Highlights from e-EPS: Fusion experiment nears completion, nominations open for prize, and technology transfer group launched

e-EPS News is a monthly addition to the CERN Bulletin line-up, showcasing articles from e-EPS – the European Physical Society newsletter – as part of a collaboration between the two publications.

 

Core of fusion experiment completed

The last major part of the Wendelstein 7-X fusion experiment was installed on 21 December last year. The addition of the 14 tonne final part of the device – the lid of the thermally insulating outer shell – sees the completion of the ring-like base machine at the Greifswald branch of the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, which will begin operation in 2014.

Fusion research aims to draw energy from the fusion of atomic nuclei. To achieve this, hydrogen plasma must be superheated to temperatures above 100 million degrees, within the confines of a restricting magnetic field. The Wendelstein 7-X – which will be the largest fusion device of its type – will investigate the feasibility of such a power plant and its potential for continuous operation.

For more information, please visit the Max Planck Institute website.

Call for 2012 IUPAP C11 Young Scientist Prize

Nominations are now open for the IUPAP Young Scientist Prize for the Commission of Particles and Fields (C11). Two prizes are presented each year in recognition of outstanding young experimental or theoretical particle physicists.

The awards, consisting of a medal and 1000 euros in prize money, will be presented at the 36th International Conference on High Energy Physics. Nominees should have a maximum of eight years of research experience, excluding career interruptions, following their PhD. Previous award recipients are not eligible.

For more information, please visit the IUPAP website.

EPS launches new Technology and Innovation Group

The EPS is launching a new Technology and Innovation Group, in accordance with the EPS Strategy Plan 2010+. This initiative confirms the longstanding role of the EPS in establishing links between industry, research institutes, society and universities within Europe.

The Technology and Innovation Group is hoping to build a close collaboration with the newly created Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) Circle, by means of CERN, which is both a founding EPS member as well as a major player in the TTO circle organisation.

The TTO network brings together technology transfer offices from European public research organisations, to facilitate the spread of technology and research-based innovation to industry and society and to provide models of best practice to smaller member offices.

by e-EPS News