Fundamental Problems in Statistical Physics XIV

The international summer school “Fundamental Problems in Statistical Physics” is to be held for the fourteenth time in the summer of 2017 in Bruneck, a picturesque town in the Italian Alps.

Editorial – Is there a by-product of fundamental physics?

What is the aim of fundamental science? We have all asked ourselves this question, and however naive it may seem, we often have to provide an answer. When the question comes from policy makers and funding agencies, we suspect ulterior motives. Therefore, rather than explain that the purpose is to gain knowledge and understanding, which is the essence of fundamental science, it is easier to raise an equally important aspect: most of the greatest technological advances are the direct or indirect consequence of not politically oriented research. One example that is often mentioned is the invention of the laser.

African School of Fundamental Physics and Applications 2014

The third biennial African School of fundamental physics (ASP) and applications took place in Dakar Senegal from 3 to 23 2014. The school explores theoretical, experimental, applied physics and computing aspects of the field. It covers a wide range of topics: particle physics, particle detectors, astro-particle physics and cosmology, accelerator technologies and some of the applications, such as medical physics, light sources, and Grid computing. The participating students are selected from all over Africa and beyond. The selected students receive full bursaries…

INFN establishes a new centre in Trento

On 15 January 2013 the University of Trento opened the Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Application [TIFPA]. The TIFPA was created through the collaboration of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics [INFN], the University of Trento, Fondazione Bruno Kessler [FBK] and the Provincial Agency for Proton Therapy Trento [ATreP].

The new centre conducts research in basic physics, and in innovation and technology transfer, taking advantage of infrastructure, skills and human resources existing in the participating institutions. The Centre will benefit from…