We Need the Whole of Physics
Safety Critical Systems
Microsystems Technology 0
0 Neural Networks: Basics , Applications &Futures
neighbours to the east soas to increase signifi We Need th e Whole o f Physics European Union'speripheral countries andits cantlyEurope'soverall strength andpotential to adjust toworldcompetition. J.T. Devreese from the University of Antwerp points out the danger of trivializing The remarks byJ.C. Phillips onthevalue parts of physics. and effectiveness ofsmall-scale science as J.T. Devreese opposedtolarge-scale projects must be endorsed. Europe shouldbuildefficient net The analysisbyJ.C. Phillips at CMD-EPS works ofresearchgroups andlaboratoryfacil '96ofsolid-state physicswas certainlystimuities, takingfull advantage ofthe richness and lating. But remarks such as“high-energyphysdiversityexistingin the different countries. icshas been deadfor 30years”and astrong Recent European Union networking and opposition tothe SSCthat were perhaps mobilityprogrammes shouldbe encouraged. intended toenliven the discussion. They Inparallel, aprogramme couldbelaunched to shouldbetaken cummaximogranosalis. First create anetworkofstrategic medium-size ofall, high-energyphysics remains avigorous researchfacilities in thevarious European fieldwithsome ofthebest minds at work. In regions, withadequate interfaceswithindustry theperiod referredtowehaveseenthe discovandconditions that promote anefficient trans eryoftheJ/psi, ofthe WandZbosons andof fer ofscientificknowledge to newapplications. the topquark, aswell asthe development ofthe Ialsosupport the needto introduce new standardmodel ofparticlephysicswhichconapproaches in teachingandtrainingscience at stitutes agreat stepforwardtowards realizing theuniversitylevel. Inparticular, wemust the dreamofunification. Theseachievements learn howtointegrate high-level sciencewith have not onlycontributed to our understandtechnologicallyorientedknowledge inorder to ingofthe “buildingblocks”ofNaturebut also formulate “sciencewithapurpose”.Anoverly shed light onthe evolutionofthe earlyuniacademic and removedscience, althoughvery verse. Think ofthe marvellous “first three minformative and ofuniversal validity, isgenerally utes”ofWeinberg;the fact that the structure ineffectiveifit isnot complementedby(simul and dynamics ofthe universeiscorrelatedwith taneous) information onthe appliedaspects of the finedetails ofelementaryparticle physics is science andthe basic principles behind mod afundamental insightwithamajor cultural ern technology. Students shouldalsobe trained dimension. Furthermore, themethods oftheointhe use ofscience for solvingconcreteprob retical high-energyphysics havebeen most lems, inanopenenvironment and through fruitful for condensed-matter physics, notably interactionwithnon-academicpeople. AsJ.C. Phillips pointedout, most ofindustrial practice timelyincremental stepswhicheither enable methods. Here, acute awareness andmixed consists not ofprofound inventions and care newmethods, or whichcontrol qualitytostabi experience (science/technology) arecrucial fullyprepared discoveries, but ofquickand lizeand improve theyieldofolder makeshift factors for success.
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path integrals and Feynman diagrams, and
concepts suchas scaling, universalityand sym
metrybreakinghavebeen useful inmanyfields
ofphysics. The unique tool ofsynchrotron
radiation, sodear tosolid-state physicists, isa
by-product ofhigh-energyphysics.
Weneed all ofphysics: thebeautyofceles
tial mechanics, thedepths ofphasetransitions,
the excitement ofunderstanding the hydro
static paradoxor thecolour ofthesky, thejoy
ofcalculatingthe Lambshift or measuringthe
21cmline. It iscounterproductivetominimize
the significanceofareas other than one’sown.
It isalsohard toseehowtoattract students by
trivializingthevalue ofparts ofphysics. What
wemust conveyisthe richness ofthe entire
subject and, indeed, ofthewhole ofscience.
So-called small science is indeedinvalu
able: theworkofMuller and Bednroz
onhighTcsuperconductivitywas realizedwithmodest
budgets, andthe same istrue for the
BinnigRohrer scanningtunneling microscope. Onthe
other hand, detection ofthe quantumHall
effectwas facilitatedbythe availabilityofhigh
magnetic fields. Soweshouldopen upthe full
potential ofboth largeand small science.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE
of Science, Technology &Medicine
ProfessionalDevelopmentCourses
GESAMTHOCHSCHULE WUPPERTAL
The institutefor Materials Science
Invites applications for newly created, tenured faculty position:
FULL PROFESSOR (Universitätsprofessor C4)
of Theoretical Physics
The successful applicant will be appointed to the Physics Faculty
and is expected to build up and to lead a group devoted to the theo
retical analysis of new materials or novel condensed matter phe
nomena. The applicants are expected to meet the corresponding
standards of scientific and academic qualification and experience.
Besides carrying out a successful research program in cooperation
with existing groups in the Institute for Materials Science (...truncated)