Junior Professor Dr. Gabriele Honecker of the Institute of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) takes an active role in the newly established European COST Action "The String Theory Universe." The European framework program COST – European Cooperation in Science and Research – fosters networking and cooperation among its member countries and involves the large majority of European world experts in String Theory. Honecker, who is also a Principal Investigator at the PRISMA (Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter) Cluster of Excellence at Mainz University, will represent Germany in the COST Management Committee together with her colleague PD Dr. Johanna Erdmenger from the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich.
Although String Theory has been around for more than forty years, it has never been so important for physical reality as it is now, also due to its novel outstanding applications to different areas of Physics and Mathematics. While the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva narrows down the experimental limits on supersymmetric particles and satellite missions such as WMAP and PLANCK probe the very early universe, the COST Action aims at creating a strong European network focused on fundamental forefront research exploring the role played by String Theory in Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Condensed Matter Physics.
The large majority of European world experts in String Theory will be involved in this Action. This will ensure a top-quality research output, achieved through an intense exchange of expertise, intra-European collaboration, and co-organization of scientific activities. The Action will ensure fair gender representation and simultaneously adopt specific measures for promoting the involvement of women scientists at all levels. It will also foster the active participation of junior excellent scientists. The outcome of the Action is expected to have a positive impact on both science and society at a European level, in line with the strategic priorities of COST.