Contents - Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme
Contents - Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme
Contents - Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme
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Chapter1<br />
ScientificWorkanditsOrganization<br />
atthe<strong>Institut</strong>e–<br />
anOverview<br />
1.1 HistoryandDevelopmentofthe<strong>Institut</strong>e<br />
1992-1994 •TheSenateofthe<strong>Max</strong><strong>Planck</strong>Societydecidedtosetupthe<strong>Max</strong><strong>Planck</strong><strong>Institut</strong>eforthe<br />
PhysicsofComplexSystemsinNovember1992,withProf.FuldeastheFoundingDirector.Theconcept<br />
fortheinstituteincludesthreescientificdivisionsandalarge-scalevisitorsprogram.Theincorporationof<br />
aseminarandworkshopprogramwithinthevisitorsprogramwasexpectedtobecomeasignificantpart<br />
oftheinstitute’sactivities.Theprogramaimsatpromotingnewdevelopmentsinthefieldofthephysics<br />
ofcomplexsystems.Oneimportantaspectistoprovideahigh-levelplatformforyoungscientistsfrom<br />
universitiestobecomeacquaintedwithrecentresearchdevelopmentsmuchearlierthanwastraditionally<br />
thecase.Atthesametime,importantnewresearchareasinthefieldoftheoreticalphysicsarepromoted<br />
efficiently.Dresdenwaschosenasthelocationfortheinstituteduetoitsfavorablescientificenvironment<br />
andgoodtravelconnections.ScientificactivitiesstartedonJuly1st,1993,inStuttgart,asproperoffice<br />
spaceinDresdenwaslacking. ThiswassuppliedbyJanuary1994thankstothesupportoftheTU<br />
Dresden,shortofofficespace,butgenerouslyofferingatemporaryaccomodationfortheinstituteina<br />
barrackintheBayreutherStraße,closetotheuniversitycampus.ThesewereexcitingtimesinDresden,<br />
theearlypostunificationyearsfullofchange,(re)constructionandnewinitiatives. Theinstitutewas<br />
officiallyinauguratedbyProf.H.Zacher,Presidentofthe<strong>Max</strong><strong>Planck</strong>Society,onMay2nd,1994.Both<br />
theStateofSaxonyandtheCityofDresdenhavecontributedsignificantlytoasmoothsettingupof<br />
theactivitiesoftheinstitute,e.g.,bytheCityofDresdenprovidingadditionaltemporaryofficespacein<br />
avillawithunsettledpropertyclaims,freeofcharge. Theinstitutealsohadtorentseveraladditional<br />
officesclosetothebarrack. Anadministrationwasinstalled,headedbyMrs. I.Auguszt. Firstguests<br />
wereinvited,andthefirstworkshoptookplaceinMarch1994.Anindependentjuniorresearchgroupon<br />
NonlinearTimeSeriesAnalysiswasfoundedin1995andheadedbyDr.H.Kantz. Stronglysupported<br />
byPresidentZacher,theinstitutedecidedtobroadenitsresearchspectrumconsiderablybyinstalling<br />
temporaryjuniorresearchgroups.Dr.M.Bärstartedhisactivitiesasheadofthejuniorresearchgroup<br />
PatternFormationinReaction-Diffusion-Systemsin1995. Dr.K.Richterbecameheadofthejunior<br />
researchgroupQuantumChaosandMesoscopicSystemsinJanuary1996,andDr.M.Dolgofthegroup<br />
QuantumChemistryshortlyafterwards.<br />
1995-1998 •Atthesametime,plansforthenewinstitutebuildingwerebeginningtomaterialize. The<br />
architecturefirmBrennerundPartner(Stuttgart)withJ.Wittfothwonthecompetitivebidding,and<br />
constructionsstartedinSeptember1995. Afterlessthantwoyearstheinstitutemovedintothenewly<br />
constructedmainbuilding,togetherwiththethreeguesthouses.Theinaugurationofthebuildingswas<br />
heldalongsideasimultaneoussymposiumonComplexityinPhysics,September23-24,1997. Inthe<br />
meantimetheSeminar-andGuest-Programweregainingmomentum,withhundredsofscientistsalready<br />
havingvisitedtheinstitute.<br />
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