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The "Conseils Solvay"
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What are the Solvay Conferences? |
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The "Conseils Solvay" are probably the most famous conferences in physics and chemistry. From the very beginning, they have been attended by the best scientists working in the field. They have shaped modern physics and chemistry. In fact, the 1911 Solvay Conference in Physics was the first international conference in physics ever organized. It was held at the invitation of Ernest Solvay, who received scientific advice from W. Nernst and H. Lorentz. It is on this occasion that Einstein and Poincaré met, for the only time. The key to the success of the "Conseils Solvay" lies in their organization: an international scientific committee is in charge of defining the general theme of the conferences and of selecting a chair person. The conference chair sets up the programme (i.e., decides specific subjects and sessions) as well as the invitations. One characteristic feature of the Solvay Conferences is the emphasis on discussions over presentations. Typically, Solvay Conferences are divided into half-day sessions. Each session begins with one or two reports reviewing the state-of-the-art of the subject (and distributed to the participants before the start of the Conference), followed by vivid discussions steered by the chair of the session. Participation to the "Conseils Solvay" is by invitation only. In addition to the guests selected by the chair of the conference, a number of Belgian scientists working in the field of the conference are invited to attend as auditors. Starting with the 2005 Solvay Conference in Physics, general public lectures open to a wider audience are combined with the event. The Solvay Conferences go in principle through a three year cycle: Year 1: the Solvay Conference in Physics; Year 2: no conference; Year 3: the Solvay Conference in Chemistry. This cycle has been perturbed by many factors in the past. It has been decided to adhere to it more strictly in the future, with a prominent role played again by the scientific committees and the chairs of the conferences. Solvay Conferences in Physics
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