Of solids and philosophers

Well over 6,000 congress-goers are expected to attend this year’s Spring Meeting of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG) Condensed Matter Section (SKM) in Berlin. This makes the congress, being held from 11 to 16 March 2018 and organised jointly with the European Physical Society (EPS) at Berlin Technical University, the largest physics congress in Europe.

The programme comprises more than 5,000 expert contributions. The topics range from typical issues of research into physics and recent findings in semiconductor physics, magnetism and surface science to questions of philosophy and socio-economic systems.

Invitation to the press briefing

Monday, 12 March 2018
09:30 to 11:00 hours
TU Berlin [Technical University]
Hauptgebäude [Main building]
Hörsaal [Lecture theatre] H 2036
Straße des 17. Juni 135
10623 Berlin

featuring inter alia:

Prof. Dr. Rolf-Dieter Heuer, President of the DPG
Prof. Dr. Eckehard Schöll, Congress Chair, TUB
Prof. Dr. Martin Aeschlimann, Spokesman of the DPG Condensed Matter Section
Dr. Kees van der Beek, Chair of the Condensed Matter Division (EPS)

The press briefing will focus on the content of the congress and the DPG’s current activities.

The Spring Meetings are a key component of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft’s activities. They are also important platforms for the next generation of scientists, on which they present their research work to a wider specialist audience, often for the first time. In addition, the meetings give young scientists the opportunity to discourse with experienced physicists from science and industry, to establish contacts, and to garner ideas to help plan their profession and career.

Save the dates

Evening presentation open to the press
Next exit future: Is it them or us?
Sunday, 11 March 2018, 18:45 hours,
TU Berlin [Technical University], Hauptgebäude [Main building], Hörsaal [Lecture theatre] H0105
Ranga Yogeshwar, physicist and science journalist

Public events free of charge

• EinsteinSlam (entrance free; in German)
Physics in 10 minutes (for each competition entry)
Monday, 12 March 2018, 20:00 hours, Urania

• Evening presentation open to the public (entrance free; in German)
Kollektive Dynamik in Sozialen Systemen:
Netzwerke, Emotionen und Big Data
Wednesday, 14 March 2018, 20:00 hours, Urania
Prof. Dr. Frank Schweitzer, ETH Zürich

Ceremony together with the European Physical Society and EU Commissioner Carlos Moedas

Tuesday, 13 March 2018, 16:00 -18:00 hours, Audimax

With addresses from the President of Berlin Technical University, Prof. Dr. Christian Thomsen, the EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, EPS President, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Voss, and DPG President, Rolf-Dieter Heuer.

The following prizes will be awarded during the ceremony:

Prof. Dr. Sascha Schäfer from the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg is awarded the Walter-Schottky-Preis 2018 for his fundamental contributions to condensed matter physics.

Prof. Dr. Gareth S. Parkinson from Vienna Technical University’s Institute of Applied Physics is awarded the Gaede-Preis 2018 for his excellent contributions in the field of vacuum science and technology.

Professors Lucio Braicovich and Giacomo Claudio Ghiringhelli from the Dipartimento di Fisica der Politecnico di Milano are awarded the European Physical Society Condensed Matter Division’s Europhysics Prize. They are also giving the ceremonial address entitled “Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering”.

In addition, Prof. Dr. Eckehard Schöll from Berlin Technical University’s Institute of Theoretical Physics is being presented with the DPG-Ehrennadel [Badge of Honour] by the President of DPG. In this way the DPG is honouring his outstanding commitment to the society’s issues, particularly to organising the Condensed Matter Section’s Spring Meetings.

Selection of scientific presentations
(only for congress-goers or media representatives)

• What Counts in Public Transportation
Monday, 12 March 2018, 13:15 hours, HE101
Jan Sablatnig, Berlin Technical University
Lunch Talk

• Let’s twist again – Magnetic Skyrmions
Thursday, 15 March 2018, 13:15 hours, Audimax
Dr. Karin Everschor-Sitte, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Hertha Sponer prize-winner 2018

• How photons change the properties of matter
Friday, 16 March 2018, 8:30 hours, Audimax
Prof. Dr. Angel Rubio, Max Planck Institute of the Structure and Dynamics of Matter and Hamburg University
Max Born prize-winner 2018

Attendance free of charge for teachers

This year, too, the DPG invites teachers to attend the congress, free of charge. All it takes is to present written confirmation from the school.

Information for editors:

Journalists are cordially invited to every event after prior accreditation at presse@dpg-physik.de. Attendance is then free of charge.

Press office:
Hauptgebäude [Main building], Raum [Room] 2035 (2nd floor)
TU Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin,

Press contact:
Gerhard Samulat, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e.V.
Tel.: 02224/9232-33
Mobile: 01577/4035823 (during the congress)
e-mail: presse@dpg-physik.de

Press tips for journalists:
http://www.dpg-physik.de/presse/veranstaltungen/tagungen/2018/pdf/Pressetipps_Be… (PDF; 519kB)

Local congress organisation:
Prof. Dr. Eckehard Schöll, Institut für Theoretische Physik, TU Berlin,
Tel.: 030-314-23500
e-mail: schoell@physik.tu-berlin.de

For more information on the congress:
http://berlin18.dpg-tagungen.de/index?set_language=en&cl=en

Information on all the DPG’s Spring Meetings:
http://www.dpg-physik.de/presse/veranstaltungen/tagungen/index.html

The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e.V. (DPG), which dates back to 1845, is the oldest national society, and with more than 62,000 members also the largest physical society, in the world. As a non-profit association it pursues no economic interests. Through conferences, events and publications it promotes the transfer of knowledge within the scientific community and aims to open a window to physics for anyone curious. Its particular focuses are on encouraging the next generation of natural scientists and championing equal opportunities. The DPG’s head office is in Bad Honnef am Rhein. Its representative office in the capital is the Magnus-Haus Berlin. Website: www.dpg-physik.de