38th Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics: Probing fundamental properties of matter with rare isotopes
16 10 2025
Category: Conferences, Events, Physics
For six days in Piaski, Poland, leading physicists from 20 countries gathered at the 38th Mazurian Lakes Conference to share insights, explore new discoveries, and strengthen international collaboration in nuclear physics. The event combined cutting-edge science with informal discussions in a picturesque setting.
The 38th Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics was held from August 31 to September 6, 2025. This traditional meeting, first organized in 1968, is jointly hosted every two years by the University of Warsaw and the National Centre for Nuclear Research. The 2025 edition was chaired by Prof. Wojciech Satuła (Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw) and Prof. Krzysztof Rykaczewski (Oak Ridge National Laboratory). The conference brings together scientists to discuss the most current issues in nuclear physics in an environment that fosters close interactions among participants in a serene, remote setting.
More than 130 physicists from 20 countries participated in lively discussions on the latest advances in low-energy nuclear physics, both experimental and theoretical. The scientific programme featured 88 oral presentations, including several keynote lectures by distinguished experts, as well as a series of shorter contributed talks. A large number of high-quality submissions also resulted in a vibrant poster session, with over 40 posters presented and discussed.
The programme opened on Sunday evening with a lecture by Prof. Ronald Garcia Ruiz (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), entitled “Radioactive molecules are dying to reveal new physics”, and concluded with a historical talk by Prof. Michael Wiescher (University of Notre Dame) on “Nuclear astrophysics and the bomb”.
Over six days, the conference covered some of the most exciting areas of nuclear physics: nuclear structure and reactions, nuclear astrophysics and the synthesis of new elements, weak interactions and atomic physics, as well as innovative experimental techniques, new facilities, and interdisciplinary applications of nuclear physics research to society.
The social dimension of the conference was equally important. Thanks to excellent weather, participants were able to continue scientific discussions in a more informal setting while enjoying outdoor activities offered at the venue.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the best oral presentation and best poster awards for young scientists, sponsored by the Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee (NuPECC), as well as the lectures of the Zdzisław Szymański and Tomek Czosnyka Prize laureates: Dr. Benjamin Bally and Dr. Katarzyna Hadyńska-Klęk, respectively.
The 39th Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics will continue this tradition in two years’ time, once again in the beautiful Mazurian Lakes region. For more information, please visit the event website.
The event was co-financed by the Institute for Advanced Studies.
Photo: conference participants, by Dr Magda Zielińska.