History of DCMP

Towards the Starting up of the Division of Condensed Matter Physics

About two years ago, through Physical Societies, we were asked if there is an interest in forming a division for each field in AAPPS. In the Asia-Pacific region, not only physics but also various academic research activities are growing with the development of the area. However, the framework of regional academic exchange has been less developed than in Europe, for instance. It is mainly limited to bilateral and temporal exchanges. In the case of Japan, symposiums inviting speakers from other physical societies are held only once every few years. On the other hand, a certain number of the members participate in APS and other activities to carry out international research activities. If members of a physical society constantly interact with members of other physical societies by holding meetings and other activities together, it would trigger international joint researches in various topics.
When the 14th Asia-Pacific Physics Conference was announced in Malaysia in November 2019, we called on the participants of the discussion meeting to form a division of condensed physics. At the meeting hold on November 18th, the participants agreed to establish the division with the support of more than 25 stakeholders. By the beginning of 2020, a working group consisting of members from five physical societies was established, and the preparations were started aiming at the establishment of the division by the end of 2020. The work divisions of tasks and the time table were clear and it seemed that things would go smoothly.
However, the worldwide epidemic of the new coronavirus has begun, and work has been disrupted. It was reopened in August 2020, with the fixing of the preparatory meeting for the establishment for December 5. In a hurry, a declaration of establishment and the bylaws were drafted, but the work stopped from time to time due to the relapse of the new coronavirus. Due to the tenacious efforts of the parties concerned, an agreement was reached at the meeting hold on December 5, and an application for the division was submitted to the AAPPS council. At the AAPPS council meeting held in December 2020, the proposal was approved. For the AAPPS president's request for approval by the member physical societies, by the end of 2020, more than four societies approved, and in January 2021, the DCMP was born.
The year of 2021 marks the 10th memorial of the Great East Japan Earthquake that hit Japan in 2011. There was no DCMP at that time, but many friends provided support to physics researchers in Japan. Since then, many disasters have hit the area, and from 2020, it has been hit by an epidemic of new coronavirus that has not been in history for decades. The DCMP organization is expected to play a major role in overcoming this crisis of international academic exchange and supporting the development of physics in the coming future. As a member of the working group, I would like to once again give my respect and gratitude to those who have contributed to this historical event.

Professor Hiroyuki Nojiri (Vice Chair)
Institute for Material Research, Tohoku University

Brief History