Events 2008
NETWORKING |
|
New research alliance to strengthen Dresden as center of research and academic education |
|
(c) Stephanie Hofschlaeger / PIXELIO (www.pixelio.de) |
The research center Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD) is considerably involved in planning a unique research alliance named DRESDEN (“Dresden Research and Education Synergies for the Development of Excellence and Novelty”). The core aim is to create a common research and university education space in Dresden. But the alliance partners also have the second round of the German “Exzellenzinitiative” in their minds, a nationwide competition for excellence in research, hoping that the new research alliance will benefit the Technische Universität Dresden in this highly prestigious contest of German universities, which promises millions of euros for funding of research. The DRESDEN concept is promoted by the Technische Universität Dresden and the research institutions in Dresden. |
New contract of cooperation signed |
|
One of the basic ideas of the DRESDEN network is to make greater use of the synergies of the multiple collaborations between research institutions in Dresden. Only last year, the Technische Universität Dresden and the FZD signed a new contract, expanding their cooperation. | |
RESEARCH & MISSION STATEMENT |
|
Funding for Collaborative Research Center continued |
|
The FZD participates in the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 609 (“Elektromagnetische Strömungsbeeinflussung in Metallurgie, Kristallzüchtung und Elektrochemie”), which focuses on fundamental research on the magnetic control of electrically conducting fluids. In November 2008, the German Research Foundation (DFG) prolonged funding of this Collaborative Research Center with 11 million euros, 2.2 million euros of which are assigned to the FZD. This Collaborative Research Center is jointly operated by the Technische Universität Dresden, the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the Leibniz Institute of Solid Sate and Materials Research Dresden and the FZD. | |
Top-level research in the Free State of Saxony |
|
Top-level research in the German Länder Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt has recently been given a boost by one regional research competition (Saxon initiative for excellence in research) and one contest carried out on the national level (competition by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research supporting the formation of clusters of excellence). The FZD participates in projects that succeeded in both competitions. “Common Center for Radiation Research in Oncology” victorious in Saxony’s initiative for excellence in research The “Common Center for Radiation Research in Oncology” is one of the five winners in the Saxon initiative for excellence in research. The aim of the center, which is a joint initiative by the Technische Universität Dresden, the university hospital in Dresden and the FZD, is to considerably improve the treatment of cancer in the future by means of technologically optimized and biologically individualized radiation therapy. This is to be achieved by the development of totally new laser-based radiation therapy facilities for proton and ion beams. The “Common Center for Radiation Research in Oncology” is funded by about 30 million euros. Another project which was triumphant in the Saxon initiative for excellence in research is the “European Center for Emerging Materials and Processes Dresden” (ECEMP). It focuses on the development of compound materials for lightweight construction as well as process and environmental engineering. The FZD institutes of Ion-Beam Physics and Materials Research as well as Safety Research participate in this project. National clusters of excellence The Institute of Ion-Beam Physics and Materials Research at the FZD is engaged in two clusters of excellence funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research: “Cool Silicon – Energy Efficiency Innovations from Silicon Saxony” dealing with the improvement of energy efficiency in the information and communication sector and “Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland”, which aims at increasing both the efficiency and demand of solar cells and photovoltaic systems. The Institute of Safety Research participates in the latter project. |
|
One of Germany’s most powerful laser systems at the FZD |
|
On May 22, 2008, the official start-up of the new high-intensity laser system at the FZD named “Draco” was celebrated in the presence of the Saxon State Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange. The light generated by the laser is very intensive, separating the components of matter – atoms and electrons – when hitting a target. Laser systems are thus well suited to accelerate electrons to high energies, which can normally only be achieved by large acceleration facilities. Still, a lot of fundamental research on laser-particle acceleration is needed, which is to be pushed by the FZD scientists. Yet they have an ambitious aim, namely to develop compact particle accelerators for modern particle therapy for the treatment of cancer. Cancer research is one of the three main research programs at the FZD. | |
American laser physicist is new director of the Institute of Radiation Physics |
|
A modern high-intensity laser system and, situated in close proximity, an electron linear accelerator have certainly played a role in attracting the internationally renowned laser physicist Prof. Thomas Cowan to the FZD. He has been director of the Institute of Radiation Physics since the beginning of 2008. Before that, he held a professorship at the University of Reno, USA. | |
FZD is a family-friendly institution |
|
The healthy balance of family and career is one aspect of the mission statement of the FZD for which it was awarded a certificate of the “berufundfamilie gGmbH” last year. The Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, handed over the certificate on June 30, 2008. | |
CONFERENCES |
|
Biggest IEEE conference ever in Dresden |
|
The FZD was the local organizer of the IEEE conference 2008 which took place in Dresden from October 19 to 25, 2008. Each year, two conferences are united under the roof of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): The Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS), organized since the 1960s, focuses on radiation instrumentation and detector development. At the start of this century, the Medical Imaging Conference (MIC) series was launched, which deals with imaging procedures for medicine. FZD scientist Prof. Wolfgang Enghardt, who is also professor at the Technische Universität Dresden, chaired this conference. The IEEE conference offered a platform for exchange, among other things on the latest large-scale research projects like the Large Hadron Collider LHC at the European Center for Nuclear Research CERN in Switzerland, the international fusion reactor ITER in France, the international center for acceleration FAIR at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany, and the X-ray laser project XFEL at the German electron synchrotron DESY in Hamburg. The conference week – which put up a new record in the history of the IEEE with about 2,600 participants – was accompanied by many workshops, short courses and an industry exhibition. The conference took place in Germany for the first time and for the third time in Europe. It was the biggest conference in the history of the FZD. |
|
IBMM conference 2008 |
|
The FZD and the Leibniz Institute for Ion Beam Modification Leipzig were responsible for the 16th conference on “Ion Beam Modification of Materials” that took place in the main lecture hall building of the TU Dresden from August 31 until September 5, 2008. With success: the conference attracted around 10 % more participants than in the previous year. All in all, there were 327 visitors from 40 countries, about one third students and graduates. An “IBMM Prize” was awarded to an excellent junior scientist. | |
EVENTS FOR THE PUBLIC |
|
Great interest in Science Day at FZD |
|
Focusing on magnetic phenomena as a prominent object of research at the FZD, last year’s Science Day attracted around 2,700 visitors - as many as never before! Magnetic phenomena could be experienced for instance at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory Dresden (HLD) or at the Ion Beam Center, two of the large-scale facilities at the FZD. On that day, the HLD was selected as one German landmark in the “365 landmarks in the land of ideas” competition. The high-intensity laser “Draco” was a new attraction on that Science Day. | |
Long Night of Sciences |
|
On July 4, 2008, the FZD took part, as in the years before, in the Long Night of Sciences in the main lecture hall building of the Technische Universität Dresden. The program of the FZD was focused on “Magnetic fields, radiation, atoms and nuclei – from the nanoworld to the cosmos”. In presentations, at experiments and at information stands people were able to get informed about nanotechnology and optoelectronics, radioactive drugs, laser particle acceleration, etc. FZD trainees were responsible of a program for children and youths and the model aircraft club Rossendorf was also present. | |
Science Summer in Leipzig |
|
Scientists from the High Magnetic Field Lab and the Institute of Safety Research, together with staff from public relations at the FZD, participated in the Science Summer from June 28 until July 4, 2008, in Leipzig. The program of the FZD covered magnetism as well as an exhibit explaining computer tomography. The annual Science Summer is organized by “Wissenschaft im Dialog”, a platform supporting science communication in Germany. | |
Teacher training |
|
As every year, numerous teachers from schools all over Saxony attended the teacher training day at the FZD on February 15, 2008. Focusing on modern acceleration concepts and their applications in medicine, the program comprised an introductory speech as well as presentations on the research at the radiation source ELBE and for applications of modern high-intensity laser systems in medicine. |