History of the Winter School
of Theoretical Physics in Karpacz
organised by
The Institute of Theoretical Physics
University of Wroclaw
Taken from: "30 Years of Karpacz Winter Schools in Theoretical Physics"
Copyright - Foundation for the Karpacz Winter Schools
The Institute of Theoretical Physics of the University of Wroclaw has organised, since 1964, Winter Schools in Theoretical Physics in Karpacz. Starting from a small scale enterprise it gradually developed into a school well known all over the world. The idea of the School, lasting two weeks in the second half of February, is to invite some 15 leading physicists from the West and the East to provide a series of lectures centered around a common topic. Since the traditional sources for financing the School, like our University, are running dry, we are turning to our friends and we inform you that we have created THE FOUNDATION FOR THE KARPACZ WINTER SCHOOLS IN THEORETICAL PHYSICS with the obvious aim to help our School to survive the rainy days that are coming. Your generous help will be highly appreciated. The money we wish to use mainly for: covering the living, and if possible also travel, expenses for the invited lecturers, creating fellowships for young participants (also from countries poorer than ours), financial aid to our students who, also for years, organise in parallel with the School the so-called Kindergarten in Theoretical Physics.
Karpacz the town of the Winter School in Theoretical Physics
(altitude 700 meters above the sea level) is one of the most
popular climatic resorts in the Karkonosze Mountains (part
of the Sudeten). Karpacz is situated at the foot of Sniezka
(1605 meters above the sea level), the highest peak in Sudeten.
The town with its 5000 inhabitants, many rest houses, ski runs,
nearby walking paths and forests around is attractive especially
in winter.
It is situated about 140 kilometers south-west of Wroclaw.
A chair-lift goes from Karpacz to the top of Mala Kopa
(1400 meters above the sea level). There are also numerous lifts for
skiers around Karpacz.
Some Citations from the Chronicle Book:
- This school is a wonderful meeting place... between scholars from many countries who otherwise meet too infrequently. (Alexei A. Maradudin)
- However the most important lesson for all was that it proved once more: Physics is fun! (Jan Willen Van Holten)
- ...I have realised that it is an ideal meeting place for people from East and West to work together and exchange ideas. (Helmut Kinder)
- Please continue to beeing together East and West in Karpacz and thank you again. (Lawrie J. Challis)
- Thanks a lot! I enjoyed giving lectures, talking to people, eating Plish dishes, walking on the snow,... Everything! (Tatsuji Miwa)
- The Karpacz Winter School is so unique that we all hope it will survive also this polito-economical hurdle... (Charles P. Enz)
- ...But more than that: it's been fun! I've learned a lot from other talks; I hope I've manage to teach a little. (Steve Carlip)
- ...Needless to say that the Winter Schools should continue for long time in the future. (Hans W. Capel)