Asia Pacific Physics Union

Asia Pacific Physics Union
Name	Asia Pacific Physics Union
Formation	1960s
Type	Professional association
Region served	Asia Pacific
Membership	National physics societies, research institutes, universities

Asia Pacific Physics Union

The Asia Pacific Physics Union is a regional federation bringing together national societies and institutions such as Australian Institute of Physics, Chinese Physical Society, Indian Physics Association, Japan Society of Applied Physics, and Korean Physical Society. It seeks to promote collaboration among members like University of Tokyo, Tsinghua University, Indian Institute of Science, National University of Singapore, and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology while engaging with international bodies such as the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, European Physical Society, and American Physical Society.

History

The union traces roots to discussions among delegations from Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand during meetings inspired by exchanges at institutions like CERN, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, RIKEN, and Institute for Advanced Study. Early milestones involved collaborations with organizations such as International Council for Science, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, Asian Development Bank, and foundations including Rutherford Foundation, Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, and Wellcome Trust. Key historical events included regional symposia aligned with conferences in Geneva, Paris, New York City, Beijing, and New Delhi and participation of eminent physicists affiliated with Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University, and Cambridge University.

Organization and Membership

Membership comprises national societies and academic institutions such as Australian National University, Peking University, Seoul National University, Monash University, University of Melbourne, Nanyang Technological University, University of Hong Kong, University of the Philippines, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Governance mirrors models used by International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, World Meteorological Organization, International Astronomical Union, Institute of Physics and features an executive council, scientific committees, and regional representatives from areas including South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Central Asia. Partnerships often involve ministries such as Ministry of Science and Technology (China), Department of Science and Technology (India), Ministry of Education (Japan), Australian Research Council, and agencies like National Science Foundation (USA).

Activities and Programs

Programs emphasize research networks, capacity building, and outreach with initiatives modeled after projects at Perimeter Institute, Max Planck Society, Institut Pasteur, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and KAIST. Activities include thematic working groups on topics tied to institutes such as CERN (particle physics), ITER (fusion), J-PARC (neutrino physics), SPring-8 (synchrotron radiation), and Riken (materials). Education and training programs collaborate with entities like International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Asia-Europe Foundation, UNESCO Bangkok, ASEAN University Network, and regional laboratories including Australian Synchrotron, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

Conferences and Events

The union organizes biennial and special conferences in cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, New Delhi, Sydney, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. Major events often coincide with or attract participation from delegations affiliated with International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, American Physical Society, European Physical Society, Optical Society, IEEE, Royal Society, and regional academies like Indian National Science Academy and Chinese Academy of Sciences. Symposia cover themes spanning experimental facilities like Diamond Light Source, SPARC, LHC, ALICE, and theoretical hubs such as Perimeter Institute.

Awards and Recognition

The union confers prizes and fellowships to researchers associated with universities and laboratories including University of Tokyo, Tsinghua University, University of Sydney, IIT Bombay, Seoul National University, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Awards often recognize contributions similar to honors from Nobel Prize, Wolf Prize, Breakthrough Prize, Dirac Medal, Crafoord Prize, Humboldt Research Award, and national science prizes from Japan, China, India, Australia, and Korea. Fellowship programs are run in partnership with organizations like Newton Fund, Fulbright Program, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, and JSPS.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaborative links extend to research infrastructures and consortia such as CERN, ITER, J-PARC, SPring-8, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, and initiatives like Belt and Road Initiative-related science exchanges, ASEAN Science and Technology Network, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Asia-Europe Meeting, and international funding bodies including World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The union partners with academies and societies including Royal Society, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, National Academy of Sciences (USA), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, Australian Academy of Science, and corporate research arms such as Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Toyota Research Institute.

Category:Physics organizations