Five new FOM Programmes launched
The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) has awarded a total of 9.9 million Euros to five new research programmes. The research groups will work in areas where Dutch physics has a superb international record and there is a clear scientific and societal interest. This varies from dark matter to physics of DNA processes.
The Vrije FOM-programma's bring together the best research groups in their respective fields in the Netherlands. In each research programme the specialists from the various Dutch knowledge institutes combine their strengths. With this FOM realises what is termed 'focus and mass' in policy jargon: working on a limited number of challenging scientific subjects, with a large number of the best researchers in the Netherlands, with the research being coordinated at a national level.
The five programmes awarded funding are the winners in a heavy competition that started last spring with fourteen proposals submitted for the Vrije FOM-programma's. On the basis of verbal presentations, recommendations from committees and a critical evaluation by international experts concerning the scientific quality of the applications, the FOM Executive Board has awarded the highest-scoring applications.
Further information about the five new programmes:
- The hidden universe: what is the subatomic component of dark matter?
Programme leader: Dr. M.P. Decowski (Nikhef/UvA) - Physics of DNA processes in a fully packed environment
Programme leader: Prof.dr. A.M. van Oijen (Zernike Instituut, RUG) - Quantum interference effects in single molecules
Programme leader: Prof.dr.ir. H.S.J. Van der Zant (TUD) - Ultimate turbulence regime
Programme leader: Prof.dr. D. Lohse (UT) - Controlling the mechanics of soft materials
Programme leader: Dr. C. Storm (TU/e)