Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics
Encyclopedia
The Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, or NORDITA , is an international organisation for research in theoretical physics
. It was established in 1957 by Niels Bohr
and the Swedish minister Torsten Gustafsson
. Since its beginning NORDITA was located in Copenhagen
(Denmark
) but it moved to Stockholm
(Sweden
) during autumn 2006, and it is now located at the AlbaNova University Centre. The main research areas in NORDITA are astrophysics
, biophysics
, condensed matter
and particle physics
.
physics, cosmology and gravitational theory, statistical physics and
complex systems, and subatomic physics. The in-house research forms
the backbone of Nordita activities and complements the more service
oriented functions.
provided extensive training at the post-doctoral level and has contributed
to the career development of numerous senior scientists, who are active in
the Nordic countries today. The postdoctoral program at Nordita remains
an important recruitment tool for theoretical physics in the Nordic
region. Nordita in Stockholm has also introduced a Visiting PhD Student program, where advanced PhD students can apply for support to spend one
to three months at Nordita to work with staff members and benefit from
the active scientific environment at the AlbaNova centre.
increased emphasis on organizing scientific programs, where groups of
experts within a specific area of research gather at Nordita to work
together for extended periods. The international scientific community
is invited to suggest programs. Proposals are evaluated by an external panel and decided on by the Nordita Board.
Nordita runs several shorter workshops and symposia each year, often in
co-operation with outside organizers.
advanced level summer and winter schools aimed at graduate students
and junior researchers. These schools often cover specialized areas
and thus complement graduate courses available at the students’ home
institutions.
visits by both junior and senior scientists to participate in Nordita
activities or collaborate with Nordita staff. The visitor program also
includes several long-term visitors each year.
via the Nordic Council of Ministers and its approximate budget for 2007 is 23 million Swedish kronors, of which half is contributed by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the other half is shared between KTH and Stockholm University
and the Swedish Research Council
.
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
. It was established in 1957 by Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Bohr mentored and collaborated with many of the top physicists of the century at his institute in...
and the Swedish minister Torsten Gustafsson
Torsten Gustafsson
Torsten Gustafsson was a Swedish politician. He was a member of the Centre Party. Gustafsson was the Swedish Minister for Defence 1981-1982.-References:*This article was initially translated from the Swedish Wikipedia article....
. Since its beginning NORDITA was located in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
(Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
) but it moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
(Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) during autumn 2006, and it is now located at the AlbaNova University Centre. The main research areas in NORDITA are astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
, biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
, condensed matter
Condensed Matter
Condensed matter may refer to several things*Condensed matter physics, the study of the physical properties of condensed phases of matter*European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, a scientific journal published by EDP sciences...
and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
.
Basic research in theoretical physics
Research carried out by Nordita academic staff, who are engaged in theoretical and numerical work on many fronts including astrophysics, biological physics, condensed matter and materialsphysics, cosmology and gravitational theory, statistical physics and
complex systems, and subatomic physics. The in-house research forms
the backbone of Nordita activities and complements the more service
oriented functions.
Research training for young scientists
Nordita has traditionallyprovided extensive training at the post-doctoral level and has contributed
to the career development of numerous senior scientists, who are active in
the Nordic countries today. The postdoctoral program at Nordita remains
an important recruitment tool for theoretical physics in the Nordic
region. Nordita in Stockholm has also introduced a Visiting PhD Student program, where advanced PhD students can apply for support to spend one
to three months at Nordita to work with staff members and benefit from
the active scientific environment at the AlbaNova centre.
Scientific programs
Since the move to Stockholm, Nordita has placedincreased emphasis on organizing scientific programs, where groups of
experts within a specific area of research gather at Nordita to work
together for extended periods. The international scientific community
is invited to suggest programs. Proposals are evaluated by an external panel and decided on by the Nordita Board.
Workshops and symposia
In addition to the scientific programs,Nordita runs several shorter workshops and symposia each year, often in
co-operation with outside organizers.
Advanced schools
Nordita has a long tradition of organizingadvanced level summer and winter schools aimed at graduate students
and junior researchers. These schools often cover specialized areas
and thus complement graduate courses available at the students’ home
institutions.
Visiting scientist program
Nordita supports numerous short termvisits by both junior and senior scientists to participate in Nordita
activities or collaborate with Nordita staff. The visitor program also
includes several long-term visitors each year.
Funding
NORDITA is funded by the Nordic countriesNordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
via the Nordic Council of Ministers and its approximate budget for 2007 is 23 million Swedish kronors, of which half is contributed by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the other half is shared between KTH and Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
and the Swedish Research Council
Swedish Research Council
The Swedish Research Council is a Swedish government agency established in 2001, with the responsibility to support and develop basic scientific research. Its objective is for Sweden to be a leading nation in scientific research...
.