Göttingen celebrates 100 years of quantum mechanics: DPG autumn conference 2025!

Göttingen celebrates 100 years of quantum mechanics: DPG autumn conference 2025!

The 2nd DPG autumn conference will take place at the renowned University of Göttingen from September 8th to 12th, 2025. This event commemorates the important role that Göttingen played 100 years ago in the emergence of quantum mechanics, particularly through the groundbreaking work of Werner Heisenberg in 1925. With this conference, the German Physical Society (DPG) is dedicating itself to the legacy of quantum mechanics and highlighting both current developments and future perspectives in quantum physics. The President of the DPG, Klaus Richter, highlights the wide range of content in modern quantum physics, which includes topics such as ultracold quantum gases, solids, astrophysical issues, quantum computing and their social implications.

The scientific program of the conference includes 672 contributions, including lectures by prominent Nobel Prize winners such as Serge Haroche, Klaus von Klitzing and Anton Zeilinger. Symposia are organized by all three DPG sections - the Atoms, Molecules, Quantum Optics and Photonics Section (SAMOP), the Condensed Matter Section (SKM) and the Matter and Cosmos Section (SMuK) - as well as the host country Denmark. On Wednesday afternoon, September 10th, there will also be an industry day with a focus on “quantum technology”, which will be opened by State Secretary Rolf-Dieter Jungk, Rüdiger Eichel, Klaus Richter and Wilhelm Kaenders.

Supporting program and public events

The conference's supporting program is varied. From September 9th to 11th, visitors can expect an industrial and book exhibition with over 40 exhibiting companies and institutions. A job fair will also be offered from September 8th to 11th. A very special highlight is the special exhibition “What the Quant?!” represents.

A play entitled “And the old man still rolls the dice!” is scheduled for September 11, 2025 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. On the following Wednesday, September 10th, there will also be a public evening event in the Göttingen town hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The evening lecture by Heike Riehl will deal with the topic of quantum computers and their progress. The premiere of the cantata “The Order of Reality” by Manuel Durão will also be integrated into this framework. On Thursday, September 11th, participants can also experience a public lecture by astronaut Matthias Maurer about quantum experiments on the ISS in the central lecture hall building at the University of Göttingen.

Quantum physics in the 21st century

A complementary project to the autumn conference is the innovative website “Quantum History Wall”, which was presented by the DPG. It offers those interested the opportunity to virtually explore the history of quantum physics. Users can navigate through various terms, concepts, theories, instruments and experiments, combining visual elements with short texts to clearly illustrate physical backgrounds. Project leader Arne Schirrmacher emphasizes that the focus is on the physics itself and not on personal memories or evaluations.

The History Wall is part of the national Quantum Year program and is intended to introduce experts and laypeople interested in physics to the fundamental developments in quantum physics. The conference is accompanied by the special exhibition “What the Quant?!”, which will be shown in the Knowledge Forum at the University of Göttingen from March 27th and also deals with the history of quantum mechanics. Interested media representatives are invited to register to attend the conference, which is free for students and researchers. Further information about the event is available here available.

For more detailed insights into the history of quantum physics, those interested should Quantum History Wall Visit, which was realized with the support of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.