Public events and lectures

The conference week also features events and lectures for the general public. This activities are open to all conference participants and the interested public. Admission is free and registration for the conference is not necessary.

Public Evening Talk

Tuesday, 17 March 2026, 19:00 - 20:00, AudiMax

Claudio Copper and Christopher van Eldik
FAU | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

are speaking about

"Zu Wasser, zu Eis und in der Luft: Astroteilchenphysik mit Gammastrahlung und Neutrinos"

Abstract:
1.000.000.000.000.000 Elektronenvolt: Diese unvorstellbar hohe Energie erreichen geladene Teilchen in den "kosmischen Beschleunigern" unserer Milchstraße - eine weit höhere Energie, als der zur Zeit größte durch Menschen gebaute Teilchenbeschleuniger LHC ermöglicht. Welche Himmelsobjekte sind für dieses Phänomen verantwortlich? Wie funktionieren diese Beschleuniger?

Mit speziellen Gammastrahlung-Teleskopen in Namibia und Chile und Neutrino-Observatorien im Mittelmeer und dem antarktischen Eis gehen Erlanger Forscher diesen Fragen auf den Grund. Sie finden dabei ein Universum vor, das völlig anders aussieht, als die Betrachtung des Sternenhimmels mit dem bloßen Auge vermuten lässt.

The talk will be in German.

Lise-Meitner-Lectures

Lise Meitner was born in Vienna and worked in Berlin for over 30 years. In 1939 she delivered the first physical-theoretical explanation of nuclear fission. She died in Cambridge (Great Britain) in 1968. In her honour, the Austrian Physical Society (ÖPG) and the German Physical Society (DPG) have established the "Lise Meitner Lectures" (LML), which took place for the first time in 2008. This annual series of lectures at the DPG Annual Meetings aims to present outstanding female scientists to a broad audience.

Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 19:00 - 20:00, AudiMax

Michèle Heurs, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
is speaking about

"Gravitational wave astronomy -- quo vadis?"

Abstract:
Since the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) in 2015, we have opened an entirely new observation window into the Universe (complementary to the electromagnetic spectrum, neutrinos, and cosmic rays), heralding the era of multi-messenger astronomy with GWs. A wealth of scientific insights has already been gained -- but so much more is yet to be discovered!

The sensitivity of current GW detectors is so incredible that the quantum noise of the employed ultra-stable laser light would be limiting. This necessitates the use of non-classical ("squeezed") light, which is already routinely employed in the current (second) generation of detectors, e.g., aLIGO and AdVirgo. Many additional noise sources, such as seismic and thermal noise, pose further challenges for future (third-generation) detectors, e.g., the Einstein Telescope, a planned underground GW observatory in Europe.

To learn more about our Universe, we must achieve ever-higher detection rates for meaningful GW astronomy, which requires ever-greater detection sensitivity and larger detection bandwidth. In my talk, I will introduce the principle of interferometric GW detection, highlight some of the advanced technologies (employed and under development), and shed light on the plans for future interferometric GW observatories.

The lecture will be in English.

Max-von-Laue-Lecture

In 2000, the DPG initiated a lecture series in honour of Max von Laue. The physicist and Nobel Prize winner, who was President of the German Physical Society from 1931 to 1933, was extraordinarily active in the field of human rights between 1933 and 1945. The Max von Laue Lectures take place as part of the DPG Annual Meetings and are given by scientists who are distinguished by their strong political or social commitment.

Thursday, 19 March 2026, 20:00 - 210, AudiMax

David Gross, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
is speaking about

"My journey in Nuclear Physics – Quantum Chromodynamics and the threat of nuclear annihilation"

Abstract:
tba

The lecture will be in English.