In 2025 we celebrate 100 years since the formulation of quantum physics, a scientific milestone that has shaped the modern world. In the 21st century, quantum physics will continue to develop, bringing with it new and unexpected results. Technologies based on these discoveries lead to applications which will benefit humanity. The laws of quantum physics were first formulated in Europe in 1925 and describe the behaviour of the smallest constituents of matter, such as elementary particles, atoms and molecules. Quantum objects behave differently – and often counterintuitively – compared to the objects we encounter in our daily lives. Quantum physics triggered a technological revolution, and a century later a second quantum revolution is underway. We use this anniversary to highlight the transformative history of quantum science and technology and explore the immense future possibilities. The first quantum revolution, built on the wave nature of quantum particles and on the existence of energy “packets” called quanta, began in the middle of the 20th century. This revolution not only deepened our understanding of the fundamental workings of the universe – culminating in the development of the Standard Model of particle physics – but also led to devices and technologies that are now fundamental to our daily lives. Examples include computers and consumer electronics (such as mobile phones) based on semiconductors, LEDs, lasers, modern medical imaging and treatments, positioning and navigation (GPS, Galileo, etc.), the new definition of the kilogram, photovoltaics, technologies and approaches underpinning climate research, and many others. The second quantum revolution, where we can fully control the quantum behaviour of elementary constituents like atoms or photons started around the beginning of the 21st Century. This revolution changes the way we think about information, computing, measurement, and matter; leading, for example, to innovative methods for secure communication, quantum sensing, and new quantum materials. Progress in quantum science continues to accelerate. Global efforts, particularly in Europe, underscore the field’s importance, further highlighted by the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Whilst some applications of quantum physics, like atomic clocks, moved quickly from research to practice, others, such as quantum computing, are currently transitioning from research to commercial applications. Even after 100 years, quantum physics remains a field with significantly untapped potential. Many fundamental questions are still open, which impact both our understanding of the field and its practical applications. These include the search for quantum gravity, whether there is a maximum size for quantum systems, the scaling of quantum computing and the classical limit of quantum physics. Global challenges, including secure communication, efficient energy management, climate monitoring, advanced healthcare solutions, and novel drug design may be addressed using quantum science and technology. This underscores the transformative societal impact that quantum technologies could achieve, as well as our obligation to use them responsibly. Everyone can appreciate the surprising and fascinating nature of quantum physics. Public engagement and outreach initiatives should appeal to all sectors of society. Both to attract students to the field and to raise awareness of its societal impact. The EPS and national physical societies welcome and support initiatives to increase curiosity and interest in quantum science and technology, preparing our societies for the changes and opportunities to come. We also encourage the various emergent education programs on Quantum Science / Engineering / Computing in Europe to collaborate and exchange best practices. We support actions to train a new generation of students fostering scientific and industrial growth. We encourage the creation of networks of academic and industrial stakeholders from startups to large corporations to promote scientific and technological development and build upon the ongoing second quantum revolution. The disruptive nature of quantum innovation makes it a field where many actors, from small companies to large corporations, can play a decisive role. We support the creation of an inclusive environment for all actors to develop and deliver innovations. We welcome the recognition of the strategic importance of quantum technologies for the scientific and industrial competitiveness of our countries, by European policy makers. Their support to develop world-class fundamental research on quantum science and the creation of technology ecosystems across Europe is the key for the success of the field. Signatories: European Physical SocietyAustrian Physical SocietyDanish Physical SocietyFrench Physical SocietyFinnish Physical SocietyGerman Physical SocietyInstitute of Physics (UK)Italian Physical SocietyLithuanian Physical SocietySociety of Physicists of Macedonia Polish Physical SocietySpanish Royal Physical SocietySwiss Physical Society The declaration was drafted by: Claus Lämmerzahl, ZARM and GOC, University of Bremen, Germany Jean-Philippe Brantut, EPFL, Zurich, SwitzerlandChristophe Couteau, University of Technology Troyes, CNRS, France Anna Di Ciaccio, University of Roma Tor Vergata and INFN, Italy Elisa Ercolessi, University of Bologna, ItalyJuan José García-Ripoll, Institute of Fundamental Physics, IFF-CSIC, SpainMairi Sakellariadou, King’s College London, United KingdomKarol Zyczkowski, Jagiellonian University, Cracow and Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
EPS Diversity Statement
Statement by the Executive Committee of the European Physical Society24th March 2025 The European Physical Society (EPS) has the mission to advocate and promote physics research and its contributions to the economic, technological, social and cultural advancement in Europe. As a federation of more than 40 National Physical Societies, the EPS engages in activities that strengthen ties among the physicists in Europe, in physics research, science policy and education. The EPS designs and implements programmes to develop the European physics community. It provides a forum to share best practices to promote physics, and thus support international collaboration and physicists worldwide. Fostering diversity and inclusion in the physics community is a core component of the European Physical Society’s mission. We thus firmly believe that diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences is essential for driving innovation, creativity, and excellence in physics and all related issues. Our constitution emphasizes the importance of providing equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, or socioeconomic background. By encouraging a diverse and inclusive environment, we can help to ensure that the brightest minds from all walks of life are given the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of science. We are committed to creating a supportive and respectful atmosphere where everyone feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. This commitment extends to our policies, programmes, and practices designed to promote equity, eliminate barriers, and support the professional growth of underrepresented groups. Because the EPS represents the whole European physics community, we stand united in our resolve to cultivate a culture of respect, collaboration, and mutual support. Diversity strengthens our society and we remain dedicated to building a more inclusive and equitable future for all members of the EPS and the wider scientific community.
EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prizes 2025: Call for nominations
EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize 2025 OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.CANDIDATES: One or two persons that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking and agenda-setting contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality. NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header “EPS-SNPD award nomination”. We encourage nominations of scientists from groups currently underrepresented in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.DEADLINE: 30th May 2025 EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize 2025 OBJECT: The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Early Career Prize recognises outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, complex networks.CANDIDATES: One or two persons in their early career stage (defined as having obtained the PhD degree less than 6 years ago at the time of nomination) that have made independent or convergent ground-breaking contributions for the development of the field. Prize winners can have any nationality. NOMINATIONS: Self nominations will not be considered. The nominators must send an email attaching a letter with a brief description of the most important research contributions of the candidate and a list of up to 6 key publications (maximum 2 pages) to the Chair of the board Raffaella Burioni (raffaella.burioni@unipr.it) with the subject header “EPS-SNPD award nomination”. We encourage nominations of scientists from groups currently underrepresented in Statistical and Nonlinear Physics.DEADLINE: 30th May 2025 Further information is available on the website of the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division of the EPS.
CERN releases report on the feasibility of a possible Future Circular Collider
Image: Artistic representation of the tunnel for the FCC-hh (proton-proton collider) / PIXELRISE Released today, a report of a study investigating the project’s feasibility will serve as input for the European Strategy for Particle Physics and be assessed by the CERN Council in the coming months Geneva, 31 March 2025. After several years of intense work, CERN and international partners have completed a study to assess the feasibility of a possible Future Circular Collider (FCC). Reflecting the expertise of over a thousand physicists and engineers across the globe, the report presents an overview of the different aspects related to the potential implementation of such a project. The FCC is a proposed particle collider with a circumference of about 91 km that could succeed CERN’s current flagship instrument – the 27-km Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – in the 2040s. Its scientific motivation stems from the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, along with other crucial outstanding questions in fundamental physics. The Higgs boson is the simplest yet most perplexing particle discovered so far, with properties that have far-reaching implications for our existence. It is related to the mechanism that enabled elementary particles such as electrons to gain mass a fraction of a nanosecond after the Big Bang, allowing atoms and thus structures to form. It may also be connected to the fate of the Universe and could potentially shed light on the many unsolved mysteries of modern physics. As described in Feasibility Study Report, the FCC research programme outlines two possible stages: an electron–positron collider serving as a Higgs, electroweak and top-quark factory running at different centre-of-mass energies, followed at a later stage by a proton–proton collider operating at an unprecedented collision energy of around 100 TeV. The complementary physics programmes of each stage match the highest priorities set out in the 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. The report covers wide-ranging aspects related to the potential implementation of such a project. These include physics objectives, geology, civil engineering, technical infrastructure, territorial and environmental dimensions, R&D needs for the accelerators and detectors, socioeconomic benefits, and cost. The estimated cost of construction of the FCC electron–positron stage, including the tunnel and all the infrastructure, is 15 billion Swiss francs. This investment, which would be distributed over a period of about 12 years starting from the early 2030s, includes the civil engineering, technical infrastructure, electron and positron accelerators and four detectors for operation. As was the case for the construction of the LHC, the majority of the funding would come from CERN’s current annual budget. CERN has made a commitment that any new project at the Laboratory would be an exemplar of a sustainable research infrastructure, integrating ecodesign principles into every phase of the project, from design to construction, operations and dismantling. The report details the concepts and paths to keep the FCC’s environmental footprint low while boosting new technologies to benefit society and developing territorial synergies such as energy reuse. A major component of the FCC Feasibility Study has been the layout and placement of the collider ring and related infrastructure, which have been diligently studied to maximise the scientific benefit while taking into account territorial compatibility, environmental and construction constraints and cost. No fewer than 100 scenarios were developed and analysed before settling on the preferred option: a ring circumference of 90.7 km at an average depth of 200 m, with eight surface sites and four experiments. Throughout the Feasibility Study process, CERN has been accompanied by its two Host States, France and Switzerland, working with entities at the local, regional and national levels. Engagement processes with the public are being prepared in line with the Host States’ respective frameworks to ensure a constructive dialogue with territorial stakeholders. The report, which does not imply any commitments by the CERN Member and Associate Member States to build the FCC, will be reviewed by various independent expert bodies before being examined by the CERN Council at a dedicated meeting in November 2025. The Council may take a decision on whether or not to proceed with the FCC project around 2028. Particle colliders play a unique role in physics exploration. They also enable the development of unprecedented technologies in many fields of relevance for society, ranging from superconducting materials for medical applications, fusion energy research and electricity transmission to advanced accelerators and detectors for medical and many other applications. The FCC Feasibility Study was launched following the recommendations of the 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics and will serve as input for the ongoing update of the Strategy, along with studies of alternative projects proposed by the scientific community. Further information: Future Circular Collider Feasibility Study Report Volume 1: Physics and Experiments is here Future Circular Collider Feasibility Study Report Volume 2: Accelerators, technical infrastructure and safety is here Future Circular Collider Feasibility Study Report Volume 3: Civil Engineering, Implementation and Sustainability is here.
EPS Executive Committee and Staff activities in 2025
You will find below the activities of the members of the EPS Executive Committee and of the EPS Staff. January 9th January: Alessandra Fantoni had an online meeting of the EPS Nuclear Physics Division with:– elections of scientific secretary– elections of NPD chair elect– selection of the 2024 Lise Meitner winners In January, Karin Zach organised and participated in a meeting between the EPS and DPG presidents with the presidents or representatives of 14 EPS member societies, which took place on the occasion of the opening of the German activities for the International Quantum Year in Berlin. Members of the EPS Executive Committee:Mairi Sakellariadou (EPS President), Luc Bergé (EPS Past-President), Anne Pawsey (EPS Secretary General), Karin Zach, Anna Lipniacka, Andreas Schopper, Katharina Lorenz, Christian Beck, Alessandra Fantoni, Stuart Palmer, Anna Di Ciaccio, Eugenio Coccia, Ian Bearden and Roberta Caruso. Members of the EPS Staff:Anne Pawsey (EPS Secretary General), Xavier de Araujo, Milan Milicevic, Ophélia Fornari (working with Sophie Baumann), Chahira Boudeliou, Gina Gunaratnam, Ahmed Ouarab, Jean-François Kammerlocher and Amy Guibal (currently replacing Adriana Zerafa.) Members of the EPL Staff:Frédéric Burr (EPL Staff Editor), Kevin Desse and Tomy Zede.
Call for bids European Nuclear Physics Conference 2027 (EuNPC 2027)
Call for bids to host the European Nuclear Physics Conference in 2027 (EuNPC 2027) The board of the Nuclear Physics Division (NPD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) is seeking candidates to host the 2027 edition of the European Nuclear Conference (EuNPC 2027). Every three years the European Nuclear Physics Conference brings together researchers with the aim to review and discuss the status and prospects in the field of nuclear physics and its applications. The conference will be a showcase for forefront theoretical and experimental developments, where the interplay between outstanding research and innovative concepts in the field will be promoted. The EuNPC conference is part of the series of NPD divisional conferences, including also the Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics (NPA) and the Applied Nuclear Physics (ANP) Conferences. The application material should include: The scientific program should cover the following fields: The bid should also provide a list of members of the proposed Local Organizing Committee. As the EuNPC is part of the series organized by the Nuclear Physics Division: In the case that proceedings are foreseen, it is strongly recommended to consider a refereed journal. The procedure should be defined in advance, and the possibility to contribute with a proceedings article must be open to all speakers. The conference could apply to be recognized as an EPS conference and may also request an EPS poster prize and/or a grant for early-career researchers. It is in the tradition of the EuNPC to have a special session devoted to the EPS-NPD awards. In the 2027 edition, we expect to award the Lise Meitner 2026 prize and prizes for the best 2024-2026 PhD theses. The winners will be invited at the conference to present their work. The deadline to submit the application material to the Scientific Secretary of the NPD board (Raquel Crespo, raquel.crespo@tecnico.ulisboa.pt) is July 31st, 2025. Applicants will be invited to present their proposal at the NPD board meeting in September 2025. The NPD board will select and announce the host of the EuNPC 2027 conference at the end of the EuNPC 2025 edition that will be held in Caen (France), on September 22-26, 2025.
News from the Ariaian Young Innovative Minds Institute
Art an Amazing Fact in Science Integrating art and imaginative methods into science education can enhance conceptual understanding in a variety of ways. Creative activities can spark curiosity and wonder and lead to deeper exploration of science topics that reveal students’ understanding beyond traditional tests. Students learn to think outside the box, explore different perspectives, and find innovative solutions, which are essential in scientific inquiry. Art-based science projects often involve collaboration, fostering teamwork, and communication skills that lead to deeper and more meaningful understanding. The book Art an Amazing Fact in Science is the second book related to the IYPT Physics Competition which was published by the Ariaian Young Innovative Minds Institute, after the IYPT Proceeding 2010-2011. This book is a collection of physics problem solutions from various IYPT tournaments that combine science, art, and creativity: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/79055176c1.html Reducing the Gap Between Science and Art, Creating Opportunities for Social Activities This is a link to find our several festivals and after introducing ISAC (Imagination in Science by Art in different Cultures) in two previous years now we have started our new event as ISAC Talk festival . We are going come together to hold various events in ISAC (Imagination in Science by Art in different Cultures) Talk Community which are useful in explaining scientific concepts by art especially when those concepts are complex. Community holds festival in different categories. By combining art and science, we can create powerful learning experiences that foster curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for the world around us. Ariaian Young Innovative Minds Institute (AYIMI) and ADIB Science and Technology Institute (ADIB) jointly in Iran, are the main organisers of this event. There are several working groups from different countries who will join us and the main aim of this event is giving annual grants to students who needs to participate in tournaments, conferences, etc. All related information and the rules are on our website: https://ayimi.org/en/
Updates from EDP Sciences
We are delighted to see the early signs of spring returning here in Les Ulis, Paris. Here we share a few updates regarding recent conferences, and a shift in our social media presence towards platforms that support our values of professionalism, transparency, and community-driven dialogue. From Strangeness in Quark Matter to Nuclear Chemistry for Sustainable Fuel Cycles : EPJ Web of Conferences publishes two notable proceedings from French events “SQM 2024 – The 21st International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter was held in Strasbourg, France, June 3-7, 2024 This 2024 edition marked the 21st in the series and was held in France for the first time. It was also the first fully “in-person” edition since the pandemic. A total of 280 participants from 26 countries convened at the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès in Strasbourg to discuss recent experimental and theoretical advancements during a week-long programme including 210 oral and poster presentations. The focus of the Strangeness in Quark Matter Conference is on the role of the strange and heavy-flavour quarks in the field of ultra–relativistic nucleus–nucleus collisions, Quark Gluon Plasma physics and in astrophysical phenomena. Specific time is devoted to open questions and new developments as well as lectures dedicated to graduate students and young scientists.” If this EPJ Highlight has piqued your interest, you can read the full proceedings in open access now. B. Hippolyte (chair), C. Cheshkov, R. Guernane and A. Maire (Eds.), 21st International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter (SQM 2024), Strasbourg, France, June 3-7, 2024, EPJ Web of Conferences 316 (2025) Organised by the French Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), the 6th International ATALANTE Conference on Nuclear Chemistry for Sustainable Fuel Cycles (ATALANTE-2024) was held in Avignon, France, Sept 1-6 2024 The event explored “subjects and issues that cover almost all the fields of the nuclear chemistry related to the nuclear fuel cycles: The full proceedings can be read in open access now. P. Guilbaud (Ed.), 6th International ATALANTE Conference on Nuclear Chemistry for Sustainable Fuel Cycles (ATALANTE-2024), Avignon, France, September 1-6, 2024, EPJ Web of Conferences 317 (2025) Nurting community dialogue on social media EPL is now on Bluesky Please follow https://bsky.app/profile/epljournal.bsky.socialfor the latest news and articles, including Free-to-Read Editor’s Choice and Perspectives. EDP Sciences leaves Twitter/X The academic world is changing, and so are we. On 31st January 2025, EDP Sciences left Twitter/X as part of the #HelloQuitX movement, in favour of prioritising platforms that support our values. This decision reflects our commitment to professionalism, transparency, and community-driven dialogue. Follow us on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and our website for the latest updates. Perpetual access to digital archives We would like to take the opportunity to remind you that value is still being found in our digital archive collections, and that purchase of these gives perpetual access to this valuable science. Journal de Physique digital archives (1872 to 1997) We were delighted to conduct research in 2024 and discover that many articles in the Journal de Physique archives are still being cited today. The collection includes research from pioneers in physics, including Nobel laureates such as Marie Curie and Louis de Broglie, both of whom were instrumental in founding EDP Sciences in 1920. Discover the Journal de Physique archives, including the most cited articles in the collection. Annales de Physique digital archives (1914 to 2009) For many years, Alain Aspect, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022, was the Editor in Chief of the Annales de Physique. This collection now forms part of the archive of The European Physical Journal (EPJ), an ongoing series of peer-reviewed journals covering the whole spectrum of physics and related interdisciplinary subjects. Learn more about the Annales de Physique archives.
Call for Nominations: 2026 John Stewart Bell Prize for Quantum Mechanics
The Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control (CQIQC) at the University of Toronto, Canada is reaching out to the leading quantum research centres and associations worldwide to announce the opening of nominations for the 2026 John Stewart Bell Prize. Previous winners include: John Preskill (Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology); John Martinis (professor of physics, UC Santa Barbara, USA); Ignacio Cirac (Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics), Peter Zoller (University of Innsbruck), Ronald Hanson (TU Delft), Sae Woo Nam (NIST), and Anton Zeilinger (University of Vienna). We are pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2026 John Stewart Bell Prize for Research on Fundamental Issues in Quantum Mechanics and their Applications. This prestigious award recognises significant contributions in the field of quantum mechanics, particularly those published in the six years preceding the award year. About the Bell Prize The Bell Prize honours advances in quantum mechanics, including (but not limited to) quantum information theory, computation, foundations, cryptography, and control. It covers theoretical and experimental work. Funded by the University of Toronto’s Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control (CQIQC), the award will be presented at the biennial CQIQC conference in August 2026, where the awardee will deliver a prize lecture. Nomination Process Nominations must include the nominee’s name, affiliation, a statement of their contribution’s importance, and relevant literature citations (published or in press between August 2019 and August 2025). Deadline August 30, 2025. For more information, you can read the complete Call for Nominations. *Please note that self-nominations are not permitted.
Connecting and Supporting the Physics Community Across Europe
Promotion and Advancement of Physics in Europe The European Physical Society is a well-established organisation with a long history of promoting physics in Europe and fostering collaboration among physicists. It acts as a federation of national societies and a learned society for individual members, with a dual focus on advancing scientific excellence and influencing science policy. Key priorities include building a strong European physics community, supporting physicists at all career stages, disseminating information through various publications and platforms, and adapting strategically to the evolving global landscape. The YoungMinds project exemplifies its commitment to engaging early-career researchers, while EPSPhysJobs highlights its role in career development. The EPS actively seeks to increase its visibility and impact, working with policymakers and fostering international cooperation. The 2010 Strategy Plan provides a detailed roadmap for achieving these goals through focused actions in scientific excellence, federation, members, and collaboration.