Through its broad member base, the EPS represents the views of the European Physics Community. The society provides a discussion forum for its members to address policy issues relevant to physics research and teaching. The EPS also provides a physics perspective on policy issues more broadly.
European Institutions have a growing impact on science policy and development. Input from the EPS and the physics community helps to shape science policy in Europe.
The EPS has published a series of position papers giving an expert view on important themes such as the place given to research in European countries.
The EPS Forum Physics and Society (FPS) holds regular meetings discussing various issues of physics and society. The meetings make recommendation to the EPS and policy makers for actions.
The Position Paper prepared by the Energy Group of EPS focuses on electricity production by non-fossil sources. It discusses the leading role of Europe in the broader context of the world energy problem and provides various policy recommendations.
Energy and Environment: The Intimate Link
This study looks at how physics is used to understand the impact of energy production on the climate.
Energy for the Future: The Nuclear Option
This position paper aims at a balanced presentation of the pros and cons of nuclear power and at informing both decision makers and the general public by communicating verifiable facts.
Position Paper on Physics Education
This position paper, developed by the EPS Physics Education Division and approved in June 2012, is intended to bring to public attention certain key points affecting the present state and future development of European physics education:
Declaration on “Europe and the Future of Quantum Science”
The following EPS Member Societies are signatories of the declaration:
European Physical Society
Austrian Physical Society
Danish Physical Society
French Physical Society
Finnish Physical Society
German Physical Society
Institute of Physics (UK)
Italian Physical Society
Lithuanian Physical Society
Society of Physicists of Macedonia
Polish Physical Society
Spanish Royal Physical Society
Swiss Physical Society
In 2018, the EPS commissioned an independent economic analysis from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) on the importance of physics to the economies of Europe. The report, using statistics available in the public domain through Eurostat, covers 31 European countries – the EU28 countries, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Under examination is the 6-year period 2011-2016, 2016 being the most recent year for which official data are simultaneously available for all these countries.
The analysis from the Cebr was commissioned by EPS after consultation with an EPS Working Group consisting of: R. Voss, P. Rudolf, F. Saunders and D. Lee. Members of the Working Group, who assisted in defining the terms of reference of the study and wrote the Executive Summary based on the full Cebr report, can be contacted for further information.
