CMD20 · The 20th General Conference of the Condensed Matter Division of European Physical Society

Final Activity Report Summary - CMD20 (The 20th general conference of the condensed matter division of European physical society)

The Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (CUNI-PRG) in collaboration with colleagues from the Czech Physical Society and the Institute of Physics ASCR have organised the 20th General Conference of the Condensed Matter Division of the European Physical Society (CMD20) in the Prague Congress Centre on July 19-23, 2004. It was organised under auspices of and in close collaboration with the European Physical Society (EPS), namely with its Condensed Matter Division, which is the largest EPS division. CMD20 provided a forum for presentation of research work across the full range of condensed matter physics and applications in materials science. The conference was preceded by the tutorial Student day on July 18 based on 4 extended tutorial lectures in which internationally distinguished scholars explained to participating students the fundamentals of the recent condensed matter science. The CMD20 program included 10 plenary talks of widely recognised researchers, 33 focused sessions with 86 invited speakers focussing on most important subjects, 32 mini-colloquia with 152 talks and 485 posters in 4 poster sessions. The mini-colloquia offered space for discussing novel topics, while the focused sessions were devoted to key areas of condensed matter physics. To satisfy actual needs of community the number of plenary talks, focussed sessions and minicolloquia have been adjusted according to numerous proposals given by interested scientist from many countries. The CMD20 International Programme Committee (IPC) composed of outstanding specialists in physics of condensed matter from Europe, USA and Japan selected excellent speakers capable to highlight particular achievements and guarantee high Community added value. The key subjects in research and application fields of strong interest have been chosen to contribute to their uptake in Europe. The IPC members have been selected in collaboration with EPS to assure the key qualitative aspects of CMD20. The format of CMD20 was comparable to the recently preceding CMDs held in Brighton, 2002 and in Montreux, 2000. All available advertising means were used (own www page, e-mail announcements and links on relevant www pages, including those of other conferences visble to wide scientific community, CMD20 advertising posters and leaflets displayed at relevant conferences and sent to universities and research centres in and outside Europe, calls for abstracts distributed by internet using extended mailing lists) to attract wide spectrum of participants and large auditorium. Finally, CMD20 has been attended by 822 registered participants from 52 countries all around the world. Particular attention was paid to attract sufficient audience formed by young scientists and students to extend the advances achieved in the EU Member and Associated States, as well as, elsewhere in the World on to researchers in the early stage of their career. 147 young researchers and students from 27 countries enjoyed financial support provided from funds available from the EU (Marie-Curie program) - 127, EPS (East-West Task Force program) - 9 and CMD20 Organising Committee - 11. The CMD20 program clearly documented that the recent development and achievements of the research in the field of condensed matter physics and materials research bring growing number of applications to the modern life. Most of recent high-tech products utilise results of condensed matter research, which creates constantly growing demand for young researchers with high standard of education in Physics. This has particularly growing importance in the European Research Area where the average age of condensed matter researchers is steadily growing due to lack of interest of young generation. The CMD20 besides providing forum for scientists to present and discuss their results offered numerous opportunities of improved training of PhD students and post-docs during the event.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union