Ramón Aguado, elected as new president of the Condensed Matter Physics Division of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics

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Ramón Aguado, senior researcher at the Material Science Institute of Madrid and leader of the Quantum Materials for Quantum Technologies (Q4Q) group, has been elected as the new presidente of the Condensed Matter Physics Division (DFMC-GEFES) of the Spanish Royal Physics Society (RSEF). His vice presidents will be Enrique Díez Fernandez (University of Salamanca) and Ignasi Fina Martinez (ICMAB-CSIC).

"In this new phase, we will try to live up to the task and continue working so that the DFMC-GEFES remains the benchmark for research in Condensed Matter Physics in Spain," Aguado said after his appointment. The scientist is proud to lead the largest division of the RSEF: "We will soon exceed 800 members," he notes, adding, "We will work to expand our activities and visibility in regions and communities where we are still underrepresented. We will also aim to improve our international standing with more members conducting research outside Spain and through new activities."

The researcher is clear: "It is essential that [young researchers abroad] have visibility and also a proper networking system for their eventual return to Spain." For example, he mentions that the biannual meetings (the next one will take place in Oviedo in January 2025) "always aim to promote talks and give visibility to the research done by our young people abroad."

"I would also like to organize joint activities with sister societies, obviously the Condensed Matter Physics Division of the European Physical Society (EPS), and why not, the American Physical Society (APS), with which many of us maintain close contact," the scientist adds.

Aguado, who has over two decades of experience, recalls that "at the heart" of the division (historically known as GEFES, the acronym for 'Specialized Group of Solid-State Physics') is "supporting young people starting their research careers," starting from their doctoral or postdoctoral stages through various programs, including awards for best article of the semester, best article of the year, travel grants, research prizes for students, the best doctoral thesis award in two categories (experimental and theoretical), and work grants.

That said, he reminds us: "None of this is achieved alone: we need a generous budget and the selfless collaboration of many people for these initiatives to succeed year after year, each time with more success." For this reason, part of his work will focus on increasing the number of institutional members, registering CSIC Institutes and departments in the meetings, and, of course, "increasing the number of companies that, through sponsorship or higher levels of support, help us."

Of course, all of this must be done step by step. Therefore, all eyes are now on the organization of the next GEFES meeting, which will take place at the end of January 2025 in Oviedo.