Thanks to an initiative by the World Congress of Physical Societies in Berlin four years ago, 2005 is declared a World Year of Physics. In November 2003, the General Conference of UNESCO adopted a resolution supporting this initiative.

The main theme of the World Year of Physics is the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Albert Einstein’s “Annus Mirabilis” in which he published four remarkable papers on three different topics: the photoelectric effect (Nobel Prize 1921), Brownian motion and the Special Theory of Relativity (including, in a separate letter, the E=mc2 formula).

2005 also marks two other important anniversaries for fusion researchers: 50 years ago, British scientist John D. Lawson formulated his criteria for a power-producing fusion reactor and 20 years ago, the initiative for an international fusion project (today’s ITER) was launched at the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Geneva.

Many national and international events and activities are planned by Physical Societies (see the official webpage of the World Year of Physics, http://www.wyp2005.org). These activities aim to enhance the public perception of physics and provide numerous opportunities for increasing public understanding of fusion as well. Individual participation will be encouraged, for example, in the proposed “Stories in Physics” world-wide competition.

To mark the World Year of Physics, EFDA JET has issued a special desk-top calendar with images from European Fusion Research, including relevant historical and current dates. If you need further information, wish to suggest an idea or have any comments and/or news concerning the role of the fusion community in the World Year of Physics please contact public-relations@jet.efda.org. Happy New Year!