NuPECC 2020 Review: Strengths and opportunities to shape the future of Nuclear Physics in Europe and beyond

The European Science Foundation-Science Connect (ESF-SC) is pleased to announce the publication of the 2020 NuPECC Review report, a high-level, independent, and in-depth review of the activities of Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee (NuPECC) over the period 2014-2020.  The Review was undertaken by an international and independent review panel of four experts in nuclear physics, astrophysics and large-scale infrastructures and provides strategic recommendations to strengthen NuPECC’s impact and international collaboration within the nuclear physics landscape.

Appointed in June 2020, the international review panel chaired by Dr. Michel Spiro, President of IUPAP and former President of CERN Council performed a thorough six-month assessment of NuPECC’s activities and achievements based on the Committee’s self-evaluation report, their participation to NuPECC’s plenary meeting in October 2020, and the conduction of comprehensive interviews of the current and past Committee’s Chairs, Vice-Chair, and Executive Scientific Secretary.  

The review panel composed of Prof. Witold Nazarewicz (Michigan State University), Dr. Michel Spiro (IUPAP, Chair), Prof. Peter G. Thirolf (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), and Prof. Hans Wilschut (University of Groningen) commended the work of NuPECC in the definition and production of Long-Range Plans (LRP) over the past 30 years which are key instruments in establishing future direction in nuclear physics.  The Review panel also praised NuPECC’s strengthened connections in various nuclear physics institutions within and outside Europe as well as its proactive dissemination and communication activities.

To strengthen NuPECC’s impact and visibility on the nuclear physics landscape, the Review Panel recommends developing further collaboration with CERN, increasing interactions with large scale infrastructures, establishing partnerships between nuclear physics, applied mathematics, statistics, and computer science as well as further supporting the European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT*).

NuPECC Chair, Prof. Dr. Marek Lewitowicz, said “We appreciate the overall positive assessment by the review panel, which we regard as fair and well justified. Many of these findings and suggestions are indeed likely to improve the work and visibility of NuPECC in the future and will be considered and implemented to the best degree possible.”

Mr. Nicolas Walter, Chief Executive of the European Science Foundation-Science Connect, said “The review panel did an excellent work and its conclusions makes ESF-SC very proud to host NuPECC and support such an important actor in the European nuclear physics landscape.”  

The NuPECC 2020 Review report and NuPECC’s Self-Evaluation report can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:

2020 NuPECC Review report
NuPECC Self-Evaluation report

Issued By:
ESF Communications, +33 (0)3 88 76 71 00, media@esf.org 

Note to Editors:

About ESF-Science Connect
The European Science Foundation-Science Connect (ESF-SC) is a non-governmental, internationally oriented, non-profit association established in France in 1974.  ESF-SC is committed to promoting the highest quality science in Europe to drive progress in research and innovation. ESF-SC implements high-quality, independent science operations on the European Research Area. It partners with its members and diverse institutions by leading successful projects and facilitating informed decision-making through a broad range of science support partnerships: Research Project Grant Evaluation,the coordination of European projects, funding programmes and the administration of scientific platforms.  The ESF Community of Experts plays a vital role in sustaining scientific collaboration and supporting excellence in grant and programmatic evaluation. Today it comprises over 8,000 key experts across all scientific disciplines. 

More information at: www.esf.org

About NuPECC
The Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee is an Expert Committee established in 1988, hosted and administered by the European Science Foundation since 1991.  NuPECC gathers 35 funding and performing organisations from 25 countries and aims at developing the strategy for European cooperation in nuclear science by supporting collaborative ventures between research groups within Europe, and promoting nuclear physics and its trans-disciplinary use in applications for societal benefit. In achieving its mission, NuPECC aims at providing advice and makes strategic recommendations to funding agencies and decision-making bodies; defining a network of complementary facilities within Europe and encourage optimisation of their usage; providing a forum for the discussion of the provision of future facilities and instrumentation, and contributing to public education and awareness.

More information at:  www.nupecc.org/