11. July 2006 12:18
Science reaches the top in Tyrol: New series of conferences launched by ESF-FWF and LFUI
On Sunday 25th June, the European Science Foundation (ESF), the Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forshung in Österreich (FWF) in partnership with Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck (LFUI) initiated the first in a new series of research conferences.
State-of-the-art science
Top-level scientific issues are what the new high-profile ESF Research Conferences Scheme aims at tackling. Hand in hand with national and international organisations and universities, the Scheme enables the world’s leading scientists and others to meet informally and discuss the most recent developments in their fields of research at an advanced level. As a catalyst for creating new synergistic contacts throughout Europe and the rest of the world, the Scheme actively promotes the excellence of European research and positions ESF as a leading high-quality resource.
ESF aims to create a clear “brand-name” for the conferences and a predictable system for the scientific community by linking each venue to a certain disciplinary area. In May 2005, ESF signed an Agreement with LFUI and FWF, a Member Organisation of the ESF, for five research conferences a year over the next five years. Composed of 78 major national funding agencies from 30 European countries, ESF brings together leading scientists to debate, plan and implement pan-European initiatives for the promotion of high-quality science.
A pilot Conference
Within the Scheme, the University Centre Obergurgl, now the exclusive venue for conferences in Physics/Biophysics and Environmental Sciences, will be one of about 10 conference locations in Europe.
100 of the world’s eminent scientists and young researchers attended the conference on “Biomolecules: from Gas Phase Properties to Reactions Relevant in Living Cells”, chaired by Nigel J. Mason (The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK) and Eugen Illenberger (Freie Universität Berlin). The meeting also hosted several distinguished guests: the Rector of LFUI, Manfried Gantner, the Vice-Rector for Research, Tilman Märk, the Governor of Education and Culture of Tyrol, Erwin Koler, the Mayor of Sölden, Ernst Schöpf, the ESF Chief Executive, Bertil Andersson, and the 1998 Nobel Laureate for Chemistry, Robert Huber.
The latter opened the conference with the latest Biophysics research results. He also stressed the importance of interdisciplinary scientific meetings for the development of new models and concepts, since much remains to be discovered through joint research. Robert Huber praised ESF for its initiative to start this new series of conferences.
Rector Manfried Gantner thanked ESF for its Research Conferences Scheme, and Mayor Ernst Schöpf for the locality’s continuing support. Vice-Rector Tilman Märk and the Director, Ruth Jochum-Gasser, had together succeeded in developing the University Centre as an international “highest class” venue.
Governor Erwin Koler underlined that besides promoting research, illustrated by the Tyrolean Future Foundation and the Tyrolean Science Foundation, Tyrol also supported the organisation of academic conferences. He confirmed that a professionally equipped venue situated at nearly 2000m provides an ideal environment for the intensive exchange of knowledge. The ESF Chief Executive Bertil Andersson was also impressed by the surroundings, a place for “Top Science at a Top Level”.
Two further ESF-FWF Conferences in partnership with LFUI are due to take place in Obergurgl – “Solid/Fluid Interfaces: Complex Fluid Interfaces and Nanofluidics” (9-14 September); and “Reduced Nitrogen in Ecology and the Environment” (13-18 October).
