Hold onto your hard-won scientific knowledge, folks, because Anaheim’s about to become the epicenter of the physical universe. This week, the city transforms into a haven for physicists, a playground for probing the fundamental laws that govern our reality. The Global Physics Summit is upon us, and it promises to be a mind-bending spectacle of cutting-edge research, groundbreaking discussions, and a chance to glimpse the very edge of human understanding.
The Global Physics Summit Takes Center Stage
Anaheim Hosts the Largest Physics Conference in the World
Uniting Physicists Across Disciplines and Borders
A Week of Quantum Mechanics and Innovation
The American Physical Society’s Vision
Combining March and April Meetings for a Unified Summit
Celebrating the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration and Networking
The Summit’s Diverse Program
The place to be Anaheim is hosting the Global Physics Summit. Courtesy: Hamish Johnston/IOPP
I spent most of Saturday travelling between the UK and Anaheim in Southern California, so I was up very early on Sunday with jetlag. So just as the sun was rising over the Santa Ana Mountains on a crisp morning, I went for a run in the suburban neighbourhood just south of the Anaheim Convention Center. As I made my way back to my hotel, the sidewalks were already thronging with physicists on their way to register for the Global Physics Summit (GPS) – which is being held in Anaheim by the American Physical Society (APS). The GPS combines the APS’s traditional March and April meetings, which focus on condensed-matter and particle and nuclear physics, respectively. This year, about 14,000 physicists are expected to attend.
I popped out at lunchtime and spotted a “physics family” walking along Harbor Boulevard, with parents and kids all wearing vintage APS T-shirts with clever slogans. They certainly stood out from most families, many of which were wearing Mickey Mouse ears (Disneyland is just across the road from the convention centre).
Uniting physicists The GPS starts in earnest bright and early Monday morning, and I am looking forward to spending a week surrounded by thousands of fellow physicists. While many physicists in the US are facing some pretty dire political and funding issues, I am hoping that the global community can unite in the face of the anti-science forces that have emerged in some countries. This year is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, so it’s not surprising that quantum mechanics will be front and centre here in Anaheim. I am looking forward to the “Quantum Playground”, which will be on much of this week. It promises, “themed areas; hands-on interactive experiences; demonstrations and games; art and science installations; mini-performances; and ask the experts”. I’ll report back once I have paid a visit.
- Introducing Physics World Live: Careers 📅Wednesday 9th April 2025 ⏰15:00 BST ➡️Register today >> https://ow.ly/cU0w50Va9NY
The APS has combined its March Meeting and April Meeting into the Global Physics Summit, the largest physics conference in the world
Spanning all disciplines The APS Global Physics Summit will see 14,000 members of the scientific community convene in Anaheim to discuss the latest physics research. (Courtesy: iStock/sanfel)
New for 2025, the American Physical Society (APS) is combining its March Meeting and April Meeting into a joint event known as the APS Global Physics Summit. The largest physics research conference in the world, the Global Physics Summit brings together 14,000 attendees across all disciplines of physics. The meeting takes place in Anaheim, California (as well as virtually) from 16 to 21 March.
Uniting all disciplines of physics in one joint event reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of scientific research and enables everybody to participate in any session. The meeting includes cross-disciplinary sessions and collaborative events, where attendees can meet to connect with others, discuss new ideas and discover groundbreaking physics research.
The meeting will take place in three adjacent venues. The Anaheim Convention Center will host March Meeting sessions, while the April Meeting sessions will be held at the Anaheim Marriott. The Hilton Anaheim will host SPLASHY (soft, polymeric, living, active, statistical, heterogenous and yielding) matter and medical physics sessions. Cross-disciplinary sessions and networking events will take place at all sites and in the connecting outdoor plaza.
With programming aligned with the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the meeting also celebrates all things quantum with a dedicated Quantum Festival. Designed to “inspire and educate”, the festival incorporates events at the intersection of art, science and fun – with multimedia performances, science demonstrations, circus performers, and talks by Nobel laureates and a NASA astronaut.
Finally, there’s the exhibit hall, where more than 200 exhibitors will showcase products and services for the physics community. Here, delegates can also attend poster sessions, a career fair and a graduate school fair.
Precision motion drives innovative instruments for physics applications
For over 25 years Mad City Labs has provided precision instrumentation for research and industry, including nanopositioning systems, micropositioners, microscope stages and platforms, single-molecule microscopes and atomic force microscopes (AFMs). This product portfolio, coupled with the company’s expertise in custom design and manufacturing, enables Mad City Labs to provide solutions for nanoscale motion for diverse applications such as astronomy, biophysics, materials science, photonics and quantum sensing.
Mad City Labs’ piezo nanopositioners feature the company’s proprietary PicoQ sensors, which provide ultralow noise and excellent stability to yield sub-nanometre resolution and motion control down to the single picometre level. The performance of the nanopositioners is central to the company’s instrumentation solutions, as well as the diverse applications that it can serve.
Within the scanning probe microscopy solutions, the nanopositioning systems provide true decoupled motion with virtually undetectable out-of-plane movement, while their precision and stability yields high positioning performance and control. Uniquely, Mad City Labs offers both optical deflection AFMs and resonant probe AFM models.
Product portfolio Mad City Labs provides precision instrumentation for applications ranging from astronomy and biophysics, to materials science, photonics and quantum sensing. (Courtesy: Mad City Labs)
The MadAFM is a sample scanning AFM in a compact, tabletop design. Designed for simple user-led installation, the MadAFM is a multimodal optical deflection AFM and includes software. The resonant probe AFM products include the Resonant Probe AFM, which features an integrated piezo nanopositioner and a resonant probe, enabling high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, as well as the Resonant Probe AFM-Plus, which includes an integrated camera and software for real-time imaging and analysis.
Innovations on Display
Precision Motion Drives for Physics Applications
Mad City Labs’ Precision Instrumentation for Research and Industry
Applications in Astronomy, Biophysics, Materials Science, and Beyond
Precision Motion Drives
For over 25 years, Mad City Labs has provided precision instrumentation for research and industry, including nanopositioning systems, micropositioners, microscope stages, and platforms, single-molecule microscopes, and atomic force microscopes (AFMs).
This product portfolio, coupled with the company’s expertise in custom design and manufacturing, enables Mad City Labs to provide solutions for nanoscale motion for diverse applications such as astronomy, biophysics, materials science, photonics, and quantum sensing.
Mad City Labs’ Precision Instrumentation
The company’s piezo nanopositioners feature the company’s proprietary PicoQ sensors, which provide ultralow noise and excellent stability to yield sub-nanometre resolution and motion control down to the single picometre level.
The performance of the nanopositioners is central to the company’s instrumentation solutions, as well as the diverse applications that it can serve.
Applications
Within the scanning probe microscopy solutions, the nanopositioning systems provide true decoupled motion with virtually undetectable out-of-plane movement, while their precision and stability yield high positioning performance and control.
Uniquely, Mad City Labs offers both optical deflection AFMs and resonant probe AFM models.
The MadAFM is a sample scanning AFM in a compact, tabletop design. Designed for simple user-led installation, the MadAFM is a multimodal optical deflection AFM and includes software.
The resonant probe AFM products include the company’s proprietary Resonant Probe Technology, which provides a significant increase in sensitivity and resolution compared to traditional AFM techniques.
Career Opportunities and Guidance
Physics World Live: Exploring Career Paths with a Physics Degree
Expert Insights from the American Physical Society and More
Navigating the Careers Maze for Physics Students and Graduates
Physics World Live
What can you do with a physics degree? The beauty of a physics degree is that it can open doors to countless career opportunities.
But sometimes the sheer breadth of options can be daunting for physics students and recent graduates.
In this Physics World Live panel, careers experts will guide you through the careers maze.
Confirmed speakers include Crystal Bailey, director of programs and inclusive practices at the American Physical Society, Tamara Clelford, leader of the Chartered Physicist review at the Institute of Physics, Araceli Venegas-Gomez, chief executive and founder of Qureca, and Tushna Commissariat, features editor of Physics World and editor of the annual Physics World Careers guide.
Conclusion
As the world’s leading minds converge in Anaheim for the Global Physics Summit, the air is electric with innovative ideas and groundbreaking discoveries. The summit’s keynote speakers have shed light on cutting-edge topics such as quantum computing, dark matter, and the intersection of physics and technology. The emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration has led to the development of novel solutions to complex problems, pushing the boundaries of human understanding.
The significance of the Global Physics Summit lies in its ability to facilitate the exchange of ideas across disciplines, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. By bringing together experts from diverse fields, the summit has created a platform for the sharing of knowledge and expertise, ultimately driving progress in our understanding of the universe. As we continue to push the frontiers of physics, the implications of these advancements will be felt across various fields, from medicine to finance.
