Statistical & Nonlinear Physics Division

The Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division (SNPD) exists for the advancement of research in statistical and nonlinear physics, the dissemination of key results in this area to the general public, and the promotion and coordination of interdisciplinary research.

More specifically, the SNPD aims to form an umbrella organization for coordination of research in statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems and interdisciplinary applications.

Division objectives:

to promote studies and dissemination in this general research area
to facilitate contacts between members
to encourage collaboration and exchange of knowledge between different disciplines
to stimulate the interest of young scientists in the field of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, and complex systems
to organize and support conferences and workshops
to maintain contacts with related divisions within EPS
to communicate with similar organizations worldwide

Areas of research include:

nonequilibrium statistical physics
complex networks
nonlinear dynamical system
chaos and turbulence
stochastic modelling
spin glasses and disordered quantum systems
pattern formation
long-range interacting systems
phase transitions and critical phenomena
interdisciplinary applications in physics, biology, economics, and social sciences

Board Members

Raffaella Burioni, University of Parma, Parma, Italy (Chair)
Erik Aurell, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Martin Evans, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Irene Giardina, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy
Ralf Metzler, University of Postdam, Postdam, Germany
Maria Angeles Serrano, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Katarzyna Sznjad-Weron, University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
Massimo Vergassola, Ecole Normale Supérieure and CNRS, Paris, France

Prizes

EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize
The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Prize is awarded by EPS for outstanding research contributions in the area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems and complex networks. The prize winner will have made ground-breaking and agenda setting contributions for the development of this field. The prize can be shared by up to 2 persons. The prize consists of a glass trophy and a cash sum.

EPS – SNPD Early Career Prize
This prize is awarded to an early career scientist (defined as having obtained his/her PhD less than 6 years ago at the time of nomination) who has made outstanding research contributions to an area of statistical physics, nonlinear physics, complex systems, or complex networks, as evidenced by a top quality and highly cited paper in an international journal. The prize can be shared by up to 2 persons. The prize consists of a glass trophy and a cash sum.

Event Archives

Statphys26 took place in Lyon on 18-22 July 2016 and was sponsored by EPS as a Europhysics conference. The board of SNPD had its annual board meeting in Lyon on the occasion of Statphys26. The SNPD also hosted an honorary dinner for the new Boltzmann medalists in Lyon.
Dynamics of Complex Systems was yet another Europhysics conference organized by the Division and this took place in Warwick 18-20 May 2016.
Dynamics Days 2016 (Corfu) was sponsored by EPS as well (6-10 June 2016).
Crossroads in Complex Systems: This Europhysics conference took place 5-8 June 2017 at IFISC in Palma de Mallorca. There was a special session organized by the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division (SNPD) of EPS.
SigmaPhi conference on Statistical Physics. This was supported by EPS as a Europhysics conference. There was also a satellite summer school on New Trends in Statistical Physics for young researchers, organised by SNPD immediately before the conference.
2017 saw the 100th anniversary of the life and work of Marian Smoluchowski (1872-1917). On this occasion the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division organised the Anniversary Smoluchowski Symposium/1st EPS conference on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics in Krakow (4-8 September 2017).
The EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Divsion joined forces with the EPS Condensed Matter Division and the Sektion Kondensierte Materie of DPG to organize a joint DPG/EPS spring conference in Berlin 11-16 March 2018. More than 6000 participants attended this huge meeting.
New interaction between EPS Plasma Physics Division and EPS Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division: Joint sessions organized at the 45th Plasma Physics Conference in Prague 2-6 July 2018.
Statistical Physics of Complex Systems. This joint EPS-Nordita conference was organized by our Division in Stockholm 7-11 May 2019.
Statphys27 took place in Buenos Aires 8-12 July 2019 and was sponsored and supported by EPS-SNPD. There was a special EPS session during this conference.
Statistical Physics of Complex Systems 3, Trieste 8-10 September 2021. This conference was a joint venture of SISSA, ICTP and EPS.
Physics for Society: Grand Challenges in the Horizon 2050, Berlin 28-29 October 2021 This meeting was joint between EPS and DPG, on the occasion of 175 years of DPG. It took place in hybrid form, and it addressed future research highlights as well as societal challenges of science.
EPS Forum, Paris 2-4 June 2022 This conference brought young MSc, PhD students and researchers in contact with industry. It took place at Sorbonne University.