Scope & Subjects

The last year of doctoral studies is an important turnover in the career of a young researcher: the successful PhD candidate has not only mastered the essential theoretical and technical know-how of a given area of research, but also produced original results that mark her/his assimilation into a community of specialists. But while advanced PhD candidates are already well prepared to brainstorm with colleagues of their own domain, they often lack exposure to, and training in, an exchange of ideas or a pedagogical popularization of their work among a broader community of researchers in other areas of their discipline. Yet, in today’s complex landscape of ultra-specialized research, important advancements and major breakthroughs often come from such exchanges. Thus, it appears essential to prepare the young generation to the challenge of such multifaceted work from their initial steps as independent researchers.

This workshop will bring together high-level 3^rd year PhD students of Physics in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, with the aim of encouraging the pedagogical diffusion of their work to an audience broader than just the “community of specialists” of their own field, and thus promoting, from the early stages of their career, a strong exchange of ideas and experimental/theoretical techniques with other areas of Physics. A few senior scientists working in several areas of current research in Physics will also participate, with the aim of stimulating the discussions and helping to create thought provoking interchanges.

Each participant will give two talks: a pedagogical introduction to her/his general field of research (30 min), followed by an equally instructive part exposing her/his work (30 min).