FPS: an EPS outreach action

Chair: Martial Ducloy, University Paris Nord, France

Secretary: Peter Melville, United Kingdom, EPS Physics for Development Group

The EPS Council formally established Forum Physics and Society (FPS) at its 2007 London meeting. The aim of FPS is to establish a more active EPS role in the relation of physics to society, taking seriously the challenge of maintaining a strong and critical dialogue between physicists and decision makers from policy and economics

Forum Physics and Society, an EPS outreach body, aims at catalyzing such development through workshops and meetings, gathering decision makers and physicists to put the spotlight on topics of interest to both society and to the physics community.

Forum on Physics and Society has the clear message to decision makers that innovation, competitiveness and wealth creation strongly depends on advanced education and science. Physics, a powerful basic science activity is keenly aware of its obligation to further these aims of society.

The first FPS meeting took place in Graz (2006) on The role of physics in the context of society, culture, and the sciences, The importance of physics for competitiveness in a technology-based world economy, Needs in research policy and funding, Standards and quality control in physics education and comparability in international physics curricula, at all levels of education and finally Ethical issues in physics.

The second major FPS event took place in Zakopane (2007) on education and scientific literacy, creativity and innovation and science and ethics.

The third Forum Physics and Society event in Ratnieki, Latvia (2009) was on a new deal between science teaching and science and society: Physics in schools.