News Physics@FOM Veldhoven 2011
Physics@FOM Veldhoven 2011 exceeds expectations
The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter looks back at a highly successful Physics@FOM Veldhoven 2011, which took place on 18 and 19 January. The congress exceeded all expectations with a record number of participants (1673) and more lectures (164) and poster presentations (379) than ever before. State secretary Halbe Zijlstra awarded three FOM prizes after dinner Tuesday. The crowning touch was the Tuesday evening lecture given by Nobel Prize winner Andre Geim. In a nutshell, this event was a superb showcase for the entire spectrum of Dutch physics.
Physics@FOM Veldhoven started on 18 January with a spectacular kick-off from British researcher John Pendry, about the magic of optics: metamaterials. He explained that these materials have very special optical properties that allow us to control a large part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Research into these materials has already led to the first 'invisibility cloaks'. The lecture was not only interesting concerning content, but also full of British humour. FOM was told multiple times that more British speakers should be invited in the future.
In 12 focus sessions and 18 parallel sessions researchers could visit more than 150 lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday. And on top of these there were fully attended plenary sessions. There was no time for an 'after-dinner-dip' on Tuesday evening as participants were treated to a fascinating lecture about the versatility of graphene from Nobel Prize winner Andre Geim. And the congress was brought to a magnificent close on Wednesday with a lecture from the French physicist David Quéré. He explained without any formulas how the shape of water drops changes when they move across a (water-repellent) surface. The audience went along with the fascination and could enjoy spectacular videos.
State secretary Halbe Zijlstra awarded three different prizes Tuesday night, at which he emphasized the importance of fundamental research for innovation. Dr. Ewold Verhagen received both the FOM Physics Thesis Prize and the FOM Valorisation Chapter Prize and prof.dr. Fred Bijkerk received the FOM Valorisation Prize for research with a strong application focus. On top of this, on 19 January the best poster award was given to the poster of drs. Willem Haverkort, from the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen.
Wednesday evening the congress seemed to continue at Eindhoven Central Station. The platform was (just like the congress) decorated with big green helium balloons and the amount of physicists was much higher than other days. The enthusiasm of the participants was also visible at Twitter:
"John Pendry about invisibility and negative refractive index, together with 1600 other physicists at #fomveldhoven was great." (Noud Speijcken), "@ferryprins just gave a great talk at #fomveldhoven about his spin-crossover nanoparticles." (Hidde Westra), "Lecture andre geim at #fomveldhoven was literally hilarious. This man is always extremely funny and has the voice of christofer walken." (VPRO Noorderlicht), "Back from #fomveldhoven. Was epic. Tired now." (Sebastiaan Waanders).
FOM looks back on a very successful congress!
A selection of photos from Physics@FOM Veldhoven 2011 can be seen by clicking on this link.
The master classes and the lecture of Andre Geim can be watched again at www.citytv.nl.
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