History and mission of the institute

MPI PKS

History and mission of the Institute

History

Nov. 1992	The senate of the Max Planck Society concludes the foundation of the institute in Dresden.
July 1993	Initiation of the scientific activities.
Jan. 1994	Move to the provisional building provided by the TU Dresden.
Mai 1994	Official inauguration by the president of the Max Planck Society.
Sep. 1995	Start of construction work on the new building and guest houses (Nöthnitzer Str. 38).
July 1997	Completion of the new building and relocation.
Sep. 1997	Official inauguration of the new building.
Mai 1999	Start of scientific activities of the division Finite Systems.

The scientific aim of the institute is the exploration of physical properties of complex systems.
At present the main activities cover the fields:

To organize and host seminars with a duration of one to three months,
as a Meetingplace of young researchers from the universities with leading international scientists.
Collaboration with national and international research institutes. Particularly close relations
exist to the Minerva Center for nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems in Israel.
Extensive guest program (approx. 80 guests).
While being an institute for theoretical physics, limited -time but close collaborations with experimental groups are fostered.

Eventual extension: three theoretical departments, consisting of five scientists headed by one director each.
Promotion of young researchers through the constitution of limited-term (5-year) Nachwuchsgruppen,
consisting of two scientists, one guest and two PhD students each.
Present staff: (July 1999)
- 16 scientists (staff positions)
- 74 guest scientists
- 20 PhD students
- 19 administration and infrastructure