Physical and Engineering Sciences

The Physical and Engineering Sciences are key drivers for research and innovation, providing fundamental insights and creating new applications for mankind.

The goal of the ESF Standing Committee for Physical and Engineering Sciences (PEN (formerly PESC)) is to become the pan-European platform for innovative research and competitive new ideas while addressing societal issues in a more effective and sustainable manner.  The Committee is a unique cross-disciplinary group, with networking activities comprising a good mix of experimental and theoretical approaches. It distinguishes itself by focusing on fundamental research and engineering. PEN (formerly PESC) covers the following broad spectrum of fields;

  • chemistry
  • mathematics
  • informatics and the computer sciences
  • physics
  • fundamental engineering sciences
  • materials sciences

Statutory Review of ESF Standing Committees 2003-2008

In the framework of the quinquennial reviews of all ESF Standing Committees as set down in the ESF Statutes, PEN (formerly PESC) submitted its self-evaluation report covering the period 2003-2008 by the deadline of June 2009.

PEN (formerly PESC)'s final report submitted to the Review Panel can be downloaded by clicking on the link.

The review of all five Standing Committees was conducted by an independent Review Panel which examined and evaluated the activities of the Committees and discussed possible future developments with the Standing Committee Chairs. The Review Panel report was approved by the ESF Governing Council at its meeting in May 2010 and is available by clicking on the link.

 

PEN (formerly PESC) Newsletters

PEN (formerly PESC) News is a twice-yearly publication that provides an insight into the business of the Standing Committee for the Physical and Engineering Sciences (PEN (formerly PESC)) and the activities currently running in PEN (formerly PESC)'s remit. 

For PEN (formerly PESC) News No. 13 click on the image or the link.

PEN (formerly PESC) News No 13. reports on the recent PEN (formerly PESC) October meetings as well as the FLMI and NuPECC LRP Forward Look final Conferences taking place in December 2010 under the Belgian EU Presidency. Highlights include Science Policy events such as the ESF 2010 Joint Round Table meeting on “interdisciplinarity”, the US-EU Workshop on “the reverse Engineering of the Human Brain” and PEN (formerly PESC)’s Strategic Workshop with Exploratory Workshop Convenors.

 

The Newsletter also includes achievements within different PEN (formerly PESC) RNPs and EUROCORES Programmes (Nanoscience and Engineering in Superconductivity book published by Springer, EuroGRAPHENE Symposium,  EuroQUASAR finding on “a new quantum phenomenon: Pinning Atoms into order”).