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IN THE PRESS

IAC3 Researchers Shine at PLANCKS 2025 in Barcelona

07 May, 2025

From May 1st to 5th, 2025, the city of Barcelona hosted the 12th edition of PLANCKS (Physics League Across Numerous Countries for Kick-ass Students), a prestigious international competition in theoretical physics that brought together over 200 undergraduate and master's students from nearly 30 countries.

This was the first time that PLANCKS took place in Spain, marking a milestone for the country’s physics community. Organized by students from the Spanish Royal Physics Society (RSEF) and hosted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the event combined high-level academic challenges with scientific outreach, cultural exchange, and inspiring interactions between young talents and established researchers.

The Institut d’Aplicacions Computacionals de Codi Comunitari (IAC3) played a visible and active role in this year’s edition.

Dr. Alicia Sintes, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and Director of IAC3, gave an invited talk on gravitational waves, one of today’s most exciting and rapidly advancing fields. Her lecture offered students a glimpse into the frontier of astrophysics and inspired participants with her experience as a leading figure in the field.

Adding to IAC3’s active involvement was Joan Llobera, a PhD student at UIB and member of IAC3. Joan was part of the organizing committee, played a crucial role in participants coordination and behind the scenes, helping coordinate the arrival of international teams and ensuring smooth logistics throughout the event.

Dr. Sascha Husa, senior researcher at IAC3, also attended the event. His presence supported IAC3’s participation in this international initiative and helped strengthen links with the next generation of physicists.

A major highlight of PLANCKS 2025 was the keynote address by Professor Anne L’Huillier, recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded jointly with Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter. Her presence brought inspiration and international visibility to the event.

On Monday, a delegation of the RSEF at UIB participated in the career fair at the Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics at UPC. This included Dr. Jaume Pons, Director of the Master's in Advanced Physics and Applied Mathematics at UIB, Irene Prohens, a first-year physics student, and Dr. Alicia Sintes as Director of IAC3, where they promoted the UIB Master's and PhD programs.

Beyond the talks and competition, the program included visits to top research centers such as ALBA Synchrotron, Instituto de Ciencias Fotónicas (ICFO), Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), and Cosmocaixa, along with a career fair, panel discussions, and social events that encouraged academic and cultural exchange.

The IAC3 is proud of its researchers’ contributions to this outstanding scientific gathering, which not only celebrates theoretical physics but also encourages vocations and collaboration at an international level.

The following is a list of the partners who supported the event: BeBus, Catalonia Quantum Academy, Colegio Oficial de Físicos (Cofis), European Physical Society (EPS), Fundación “la Caixa”, Fundación Ramón Areces, GMV, International Association of Physics Students (IAPS), International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), Jane Street, NextGenerationEU, Onyx, PhotonJobs.nl, Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, Quside, Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF), Societat Catalana de Física, Tábula (Bodegas y Viñedos), Telepizza, Tort, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), and International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (Quantum Spain).