Gloria Platero, research professor at the Materials Science Institute of Madrid of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), was awarded the 2023 EPS Emmy Noether Distinction “in recognition of her remarkable contributions to the theoretical understanding of out-of-equilibrium (Floquet) systems and their impactful application to quantum materials, for her excellent mentorship of young researchers, and for tirelessly fostering female talent in physics.” Petra Rudolf, chair of the EPS Equal Opportunities Committee, interviewed Prof. Platero. How did you decide for a career in physics? I grew up in a home where science was part of everyday life. My mother was a mathematician, and my father, an engineer with a deep love for physics. So my curiosity and appreciation for science were encouraged from a very young age. At high school, I had an exceptional chemistry teacher who truly nurtured my curiosity and always encouraged me to ask questions and dig deeper. That experience made me want to understand more about atoms and ultimately led me to choose physics. Interestingly, my physics teacher at the time didn’t think that girls should study physics – but I was determined to follow my own path. When I began my studies at university, Spain was still under the Franco regime—a period marked by conservative attitudes and traditional gender roles. Female role models in physics were virtually nonexistent. During my doctoral research at the Autonomous University of Madrid, we were only two women among all the physics PhD students. It was a lonely place to be at times, but it also made me resilient. How is it for current female physics students and starting academics? There has certainly been progress. We now see more women entering physics in Spain, and the overall atmosphere is more welcoming. However, as you move up the academic ladder, the number of women goes down. The so-called “scissor diagram” still applies, and the upper levels of academia remain male-dominated. Unfortunately, this is not unique to Spain. Even in Northern European countries, which lead in gender equality according to the 2024 World Economic Forum report, the proportion of women professors in physics is still far below where it should be. In countries like Japan, the numbers remain dramatically low. It’s not only a question of representation—visibility also matters. Women in physics are often less visible in leadership roles and high-profile events. Additionally, we’re often burdened with a heavier share of committee work, which can detract from research time. That said, I want to be clear: I do not want to complain. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had such a fulfilling career. Working as a physicist is deeply gratifying. To my younger female colleagues, I would say: Don’t stay in the shadow of a famous supervisor, even if it feels safe or convenient. Step forward and show the world what you can do. It’s essential to carve out your own space and voice in science. Start by asking questions at conferences! I would also like to emphasize how important it is to share your life with someone who supports your career. In my case, my husband — though not a scientist but an engineer — has always been a strong and unwavering source of support. What do you recommend the physics community does to foster diversity? We all need to take a more active role in mentoring and supporting the next generation. Sharing our experiences—both successes and setbacks—is crucial. As a community, we should pay close attention to the representation of women and other underrepresented groups at conferences and workshops. We must advocate for talented colleagues to be included in speaker line-ups and panel discussions. Organisers should also make conferences more inclusive by offering childcare facilities and structured networking opportunities for women in physics. These seemingly small actions can make a big difference in building confidence and fostering a sense of belonging. As PhD supervisors, we should speak honestly with our students—not just about the excitement of doing physics, but also about the realities of academic life. It’s important to highlight that the so-called “alpha personalities” in our field are not always the happiest and most fulfilled, no matter how much recognition they receive. We must encourage our students to build a career path that gives them energy and joy—to find their own resonance state, so to speak. If they’re unhappy or feel stifled, it’s perfectly valid to change supervisors or move to another institution. We should give our PhD candidates opportunities to attend schools and conferences to build their networks. In the last phase of the doctoral work they should take on responsibilities like helping with the supervision of younger students. They should feel like what they are: essential members of the team. And one more very important thing: in our working life, we should be kind to each other, celebrate our colleagues’ successes, and foster an environment where support and appreciation are the norm.
Decode The Universe-Exploring Exoplanets Through Data & Code
Authors: EPS Young Minds NKUA Section On November 3rd, Young Minds NKUA organised the event “Decode The Universe”, an interactive event that brought together astrophysics, programming, and hands-on experimentation at the Department of Physics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The event welcomed nearly 100 participants, reflecting the strong interest of students in computational astrophysics and modern data analysis. The event was co-organised with City Lab Robotics and supported by the Department of Physics NKUA. It combined theoretical insight with practical engagement, aiming not only to inform but also to actively involve participants in the scientific process. The programme began with a series of short talks οn robotics applications and data analysis methods used in exoplanet detection. Young Minds NKUA presented its mission and previous science communication projects, highlighting opportunities for student involvement. Dr. Kosmas Gazeas, astrophysicist and lecturer, welcomed participants and introduced the systems of the Gerostathopoulion Observatory. The core of the event was a hands-on workshop where participants analysed real astronomical-style datasets. Using code based on the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Lomb–Scargle method, they calculated the orbital periods of exoplanets. The event concluded with an interactive Kahoot quiz on physics and a live demonstration of the Observatory’s automated systems. Prizes were awarded to the top participants, further enhancing engagement and motivation. Decode The Universe successfully combined theory, computational tools, and experiential learning. By immersing students in scientific techniques, the event strengthened their understanding of astrophysical data analysis while fostering enthusiasm for research and collaboration within the physics community.
ICPE Medal Award: Call for nominations
The International Commission on Physics Education (C14) was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) in 1960 to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in Physics Education. Today, IUPAP C14 invites physicists from all corners of the world and at all levels of education to apply for the ICPE Medal Award, which honours outstanding contributions to physics teaching that transcend national boundaries. We particularly encourage nominations from individuals and communities who are traditionally under‑represented in international awards. Eligibility Criteria:
Largest image of its kind shows hidden chemistry at the heart of the Milky Way
ESO, 25th February 2026, Press release Astronomers have captured the central region of our Milky Way in a striking new image, unveiling a complex network of filaments of cosmic gas in unprecedented detail. Obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), this rich dataset — the largest ALMA image to date — will allow astronomers to probe the lives of stars in the most extreme region of our galaxy, next to the supermassive black hole at its centre. “It’s a place of extremes, invisible to our eyes, but now revealed in extraordinary detail,” says Ashley Barnes, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Germany who is part of the team that obtained the new data. The observations provide a unique view of the cold gas — the raw material from which stars form — within the so-called Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of our galaxy. It is the first time the cold gas across this whole region has been explored in such detail. The region featured in the new image spans more than 650 light-years. It harbours dense clouds of gas and dust, surrounding the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. “It is the only galactic nucleus close enough to Earth for us to study in such fine detail,” says Barnes. The dataset reveals the CMZ like never before, from gas structures dozens of light-years across all the way down to small gas clouds around individual stars. The gas that ACES — the ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey — specifically explores is cold molecular gas. The survey unpacks the intricate chemistry of the CMZ, detecting dozens of different molecules, from simple ones such as silicon monoxide to more complex organic ones like methanol, acetone or ethanol. Cold molecular gas flows along filaments feeding into clumps of matter out of which stars can grow. In the outskirts of the Milky Way we know how this process happens, but within the central region the events are much more extreme. “The CMZ hosts some of the most massive stars known in our galaxy, many of which live fast and die young, ending their lives in powerful supernova explosions, and even hypernovae,” says ACES leader Steve Longmore, a professor of astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. With ACES, astronomers hope to better understand how these phenomena influence the birth of stars and whether our theories of star formation hold in extreme environments. “By studying how stars are born in the CMZ, we can also gain a clearer picture of how galaxies grew and evolved,” Longmore adds. “We believe the region shares many features with galaxies in the early Universe, where stars were forming in chaotic, extreme environments.” To collect this new dataset, astronomers used ALMA, which is operated by ESO and partners in Chile’s Atacama Desert. In fact, this is the first time such a large area has been scanned with this facility, making this the largest ALMA image ever. Seen in the sky, the mosaic — obtained by stitching together many individual observations like putting puzzle pieces together — is as long as three full Moons side-by-side. “We anticipated a high level of detail when designing the survey, but we were genuinely surprised by the complexity and richness revealed in the final mosaic,” says Katharina Immer, an ALMA astronomer at ESO who is also part of the project. The data from ACES are presented in five papers accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, with a sixth in the final review stages. “The upcoming ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade, along with ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, will soon allow us to push even deeper into this region — resolving finer structures, tracing more complex chemistry, and exploring the interplay between stars, gas and black holes with unprecedented clarity,” says Barnes. “In many ways, this is just the beginning.” More information This research was presented in a series of papers presenting the ACES data, to appear in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: The data itself will be available from the ALMA Science Portal at https://almascience.org/alma-data/lp/aces. Links
The February issue 2026 of e-EPS is out!
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The IceCube experiment is ready to uncover more secrets of the universe
GSI Press release, 12th February 2026 The world’s largest neutrino detector has been successfully upgraded The name “IceCube” not only serves as the title of the experiment, but also describes its appearance. Embedded in the transparent ice of the South Pole, a three-dimensional grid of more than 5,000 extremely sensitive light sensors forms a giant cube with a volume of one cubic kilometer. This unique arrangement serves as an observatory for detecting neutrinos, the most difficult elementary particles to detect. In order to detect neutrinos, they must interact with matter, creating charged particles whose light can be measured. These light measurements can be used to determine information about the properties of neutrinos. However, the probability of neutrinos interacting with matter is extremely low, so they usually pass through it without leaving a trace, which makes their detection considerably more difficult. For this reason, a large detector volume is required to increase the probability of interaction, and state-of-the-art technology is crucial for detecting such rare interactions. The basic operating principle of IceCube is to detect the light that is produced when a neutrino interacts with the ice. IceCube acts like a telescope that “sees” neutrinos. This characteristic blue Cherenkov light travels through the ice and is detected by sensors called digital optical modules (DOMs). Using these measurements, researchers can then reconstruct the energy and direction of the original neutrino. Since 2010, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has been searching for high-energy neutrinos from space. In recent years, it has already provided important insights into the nature of these particles and the sources of these high-energy neutrinos in the universe. For example, it offered a first glimpse into the interior of an active galaxy. The recently completed upgrade of the observatory will ensure that the experiment will provide even more information about the properties of neutrinos and the cosmos. Scientists from the working group of Professor Dr. Sebastian Böser from the Institute of Physics and the PRISMA++ Cluster of Excellence at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) are part of the IceCube Collaboration. The collaboration has been represented at JGU since 1999, initially under the leadership of Professor Dr. Lutz Köpke. “In Mainz, we are primarily researching neutrinos at the lower end of the energy spectrum detectable by IceCube, such as those produced in the atmosphere or in supernova explosions. These are difficult to detect, but they can also provide us with new insights into the properties of neutrinos themselves,” explains Böser. More sensors improve the telescope The main array of IceCube consists of 86 sensor strings embedded in the ice at intervals of 125 meters. As part of the IceCube upgrade, six new strings were installed between December 2025 and January 2026. This added over 650 modern photodetectors and calibration devices to the existing IceCube detector. The new instruments will improve our understanding of how light emitted by neutrino interactions in the ice propagates through the detector. Thanks to the higher instrument density, the experiment can now measure signals at lower energies that were previously unattainable. This increases the “sharpness” of the telescope, making it more sensitive to the properties of neutrinos. In addition, the higher resolution achieved by the upgrade can also be applied retroactively to data already collected and stored during the first ten years of IceCube operation, resulting in an immediate and significant improvement. An innovative type of module The new components of the upgrade also include nine wavelength-shifting optical modules (WOMs): innovative detectors specialized for UV light. “With IceCube, we want to measure Cherenkov light. This light has a large UV component that the DOMs cannot measure. This means that a large part of the light produced during neutrino interactions is lost because the sensors are not sensitive enough for it,” explains Lea Schlickmann, a PhD student in Böser’s group and the person primarily responsible for building these modules. “The WOMs have a tube coated with a special wavelength-shifting paint. When UV photons hit this tube, their wavelength is shifted into the visible range and they are then directed to the so-called photomultipliers, where they are detected.” The WOMs were developed, produced, and tested in Mainz in collaboration with research groups from Wuppertal and Madison, with additional support from Uppsala and Berlin. These first modules serve as proof of principle for their performance and their measurements of UV Cherenkov light in ice. “In the future, WOMs will be able to provide extremely important information about neutrinos and their origin in the universe. They would be particularly suitable for detecting neutrinos produced in a supernova, which would be extremely interesting to observe,” says Schlickmann. In addition to her contribution to the hardware development of the detector, Schlickmann was also part of the first group of researchers allowed to travel to the South Pole to work on the IceCube upgrade. There, she not only tested the WOMs one last time before they were installed in the ice, but also helped with all kinds of tasks necessary for the success of the mission – from shoveling snow to clear equipment to testing and loading the first 300 modules. The IceCube collaboration consists of over 450 physicists from 58 institutions in 14 countries. This international team is leading the scientific program, and many of its members contributed to designing and constructing the detector. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is mainly funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States, with significant support from partner organizations worldwide. Germany is the second-largest contributor, with eleven institutions, and makes a significant and visible contribution to IceCube through funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). In addition to JGU, the collaboration includes Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Humboldt University Berlin, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, RWTH Aachen University, Technical University Dortmund, Technical University Munich, University of Münster, University of Wuppertal, and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY).
EPS Recognised Journals: Welcome to Frontiers in Physics and Frontiers in Astronomy & Space Sciences!
Author: Hannah Means, Frontiers We at Frontiers are honored to share that Frontiers in Physics and Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences have been added to the Recognized Journals list of the European Physical Society. This recognition reflects the community’s trust in our rigorous and high- quality peer review. We will continue to uphold a trustworthy peer review process to further our mission: to keep science open for everyone. Frontiers in Physics, a multidisciplinary journal established in 2013, features 22 sections that cover all areas of physics, from theoretical, to computational, to experimental. Some of the largest sections include Condensed Matter Physics, Optics and Photonics, and Social Physics. The journal is led by Field Chief Editor Professor Alex Hansen (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway). As of January 2026, Frontiers in Physics contains over 5,500 articles and 54,000 citations across all sections, corresponding to an Impact Factor of 2.1 and CiteScore of 4.6. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences is a multidisciplinary journal established in 2014. Field Chief Editor Julio Navarro (University of Victoria, Canada) leads the journal, which contains 14 sections that explore all areas of astronomy and space sciences. Some of the largest sections include Cosmology, Space Physics, and Stellar and Solar Physics. As of January 2026, Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences contains over 1,800 articles and 15,000 citations across all sections, corresponding to an Impact Factor of 2.6 and CiteScore of 4.7. Both journals are indexed in Scopus, Web of Science (SCIE), the DOAJ, and more. Additionally, both journals accept a wide range of article types, including but not limited to original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methods. Dedicated editors and reviewers in each journal help handle and review these articles. We at Frontiers sincerely thank our editorial boards for helping us achieve this recognition. Through this new collaboration, we are eager to make new connections across the European Physical Society. We look forward to supporting EPS members and the wider community by publishing rigorous, impactful research across physics and the space sciences.
EPS Executive Committee and Staff activities in 2026
You will find below the activities of the members of the EPS Executive Committee and of the EPS Staff. January 7, 13, 20 and 27 January: Alessandra Fantoni participated in the Energy conference meeting14 January: a meeting of the EPS Executive Committee was held online16 January: Alessandra Fantoni participated in EPS-EPLA meeting 23 January: Alessandra Fantoni and José María De Teresa took part in the EPS finances meeting February 2, 9 and 16 February: Alessandra Fantoni and Gabriel Chardin participated in the meeting to organise the Energy Conference to be held in Brussels in April18 February: an online EPS Executive Committee meeting was organised 18 February: Karin Zach and José María De Teresa participated in a videoconference between DPG representatives (president, board member for international activities) and EPS (president, president elect and secretary general) to prepare a meeting of the presidents of the EPS member societies which will be held in Berlin in November 2026. In February, Gabriel Chardin did the liaising with the French Physical Society and proofread the report on Physics Education in Europe. March 13 March: José María De Teresa participated in the Researchers’ Night meeting25 March: an online EPS Executive Committee meeting was organised In March, Anna Di Ciaccio did some organisational work for the Alessandro Volta prize symposium in Como, Italy. José María De Teresa participated in the review of EPS finances, and the organising of various trips and ceremonies related to EPS awards and EPS Historic Sites. Gabriel Chardin participated in a meetig to organise the EPS conference on Energy in Brussels. He also made the liaising with the French Physical Society and commented the report on Physics Education in Europe. Katharina Lorenz, Alessandrao Fantoni and Anna Di Ciaccio had a meeting of the EPS Central Prizes Selection Committee. April 13-14 April: EPS Energy conference in Brussels attended by José Maria De Teresa, Mairi Sakellariadou, Alessandra Fantoni. 20 and 28 April: EPS Executive Committee meeting – online Alessandra Fantoni had the following activities:7 April: EPS Energy conference committee meeting – online8 April: EPS sub-finance committee – Mulhouse+online8-9-10 April: EPS preparation budget – Mulhouse14-15 April: EPS preparation budget – Brussels20 April: EPS budget meeting – online21 April: EPJ SAC meeting – Catania23 April: EPS Energy conference recap – online 28 April: EPS Executive Committee meeting for budget – online Katharina Lorenz participated in the ATAP Programme selection jury. Anna Di Ciaccio organised the A.Volta prize award ceremony and related symposium in Como. José Maria De Teresa prepared his presentation for the EPS Council in Vilnius. Members of the EPS Executive Committee: José María De Teresa (EPS President), Mairi Sakellariadou (EPS Vice-Elect), Alessandra Fantoni, Anna Di Ciaccio, Brian Fulton, Christian Beck, Kristel Crombé, Eugenio Coccia, Gabriel Chardin, Karin Zach, Katharina Lorenz, Sascha Schmeling, Ulrich Husemann Members of the EPS Staff: Anne Pawsey (EPS Secretary General), Xavier de Araujo, Milan Milicevic, Ophélia Fornari, Chahira Boudeliou, Gina Gunaratnam, Ahmed Ouarab and Adriana Zerafa Members of the EPL Staff: Frédéric Burr (EPL Staff Editor), Kevin Desse and Tomy Zede.
Antonino Zichichi (1929-2026)
Author: Luisa Cifarelli Antonino Zichichi, an influential and leading figure in high energy particle physics, passed away on 9 February 2026 at the age of 96. Professor Emeritus at the University of Bologna, Benedictine Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna, and founder of the “Ettore Majorana” Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice, he held numerous prominent roles in the international scientific community. These included President of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the “Enrico Fermi” Historical Museum of Physics and Study and Research Centre, the European Physical Society, the World Federation of Scientists, and the World Laboratory. The conception and creation of the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratories are credited to him. His contributions and decisive drive were also fundamental to the realization of major particle accelerators, such as LEP at CERN and HERA at DESY. His visionary project for a proton supercollider, named ELOISATRON and proposed in the late 1970s, had anticipated the LHC at CERN as its first phase and foreshadowed the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project, an integral part of CERN’s strategic plan for the coming decades. A true promoter of cutting-edge experimental research at the laboratories of Frascati, CERN, DESY, and Gran Sasso, he and his team achieved fundamental results in nuclear and subnuclear physics. These include the discovery of the antideuteron —the first example of nuclear antimatter— the discovery of new phenomena in QCD (such as the leading effect and effective energy), and the discovery of the first beauty baryon. He also established significant limits on free quark production in strong and weak interations, and on heavy lepton (t) production in e+e– collisions, the existence of which he first proposed, developing and testing a new method to search for it, which then led to its actual discovery. Furthermore, he pioneered original particle detection techniques, such as the preshower in calorimetry, and achieved intense R&D for new detectors within the framework of the CERN LAA project. Notably, he led the development of novel microeletronic chips and of the Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) for measuring particle time-of-flight (TOF) with record precision; these devices still constitute the large TOF apparatus for particle identification of the ALICE experiment. His commitment to disseminating scientific culture was remarkable, innovative, and of immense scope, spanning articles, interviews, television appearances, seminars throughout Italy and beyond, and numerous books for a general audience on major themes and figures of physics. As for dissemination, it is worth mentioning the unique and still ongoing EEE project he has launched and successfully expanded over the years. This is a true astroparticle physics experiment carried out through a network of muon telescopes (each made up of three layers of MRPCs) installed in more than 50 high schools throughout Italy and all connected to the INFN CNAF computer centre. Together, these telescopes form an unprecedented observatory that combines teaching and research in physics, involving hundreds of students every year. His leadership in international collaboration for the study of planetary emergencies, advocating for a science without secrets or borders, leaves an indelible mark on the scientific community. The Erice Statement, which he co-authored in 1982 with Nobel laureates Paul A. M. Dirac and Piotr Kapitza, remains a milestone in the quest for a peaceful future in the face of ongoing nuclear proliferation threats. With the passing of Antonino Zichichi, we lose an eminent figure in contemporary science and a key player in physics at the turn of two centuries. We also lose an outstanding mentor who always offered great opportunities to all those who had the privilege of working with him and whose legacy will live on for future generations.
SCIENCE POP-UP by GSI/FAIR
SCIENCE POP-UP by GSI/FAIR becomes a permanent place to go for science enthusiasts in the inner city of Darmstadt 28.01.2026 | What started as a temporary project will now become a permanent inner-city institution in Darmstadt for the next two years: The SCIENCE POP-UP project, an interactive hands-on exhibition for science enthusiasts of all ages, remains at its location at Ernst-Ludwig-Straße 22 in the long term. This establishes the successful initiative of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and the international accelerator center FAIR as a long-term point of contact for anyone interested in experiencing cutting-edge research first-hand. Since its opening in March 2025, the innovative SCIENCE POP-UP project has attracted about 10,000 visitors, including 55 school classes and numerous workshop participants. Initially planned as a temporary project lasting until the summer months, the interactive space was first extended to the end of December 2025 due to the overwhelming response. Thanks to the new long-term lease, it is now becoming an integral part of the inner city and the scientific landscape of Darmstadt. Exciting innovations are underway, as is the expansion of offerings for school classes of all age levels. As cutting-edge research breaks new ground in many areas and the FAIR mega-project on the Darmstadt-Wixhausen campus progresses extremely well, the interactive space will reinvent itself constantly while retaining its proven concept. This ranges from creative knowledge transfer for all interested parties to the targeted didactic support of future researchers. Casual pedestrians and school classes alike can discover the world of particle accelerators, the origin of the elements, and working with state-of-the-art technology in a playful way. Popular stations include the throwing game, simulating the production of new elements; the accelerator game, the cloud chamber, and the VR station. Using virtual reality headsets, the VR station takes visitors directly to the GSI and FAIR facilities. A qualitative analysis of the offering revealed: More than three-quarters of visitors rated the exhibition as “very positive”. The interactive and vivid presentation of complex content was particularly well received. Knowledge transfer was also measurably successful: before the visit, the proportion of correctly answered quiz questions ranged from 46 to 65 per cent—after the visit, the figure rose to over 85 per cent. A scientific evaluation conducted in cooperation with the Technical University of Darmstadt confirmed the success of the concept. Professor Thomas Nilsson, Scientific Managing Director of GSI/FAIR, emphasized: “Our SCIENCE POP-UP has demonstrated the strong interest in science and technology in Darmstadt. By establishing it permanently, we want to give even more people the opportunity to get in touch with our research. Our goal is to spark a fascination for physics in people of all ages – and we are succeeding in doing so here in an exemplary manner.” (BP) Opening hours and further information The SCIENCE POP-UP at Ernst-Ludwig-Straße 22 invites anyone interested to explore the world of cutting-edge research for themselves. Further information about offers and events, as well as opening hours, can be found on the GSI/FAIR website. GSI is an EPS Associate Member. Image credit:GSI