FOM gives physics a boost with six new research programmes
The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) has awarded a total of 16.1 million euro to six new research programmes in Dutch physics. The research groups will work on areas in which Dutch physics excels at an international level and for which there is a clear scientific and social importance. These vary from the behaviour of electrons in unidimensional systems and studying the interactions of photons confined in a tiny volume (quantum optics), to examining protein aggregation in the brain and the fundamental question as to what physics can be found with the latest technologies such as super-accurate atomic clocks and ultrafast lasers. Further the question about how friction develops and whether graphene can help to strongly reduce friction will be considered, and also what the essential thylakoid membrane in the photosynthetic process can teach us about the storage of solar energy.
In each research programme the leading specialists from the various Dutch knowledge institutes will consolidate their strengths in specific areas. The new research programmes must lead to a real understanding of recently discovered phenomena and in some cases provide perspectives on new technology as well. The Open FOM programmes unite the best research groups in their disciplines in the Netherlands. With this approach FOM realises what policymakers call 'focus and mass': take a large number of the best researchers in the Netherlands and work in a coordinated manner on a limited number of challenging scientific subjects.
The six programmes awarded funding are the winners from a tough competition that started last spring when 16 applications were submitted for the Open FOM programmes. Based on oral presentations, recommendations from advisory committees and a critical evaluation by international experts concerning the scientific quality of the applications, the FOM Executive Board awarded the highest scoring applications with an average of almost 3 million euro over the next six years. The applications were of a very high quality and thanks to the deployment of an extra 2.4 million euro in funding from NWO, the FOM Executive Board could decide to award six applications with a total of 16.1 million euro.
A general explanation of the Open FOM programmes is given here (available only in Dutch).
Further information about the six new programmes awarded funding in 2010 can be read below (available only in Dutch).
- Quantum optica op nanoschaal - hoe verloopt de interactie tussen fotonen en materie in een piepklein volume ?
- De singuliere fysica van één-dimensionale systemen
- Broken mirrors & drifting constants - met nauwkeurige atoomklokken en ultrastabiele lasers op zoek naar nieuwe natuurkunde
- Het thylakoïde membraan - een dynamische schakeling
- Eiwitaggregatie op nanoschaal
- Fundamentele blik op wrijving