News

TEDxLjubljana2018 was held on December 9, 2018, at the Cankarjev dom conference centre. One of the speakers was Griša Močnik, associate of the Condensed Matter Physics Department. He used the closure of the Slovenska Road in Ljubljana to showcase black carbon as a useful “tool” for measuring the effectiveness of measures taken to improve air quality. He also invited the audience to adopt simple behavioural changes which can help improve the quality of life for everyone.

An article conceptualised by Abdou Hassanien, associate Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the “Jožef Stefan” Institute, and co-written by Alexander Vahl, Niko Carstens, Thomas Strunskus in Franz Faupel from the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany, was published by Scientific Reports. The article describes behaviour of memristors (memory resistors) at the level of individual nanoparticles to find the best conditions for robust operation of devices. Their discoveries also help understand the underlying physical mechanisms. Furthermore, they discovered that application of alloy nanoparticles effectively limits the formation of stable metallic filaments and results in reproducible diffusive switching characteristics.

On November 20, 2019, the Republic of Slovenia awarded the highest prizes and awards for outstanding achievements in science, research and development to 18 top scientists. Among them were two associates of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics. Professor dr. Desnis Arčon received the Žiga Zois prize for outstanding achievements in the fields of quantum magnetism and unusual superconductivity and assistant professor dr. Miha Ravnik received the Žiga Zois Award for outstanding achievements in the field of soft matter physics.

Professor dr. Nives Ogrinc from the Department of Environmental sciences and professor dr. Boris Rogelj, head of the Department of Biotechnology were also among the 18 awarded scientists.

Brigita Rožič, researcher of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the “Jožef Štefan” Institute, has received the Fulbright grant for her excellent scientific and research work. The Fulbright grant is awarded every year to successful scientists from all over the world. In Slovenia this grant is awarded by the US Embassy in Ljubljana as part of the Fulbright programme financed by the US government. The grant further inspired dr. Rožič for her future research and increased her visibility as well as the visibility of the “Jožef Štefan” Institute. The grant allowed her to do research at the Case Western Reserve University with prof. Charles Rosenblatt’s team, working in an area that was entirely new to her. Furthermore, she loved living in Cleveland, whose many lakes and wonderful environment reminded her of home. Dr. Rožič also received congratulations for the award from the president of the United States.

Dr. Martin Klanjšek, associate of the F5 Department, was awarded the Blinc Award for Extraordinary One-time Achievements for proving the existence of unusual quasiparticles called anyons.

On October 24, 2019, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana and the “Jožef Stefan” Institute awarded the first Blinc awards for research and theoretical work in physics. The awards were founded to celebrate the best physicists and to commemorate Robert Blinc, one of the sharpest Slovenian researchers and a member of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts.

Two other awards were bestowed in addition to the Blinc Award for Extraordinary One-time Achievements: prof. dr. Matjaž Perc from the Faculty of Natural sciences and Mathematics was awarded the Blinc Award for Physicist at the Beginning of their Career and prof. dr. Peter Prelovšek, the most visible Slovenian researcher in the field of theoretical physics of condensed matter in Slovenian and abroad, received the Blinc Award for Lifetime Achievement.