire the European youth outstanding importance for Polish in the “New Frontier”, combining creativ- Passion for Light physics. Generations of Polish physi- ity, intelligence and innovation.For more The Passion for Light Workshop was cists were raised there and a number of information and to participate: co-organised by the EPS and the Società basic discoveries in various branches www.eps.org/?page=odysseus Italiana di Fisica in Varenna (IT) as the kick- of experimental and theoretical phys- www.odysseus-contest.eu/?page_id=196 off event for the International Year of Light. ics were achieved there. The keynote speakers included many Many proposals have been received for PATHWAY of the world’s leading scientists, and the the entitlement of other sites in various The EPS is a partner in the PATHWAY programme explored many uses of light European countries. These are currently project, involved in dissemination. in frontier research. being reviewed and more sites will be This project has just started and will The Passion for Light event brought to- attributed in 2012. run for 3 years. The co-ordinator is the gether more than 120 participants and www.eps.org/?page=historic_sites

council meeting 05 activity report 2011

Financial Report 2011

The financial results for the Figure 1: Income and Expenditure 2009-2011 (in €) year 2011 were highly satisfactory with an excess of income over expenditure (subject to minor changes after auditing) of 65,467 € compared with the budget of 1,945 €. This was the re- sult of two factors. Income exceeded budget by 32,300 € due mainly to a healthy contribution from conference services, which included the receipt of a late payment from the previous year, and a successful drive to col- lect member subscriptions. Expenditure was 33,267 € Figure 2: Income 2011 (in €) lower than budget mainly due to prudent expenditure on administration and some curtailment of our scientific activities. Substantial work has been done in producing accounts that are more readable and to fulfil the requirement, agreed at the Exceptional Council Meeting in 2010, that EPS income and expenditure should be reported as three business units Figure 3: Expenditure 2011 (in €) (Federation, Learned Society and Publishing) in order to facilitate a comparison between federal and learned society activities. The results of this procedure for 2011 indicate that there is a satisfactory correspond- ence between income and expenditure in these two aspects of our work.

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Secretariat

The EPS Secretariat is composed of 6.5 In 2011, the EPS hired a Communication EPS headquarters in Mulhouse also persons including the Secretary General. Officer, who is also the technical editor houses the EPL editorial office: the staff An accountant, an IT manager, an officer for e-EPS. This has allowed for the de- editor, as well as 2.6 editorial assistants for member services, and an adminis- velopment of better communications (3 persons). In 2011, they handled a trative secretary provide the necessary channels for the EPS and enhanced record 2,365 manuscripts (compared logistics for the activities of the P resi- EPS visibility. The presence of such a with 1,971 in 2010). At the same time, dent, the members of the Executive staff member is required to support the the median time from reception to deci- Committee, Action Committees, the Executive Committee and the Secretary sion decreased from 82 days in 2010 to website, and Divisions and Groups. The General on EPS communications, in- 73 days in 2011. half time student trainee in secretarial cluding press releases, statements, etc., All activities and staff at the secre- services has provided cost effective and in addition to e-EPS and the website tariat are monitored twice a year by efficient support. One staff member is In 2011, EPS Conference Services the Executive Committee’s Honorary graciously provided by Université de Department employed 2.5 persons. This Secretary, Martina Knoop and its Haute Alsace. very active service organised CLEO/ Honorary Treasurer, Colin Latimer in In addition, a graphic designer shares his Europe - EQEC, and Nanometa in 2011. cooperation with the Secretary General, time between EPN, e-EPS and confer- The Conference Service Department has David Lee. Through the implementation ences services, a minor fraction of his been active in attracting new confer- of staff evaluations, project based tasks work load is dedicated to more general ences, which will give a smoother 2-year and increased dialog, the Secretariat is EPS activities. budget integral of this activity. more dynamic and efficient.

Top: B. Huchet, U. Megnassan, P. Padovani, X. De Araujo, N. Wickey - Middle: J. Robert, P. Helfenstein, D. Lee, S. Loskill, I. Randall - Bottom: C. Orbann, A. Ouarab, O. Fornari, F. Burr, G. Gunaratnam

council meeting 07 activity report 2011

E PS Committees

Committees are established by the according to the year when the event Committee on Executive Committee to implement took place (status as of year-end 2011). European Integration specific aspects of EPS strategy. After receiving endorsement from the Chairman: Jaroslav Nadrchal Committees are responsible for im- EPS conference organizers may be eli- plementing programmes and projects gible for receiving grants. The CEI was created in 2008 to advise of the EPS. the Executive Committee on the situa- The available granting schemes are: tion of physics in countries on the pe- 1. Conferences Grants - the EPS riphery of the EU. While the CEI has Conference Committee makes grants available to organiz- permanent members, other individuals Chairman: Olaf Scholten ers of Europhysics to allow for the are regularly contacted in all interested participation of young scientists in countries for their advice and input. The Conference Committee is respon- their meeting. sible for collecting and disseminat- 2. Invited Speaker Grants - the EPS Activity in 2011: ing information on EPS Europhysics makes grants available to Europhysics The CEI sponsored the International Conferences (i.e. conferences organized conferences for inviting distin- Physical Society Exchange Conference by EPS Divisions and Groups), and for guished speakers. (IPSEC) that was organised as part of evaluating applications to obtain the la- 3. EPS Poster Prize - grants are avail- the Polish Physical Society’s General bel of EPS Sponsored Conference. It is able for an award to a student who Conference in Lublin (Poland) on 5 also responsible for the distribution of has presented the best poster at September 2011. Representatives of grants for conferences. the conference. several national physical societies took Conference Actvitiy 2011: In the 4. IM Travel Grant: Individual Members part in the session. The participants figure the number of Europhysics of the EPS can apply for travel a travel discussed the: Conferences (Eu, organized by the grant of 350 Euro to attend any EPS EPS or one of its D ivisions or Groups) endorsed conference •• Methods of evaluation of scientific and Sponsored Conferences (nd) institutions (overestimating of im- and schools are given as well as the As indicated there are more grant- pact factors, different views of state number of rejected applications (rj) ing schemes open to Europhysics administration and scientists, links since 1995. The number of Sponsored Conferences as compared to other with funding of institutions and pro- Conferences is rather stable. The total conferences that are endorsed by jects, etc.) (tot) number of conferences submit- the EPS. In general, the number of •• Enhancing mutual cooperation ted for EPS endorsement is slowly de- Conference Grants that have been among National Physical Societies, creasing in recent years. distributed is close to the budgeted for example by organising sessions Conferences & Schools: Europhysics, amount but requests exceed avail- in English within the framework of Sponsored, or Rejected since 1995, listed ability by about 30%. Poster prizes national meetings. Due to insufficient are high in demand and, since the knowledge of English among a con- amount per grant is relatively small, siderable part of Societies members these have distributed these more lib- (in particular, physics teachers) it is erally. Several requests for IM Travel not possible to have whole meetings Grants were received, only about half in English. of these were within the stipulated •• Best practice in physics education can criteria for this granting scheme. For be enhanced, for example by sharing more information, please see the sec- teaching material and aids on an in- tion “Grants Committee”. ternational basis.

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The CEI also supported the th9 European Spain 21-23 October 2010, following earlier university based research. It will address Union Science Olympiad (Competition Forums in Graz, Austria (2006), Zakopane, the overall subject of “Physicists in the of high school students in physics, Poland (2008) and Ratnieki, Latvia (2009). marketplace”, dealing with three topics: chemistry and biology). It was held in The fifth meeting is scheduled at CERN in (i) internal strengths and weaknesses Hradec Králové and Pardubice (Czech March 2012, right before the EPS Council of being a physicist, (ii) the global chal- Republic) on 10-16 April 2011. (28-29 March 2012). lenge, and (iii) social scientific respon- The role of FPS should increase in- sibility – is physics prepared? Action plan for 2012 side EPS in the coming years. In many In 2012, the CEI plans to: European countries, one may observe 1. Update of the report on the situation a decrease of the interest in scientific Gender Equality in Physics of physics and physical societies in culture and scientific issues. This ap- Chairperson: Ana Proykova the countries of Eastern Europe. pears in several features like the general 2. Prepare a report on the situation in public response to science, the interest The Gender Equality in Physics physics and community of physicists of young people (pupils and students) Committee was established follow- in the countries of Africa (together into scientific studies, and also a some- ing the first IUPAP Women in Physics with IGPD). what disappointing evolution of scien- Conference. It informs and advises the tific curricula in high schools of several Executive Committee on issues relating European countries. It is clearly a chal- to women in physics. Forum Physics and Society lenge for learned societies to reverse this Chairman: Martial Ducloy general trend. Action is necessary to im- The Gender Equality in Physics Committee prove how the general public perceives undertook the following actions in 2011: The Forum Physics and Society (FPS) aims science, to influence teaching tendencies 1. Individual and group response to at establishing a more active EPS role in the toward higher scientific content and in- Public Consultation on the Future of relation of physics to society, taking seri- crease concern for science among the Gender and Innovation in Europe - a ously the challenge of maintaining a strong decision makers in policy and economy. background for the Gender Summit and critical dialogue between physicists and FPS has tackled several of these issues documents http://gender-summit. decision makers from policy and econom- in past meetings, like science education eu/index.php ics. FPS aims at catalyzing the dialogue (Ratnieki, April 2009) or scientific com- 2. “Women in physics” database is be- through workshops and meetings, gather- munication (El Escorial, October 2010). ing regularly updated since it was ing decision makers and physicists to put The CERN FPS meeting in 2012 will established at the end of 2008. I do the spotlight on topics of interest to both be focused on exploring the challenges believe that the persons included in society and to the physics community. The faced by physicists who leave their field this database will enhance research fourth Forum Physics and Society (FPS) of study to pursue alternative careers in and innovation in Europe by address- assembly took place in El Escorial, Madrid, the marketplace outside teaching and ing gender equality issues. 3. Ana Proykova nominated two women- Graz, Austria professors for the ERAB (August 2011). 4. The exchange of information about awards, events, conferences, possible support is ongoing between the EPS and the Gender Equality in Physics Committee. The networking activities are stable. The most recent event was the Gender Summit in 8-9 November, 2011, organized within the framework of the FP7 project genSET.

council meeting 09 activity report 2011

5. L. Cifarelli and the EPS Secretariat or- Colin Latimer. Since the last meeting for the best student and the most inspir- ganised a photo exhibit by I. Durante on January 2011 the committee has not ing teacher. Over 2011 two grants have at the Gender Summit “The women convened and communicated by email. been requested and distributed. who run the biggest machine ever The present granting schemes are listed built by man”, which provides profiles in the following, shortly stating their Special Regional Projects: and interviews of women scientists aims and performance. These grants are for sponsoring regional working at CERN. meetings of EPS membership societies University Student Fellowships: involving at least three different coun- The aim of this granting scheme is to tries. An EPS official should be invited to Grants Committee increase visibility of the EPS among attend the meeting. A total of 3,000 € is Chairman: Olaf Scholten master students by distributing pres- available to support 2 or 3 meetings per tigious grants for students to do part year. 2 grants were distributed in 2011. This committee was created in 2007 of their study in another European to make the EPS grants systems more country. This support the EPS policy Conferences Grants: dynamic and better serve their purpose of increasing mutual cooperation be- The EPS makes grants available to the of increasing the visibility of the EPS. tween different EU countries. Per year organizers of Europhysics conferences To this end the committee critically re- maximally 3 fellowships of 2,000 € to allow for the participation of young viewed the existing granting schemes each are rewarded to Master students scientists in their meeting. Per confer- early in 2011 and a series of new grants (second cycle, post Bachelor, pre-PhD) ence a maximum of 3 grants of 350 € has been designed for implementation towards the expenses of studying in an- each can be distributed. in 2011. In some cases the new grants other country for a period of at least 3 resemble the old ones while others are months. Over 2011 the three fellowships IM Travel Grants: new initiatives. A set of criteria has been have been distributed. The EPS makes grants available to indi- defined to judge if a particular grant ful- vidual members of the EPS to allow for fils its objective. Among the objectives of Grants for Pre-university the participation in a EPS recognized EPS grants are: bringing publicity to the International Physics Competitions: (Europhysics or Endorsed) meeting. EPS and promoting the policy goals of Grants to organizers of international Members may receive a grant of 350 € the EPS in a cost efficient manner. physics competitions (Olympiads, tour- only once and may request support only The present members of the EPS-Grants naments and another international con- in the first 3 years of their membership. committee are: Martina Knoop, Majek tests) promoting physics. Per year not 6 grants were distributed in 2011. Kolwas, David Lee (secretary), Olaf more that 4 grants of 700 € each are Scholten (chair), Bob Lambourne, and available for sponsoring prizes, such as Invited Speaker Grants: The EPS makes grants, of 500 € each, Actual spending over 2011 available to conferences organized by EPS Divisions and Groups (Europhysics Spending 2010 Budget 2011 Spending 2011 conferences and schools) to cover costs EPS Student Fellowships € 0 € 6,000 € 6,000 of invited speakers. 2 grants were dis- Pre University IPC € 11,330 € 3,000 € 350 tributed in 2011.

Special Regional Projects € 4,500 € 3,000 2,700 EPS Poster Prize: Conferences Grants € 28,671 € 13,000 € 12,150 Grants, of 250 € each, are available to EPS IM Travel Grants € 4,000 € 7,000 € 2,100 Europhysics conferences for a poster prize, Invited Speaker Grants € 2,500 € 4,000 € 500 to make an award to a student who has

EPS Poster Prize € 2,500 € 3,750 presented the best poster at the conference. Spending on the granting schemes is TOTAL € 51,001 € 38,300 € 27,550 strongly reduced over the past year as

10 council meeting activity report 2011

compared to last years, in many cases Two core objectives of the EPS Young Early on in 2011, the first yearly Young even below the budgeted amount for Minds Project are to support self-or- Minds Leadership Meeting took place 2011. This may be seen as an indication ganized student groups, and to create a at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland). About that the possibilities for support from network of proactive young scientists 30 representatives from 10 local sec- the EPS are not sufficiently known. This tions from 6 countries were drawn could be used by the EPS to launch an together and had the possibility of effective campaign to advertise itself to interacting with senior scientists, the community. journal editors and industry leaders. It represented a great opportunity for career building and networking, Young Minds and also spurred the growth of the Chairman: Armand Niederberger within Europe. In the course of 2011, EPSYM project. we were further able to establish 10 new Apart from the EPSYM leadership In 2010, the EPSYM Action Committee sections from all over Europe and the meeting in Geneva and the European was launched as a platform for proac- world. Today, 18 sections in Spain, Italy, IONS conference (in Salamanca - SP), tive young scientists to engage in self- the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the EPS Young Minds Project support- organized activities that strengthen the Ukraine, Russia and the United States ed activities in Germany (Erlangen), their scientific, outreach and network- of America connect well over 200 young Italy (Catania, L’Aquila, Messina, ing capabilities. scientists. This constitutes a valuable pool Naples, Reggio Calabria, Rome), Since its start, the EPS Young Minds of talent available to EPS member socie- Russia (Moscow), Spain (Barcelona, Project (www.epsyoungminds.org) ties and divisions. Also, EPS Young Minds Salamanca), UK (Glasgow): open day keeps expanding the reach of the serves as a powerful tool to multiply the seminars, experiments for high school European Physical Society amongst the impact of activities organized by EPS and students, visits to science sites/labs or new generation of physicists. its member societies. industry facilities, outreach, etc.

Ei PS D visions and Groups

EPS has 11 Divisions, covering each of Concerning energy, the Joint EPS-SIF Varenna, Como Lake (IT). The frequen- the specific fields of physics research. International School on Energy was es- cy will be biannual in order, alternating The 7 Groups look at questions of com- tablished in 2011. The primary goal of the with the European Energy Conference, mon interest for all physicists such as School will be to present all physics fields jointly organized by the EPS with the Physics for Development, Energy, with relevance for the technologies of en- ESF and other European learned soci- and Technology. ergy production, conversion, transmission eties. The first course of the School is In 2011 the Technology and Innovation and savings. Their potential will be present- scheduled in summer 2012. Group was launched (as an integra- ed as well as the need for more research and EPS Divisions and Groups continue to tion and continuation of the previous development to achieve their full potential. organise many of Europe’s leading phys- Technology Group). It will focus on tech- The School will cover major fields in ics conferences, allowing members of the nology networking among large European detailed lectures and will also serve as European and global physics community facilities, technology transfer and physics- a forum for discussion. It will bring to share their research and exchange with based technology development applied, in together scientists working in various their colleagues. They also award many particular, to medicine. A special kick-off energy related areas. The permanent seat prestigious prizes and are involved in workshop is foreseen in 2012. of the School will be Villa Monastero, in policy debates and physics outreach.

council meeting 11 activity report 2011

Conferences Organised in 2011

Conference Place Participants Division

ASEPS 2 Wroclaw, PL 250 EPS

EGAS Salamanca, ES 300 Atomic, Molecular and Optics Division

CMPS Summer School Gothenberg, SE 60 Atomic, Molecular and Optics Division

8th Liquid Matter Conference Vienna, AT 800 Condensed matter Division, Liquids Section

International Conference on Low Temperature Heidelberg, DE 300 Condensed Matter Division, Detectors Low Temperature Section

Cryo Course Grenoble, FR 60 Condensed Matter Division, Low Temperature Section

Workshop on Macromolecular Physics Freiburg, DE 100 Condensed Matter Division, Macromolecular Physics Section

Summer School on Soft Matter Science Freiburg, DE 100 Condensed Matter Division, Macromolecular Physics Section

Summer School on Magnetisms Târgovte, RO 60 Condensed Matter Division, Magnetism Section

Spin Physics, Chemistry and Technology Kazan, RU 500 Condensed Matter Division, Structural and Dynamic Properties of Solids Section

ECOSS 28 Wroclaw, PL 650 Condensed Matter Division, Surfaces Section

High Energy Physics Conference Grenoble, FR 800 High Energy Physics Division

Nuclear Physics in Astrophyscis Eilat (IS) 140 Nuclear Physics Division

38th Conference on Plasma Physics Strasbourg, FR 750 Plasma Physics Division

37 Conference on Plasma Physics Dublin, IE 750 Plasma Physics Division

GIREP-EPS 2011 Jyväskylä, FI 220 Physics Education Division

Biomolecules and Nanostructures Bedlewo, PL 90 Physics in Life Sciences Division

Nanometa Seefeld, AT 250 Quantum Electronics and Physics Division

CLEO/Europe – EQEC Munich, DE 1500 Quantum Electronics and Physics Division

European Solar Physics Meeting Rhodes, GR 220 Solar Physics Division

International Conference on Statistical Physics Larnaca, CY 200 Statistical and Non-linear Physics Division

IPAC 2 San Sebastian, SP 1100 Accelerators Group

Wind Symposium Lillestom, NO 25 Energy Group

ICALEPS Grenoble, FR 600 Experimental Physics Control Systems

Inauguration of the ECHOPHYSICS Centre Poellau, AT 150 History of Physics Group

History of Physics Symposium Lausanne, CH 50 History of Physics Group

Low Cost Physics and appropriate solutions Yaoundé, Physics for Development Group Cameroun

12 council meeting activity report 2011

Prizes Awarded in 2011

Prize Laureate Division

Gero Thomas Medal Claude Sebenne EPS

EPS CMD Liquid Matter Prize David Chandler Condensed Matter Division, Liquid Matter Sections

EPS High Energy and Particle Physics Prize Sheldon Lee Glashow High Energy and Particle Physics Division John Iliopoulos Luciano Maiani

Guiseppe and Vanna Cocconi Prize Paolo de Bernardis High Energy and Particle Physics Division Paul Richards

EPS High Energy and Particle Physics Outreach Prize Christine Kourkoumelis High Energy and Particle Physics Division Sofoklis Sotiriou

EPS Gribov Medal Davide Gaiotto High Energy and Particle Physics Division

EPS High Energy and Particle Physics Young Physicist Paolo Cremelli High Energy and Particle Physics Division Prize Andrea Rizzi

IBA Europhysics Prize for Applied Nuclear Science Elisabetta Boaretto Nuclear Physics Division and Nuclear Methods and Research in Medicine

Plasma Physics Hannes Alfvén Prize Patrick Diamond Plasma Physics Division Akira Hasegawa Kunioki Mima

Plasma Physics Innovation Prize Alexander Litvak Plasma Physics Division Keishi Sakamoto Manfred K.A. Thumm

Plasma Physics PhD Awards Stefan Kneip Plasma Physics Division Julian Schulze Mierk Schwab

EPS PED Secondary Teaching Award Becky Parker Physics Education Division

EPS PED Secondary Poster Prize Tomas Franc Physics Education Division

EPS QEOD Prize: Fundamental Immanuel Bloch Quantum Electronics and Optics Division

EPS QEOD Prize: Applied Ursula Keller Quantum Electronics and Optics Division

Fresnel Prize: Fundamental Philip Walther Quantum Electronics and Optics Division

Fresnel Prize: Applied Christelle Monat Quantum Electronics and Optics Division

EPS Solar Physics Division Poster Prize Urs Ganze Solar Physics Division

Rolf Wideöe Prize Shin-ichi Kurokawa Accelerators Group

Gersh Budker Prize Yasushige Yano Accelerators Group

Experimental Physics Control Systems Prize Tomasz Wlostowski Experimental Physics Control Systems Group

council meeting 13 activity report 2011

s Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics Division High Energy And Particle Physics Division

Chairman Chairman on • •

i • Friedrich Aumayr • Paris Sphicas s

i Sections Conference • • v • Electronic and Atomic Collisions • HEP General Conference •• Chemical and Molecular Physics

D •• European Group on Atomic Systems Prizes •• The High Energy and Particle

S Conferences Physics Prize

P •• European Conference Atomic and •• The Young Physicist Prize

E i Molecular Physics (ECAMP) •• The Gribov Medal •• European Group on Atomic •• The Outreach Prize Systems Conference (EGAS) Web site Web site •• http://eps-hepp.web.cern.ch/ •• http://ampd.epsdivisions.org/ eps-hepp/

Condensed Matter Division Nuclear Physics Division

Chairman Chairman •• Eoin P. O’Reilly •• Nikolae Victor Zamfir

Sections Conferences •• Liquids, Macromolecular Physics, •• EPS Nuclear Physics Division Magnetism Conference •• Semiconductors and Insulators, •• Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics Surfaces and Interfaces Prizes Conferences •• Lise Meitner Prize (Nuclear Science) •• CMD General Conference •• IBA Europhysics Prize (Applied •• Liquid Matter Conference Nuclear Science and Nuclear •• EDM Macromolecular Physics Methods in Medicine) •• Joint European Magnetism Symposium •• ECOSS Highlights/News •• http://nuclear.epsdivisions.org/ Prize highlights-1/ •• EPS CMD Europhysics Prize Web site Web site •• http://nuclear.epsdivisions.org/ •• http://cmd.epsdivisions.org/ eps-hepp/

Environmental Physics Division Plasma Physics Division

Chairman Chairman •• Herbert Fischer •• Carlos Hidalgo

Prizes Sections •• A draft charter for an EPD award has •• Beam Plasma and Inertial Fusion been established aimed at a prize for Section young scientists and a medal for life- •• Dusty and Low Temperature time achievement in Environmental Physics. The coming period 2010- Conference 2012, sponsors are to be identified. •• EPS Plasma Physics Division Conference ///

14 council meeting activity report 2011

/// Plasma Physics Division (following p.16) /// Quantum Electronics And Optics Division

Prizes •• 4 QEOD thesis prizes •• EPS-PPD Hannes Alfvén Prize •• PhD student oral and poster •• EPS-PPD PhD Research Award prizes were introduced into the •• EPS-PPD Innovation Prize Europhoton conference series

Web site Web site •• http://plasma.ciemat.es/ •• http://qeod.epsdivisions.org

Physics Education Division Solar Physics Division

Chairman Chairman •• Robert Lambourne •• Valery Nakariakov

Conference The JSPD is a joint Division with •• European Physics Education the European Astronomical Society Conference (EPEC) (EAS) and the European Physical Society (EPS) Prize •• EPS PED Secondary Teaching Conference Award •• European Solar Physics Conference

Web site Web site •• http://education.epsdivisions.org/ •• http://soho.estec.esa.nl/SPS/

Physics In Life Sciences Division Statistical And Nonlinear Physics Division

Chairman Chairman •• Marek Cieplak •• Stephan Fauve

Conference Conferences •• under consideration •• Applications of Physics in Financial Analysis Web site •• International Conference on •• http://info.ifpan.edu.pl/DPL/ Statistical Physics

Web site • Quantum Electronics And Optics Division • http://statistical.epsdivisions.org/

Chairman •• Markus Pollnau Notes

Acting Chair •• John Dudley

-Conferences •• EPS-QEOD Europhoton meetings •• CLEO/Europe – EQEC •• Nanometa

Prizes •• Quantum Electronics Prize •• Fresnel Prize ///

council meeting 15 activity report 2011

s Accelerators Group Experimental Physics Control Systems Group p Chairman Chairman •• Andrezj Wolski •• Roland Mueller

ro Conference Conferences •• International Particle Accelerator •• International Conference on g

Conference Accelerator and Large Experimental

S Physics Control Systems (ICALEPCS) Prizes •• Current Trends in Data Acquisition P •• EPS Accelerator Achievement Prize and Controls of Accelerator (CTDCA) E u for outstanding work in the accelerator field Prize: EPCS Prize •• EPS Accelerator Prize for recent significant contributions Web site: http://epcs.epsdivisions.org/ •• EPS Accelerator Prize for an individual early career researcher for recent significant contributions History Of Physics Group •• EPS Accelerator Prize for PhD or equivalent for the quality of their work •• EPS Accelerator Prize for Chairman • student poster • Peter Maria Schuster

Web site Conference • •• http://epac.web.cern.ch/EPAC/EPS- • International Conference for the AG/Welcome.html History of Science Web site: http://history.epsdivisions.org/

Computational Physics Group Physics For Development Group Chairman •• Peter Howard Borcherds Chairman •• Francois Piuzzi Conferences •• Conference on Computational Physics Conference •• Biennial Granad Seminars in •• Examining proposal to create a European Computational Physics Conference on Science and Development

Prize Prize •• Berni Alder CECAM prize •• Examining proposal to create Instru- mentation Award for African Scientists Web site •• http://cmd.epsdivisions.org/ Web site: http://igpd.epsdivisions.org/

Energy Group Technology and Innovation Group

This Group was formed in 2010 Chairman •• Horst Wenninger Chairman •• Friedrich Wagner Conference •• under consideration Conference •• National Energy Group Seminar Web site •• European Energy Conference •• under consideration

16 council meeting activity report 2011

JOURNALS

Europhysics News have been glad to see a decrease to 61 authors increasingly from the borders of in 2010 and 54 in 2011. We hope that physics and other domains. This will be Editor: the situation will stabilize in the future: achieved by adjusting the composition of C. Sèbenne about 50 highlights a year would be the board, upon member replacements, quite reasonable. giving priority to topical rather than geographical distribution. We feel that EPN Europhysics News and e-EPS must primarily be instructive and pleas- Science Editor: EPN and the e-EPS Newsletter are com- ant to read, rather than reporting from L.J.F. (Jo) Hermans plementary. Items from EPN are pub- the cutting edge of physics research. lished in e-EPS, and it has freed EPN Europhysics News is the magazine of from publishing news of temporary the European physics community. It interest such as conference announce- EPL is owned by the European Physical ments, prize calls etc. As a consequence, Editor in Chief: Society and produced in cooperation more printing space has become avail- Michael Schreiber with EDP Sciences. It is distributed to all able to make EPN a true magazine. The our Individual Members and many in- news section is now devoted to EPS ac- stitutional subscribers. Most European tivities, scientific reports on EPS confer- national societies receive EPN for fur- ences, prize and award laureates of the Executive Editor: ther distribution. The total circulation Society, etc. Graeme Watt is currently about 25,000 copies per All EPS Member Societies, Divisions issue. It is the main communications and Groups, and Committees are ex- EPL publishes original, high-quality channel for the EPS, now efficiently pected to submit important news items Letters in all areas of physics, ranging coupled to the electronic newsletter of to EPN. from condensed matter topics and in- the Society: e-EPS. terdisciplinary research to astrophysics, Europhysics News On-line geophysics, plasma and fusion sciences, Production EPN is freely and fully accessible on the including those with application poten- The layout of EPN has maintained its web. This makes it available not only tial. The Journal was founded in 1986 by general presentation throughout the to all European physicists, but also to the European Physical Society (EPS), the year, looking principally for ways to be- everybody in the world. The statistics Société Française de Physique (SFP) and come more pleasant to read. The graphic of the web visits look very encourag- its subsidiary EDP Sciences, the Società designer, Xavier de Araujo has increased ing. The website version is basically the Italiana di Fisica (SIF) and the Institute the size and number of illustrations. same as the printed issue. However, it of Physics (IOP). The new journal in- The size of the “Highlights” section has adds a new degree of freedom by giving corporated Lettere al Nuovo Cimento been limited to a maximum of 12 per space, when needed, to complementary and Journal de Physique Lettres and was issue or 72 per year, which is a maxi- documents such as videos or scientific published by EPS, EDP Sciences and SIF mum of 6 EPN pages per issue. This developments related to a subject that since 2006. EPL is now published under corresponds to slightly over 20% of the is presented in the printed issue. This the scientific policy and control of the available space for editorial material. feature has been used once at present. EPS by EDP Sciences, IOP Publishing So far this has been found satisfactory, and SIF for a partnership of 17 European but we should notice that the section Topical coverage physical societies (the EPL Association). started with 21 summaries per year in The Editorial Advisory Board has de- EPL is now available in more than 2006, then increased to 44 the next year cided to widen the topics treated in the 2,000 institutions worldwide and has and 60 in 2008, to reach 66 in 2009. We Features as much as possible, recruiting an Impact Factor of 2.8.

council meeting 17 activity report 2011

Journal Production The total downloads for the year reached EPL 25th Anniversary EPL is going through a growth period at 624,347. The number of downloads per Celebration present with submissions rising signifi- article published has increased from 96 EPL celebrated its 25th Anniversary with cantly each month over the 2010 value. in 2010 to 135 in 2011. This is a signifi- a Symposium at the Bavarian Academy The total for the year 2011 was 2,328 cant improvement, possibly an indica- of Sciences and Humanities in Munich. (1,945 in 2010). The number of articles tion of higher quality publications. 250 participants — about a third of published has increased over the previ- The community is becoming more aware them students —gathered on 3 and 4 ous year (882 in 2011; 824 in 2010) but that EPL is using software (CrossCheck) May 2011 at the Bavarian Academy of not at the same rate as submissions. The tools to investigate manuscripts for pla- Sciences and Humanities in Munich’s overall acceptance rate is slowly decreas- giarism or infringement. ‘Residenz’ palace to attend the EPL25- ing and is now about 40%. Symposium ‘Frontiers of Physics’. The at- Publications remain strong in con- The Editorial Board of EPL tendance of the students was sponsored densed matter, interdisciplinary topics, EPL’s Editorial Board comprises the by both the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus and in statistical modelling. In addition Editor-in-Chief (EiC) and a team of 50 Foundation and by EPS member socie- 26 high-energy physics related articles Co-editors. The members of the Board ties that belong to the EPL Association. have been published in 2011 including oversee the review process: they select Leading scientists addressed many of the 2 from the TOTEM collaboration at the referees and decide on whether a sub- currently most active fields of physics. LHC. A recent publication downloaded mitted manuscript will be published, is directly from the International Space rejected or needs a revision. Station (ISS) on plasmas is attracting All Co-editors of EPL are active physi- EJP - European Journal significant downloads. These articles are cists of high standing. They are care- of Physics all free Open Access, and given extensive fully selected by the EiC. The spread of Editor: publicity and promotion. their fields of research closely matches Jan Mostowski The geographical distribution of sub- the distribution of submitted manu- missions (by corresponding author) is scripts among the categories of the Asia: 49%; Europe: 35%; North America: ‘Physics and Astronomy Classification 9%; rest: 7%; while published articles are Scheme’ (PACS). Europe: 49%; Asia: 31%; North America: 13%; rest: 7%. Visibility The median accept-to-online time dur- Highlighted (Editor’s Choice) summa- With a world-wide readership and au- ing 2011 has reduced to 25 days and is ries still regularly appear in Europhysics thors from every continent, European consistent at this level. Exceptional arti- News and these are also reprinted at the Journal of Physics is a truly interna- cles can be fast-tracked from acceptance front of the first issue of each volume of tional journal dedicated to maintaining to online publication within 11 days. EPL (4 times per year). We are now be- and improving the standard of taught ginning to ensure that at least one article physics in universities and other higher Open Access and downloads is also highlighted in each issue of the education institutes. The journal is a The free Open Access policy of EPL for e-EPS Newsletter. joint undertaking of the EPS and the all high-energy physics articles ceased at Compilations were made on ‘high-Tc IoP and is published by the Institute of the end of June 2011 with a total of 137 Fe-based superconductors’, ‘graphene’, Physics Publishing. articles published. This scheme has been ‘liquid crystals’, ‘quantum simulators’, replaced by one where the Editor-in- and ‘topological insulators and super- Journal Development Chief awards OA status to selected ar- conductors’. Compilations highlight arti- 2011 has been another very successful ticles. The number of articles published cles published in EPL on selected topics. year for the European Journal of Physics. by hybrid OA model (author pays for Two booklets highlighting the ‘Best Submissions have increased, while the Open Access) has reached 19 since the of 2010’ articles and the ‘Most Cited number of acceptances has decreased scheme began in 2007. Articles 1986-2011’ were distributed. slightly, indicating a promising upwards

18 council meeting activity report 2011

trend in the already high quality of the jour- consistent with the number of articles Notes nal. The impact factor for 2010 was 0.757, accepted from this region from previous an increase from the 2009 figure of 0.741. years. This is followed by North America The number of institutions that receive (40 acceptances in 2011 – 24% of the to- EJP has also increased in 2011. tal) and Eastern Europe (25 acceptances All of the board members, through in 2011 – 15% of the total). their hard work and commitment, have helped to ensure that the journal con- Downloads and publication tinues to grow and thrive. We are highly details appreciative of all their efforts. The total number of downloads in 2011 The journal will publish a special issue stands at 169,580, v 222,028 in 2010, due on physics competitions for university to a change in the way institutions pur- students in 2012, following the success of chase the journal and individual articles. similar special issues in 2010 and 2011. In 2011 a total of 1,864 pages were published. This includes the publication of one Submission and Acceptances special feature on Physics Competitions 2011 has been a successful year for that provided collection of articles on the European Journal of Physics, with an various physics competitions available to increase in the total number of articles university students. The articles were in- submitted to the journal. 721 submis- cluded in the July 2011 issue. sions were received in 2011 compared to 707 in 2010. In keeping with previous years Asia continues to be the re- Physics gion in terms of the highest number of Publishing Alliance submissions with 221 articles submitted Having been at the very origin of the ini- in 2011 (31% of the total submissions). tiative, the EPS has been working for the Submissions from other regions have alliance since 2006. The alliance aims to been relatively stable in comparison to stimulate a European spirit for the pro- 2010, with slight increases in the num- motion of scientific excellence in physics ber of submissions from Africa, Central/ publishing and, at the same time, to engage South America, the Middle East and the scientists worldwide with European North America and slight decreases in publishing. To this purpose, the alliance submissions from Australia, Eastern will bring together physics journals which Europe and the UK. have strong scientific and editorial links Although the total number of submis- with European learned societies. sions increased in 2011, the total num- In 2011 it was decided to proceed with ber of acceptances remained stable: 165 the first step of this initiative. Free ac- articles were accepted for publication in cess will be given to excellent articles 2011 compared to 166 in 2010. This con- from a limited number of core journals tinues to be a promising development as through a dedicated portal, which will a high rejection rate is an indicator of a be embedded in the new EPS website. good quality journal. In addition, news related to the jour- The largest number of accepted articles nals will also be presented, along with continues to be from Western Europe along with links to each journal web- with 50 articles accepted in 2011 (30% site. The implementation of the portal of the total acceptances), which is is foreseen in early 2012.

council meeting 19 Notes European Physical Society

6, rue des Frères Lumière • 68200 Mulhouse • France tel: +33 389 32 94 42 • fax: +33 389 32 94 49 website: www.eps.org