Lorentz Center The Lorentz Center is an international centre that coordinates and hosts workshops in the sciences, based on the philosophy that science thrives on interaction between creative researchers. The center was opened in 1997 and has been growing since. Starting with only a few workshops per year, it now offers a new workshop almost every week. The mission of the Lorentz Center is to organize workshops with an international and multidisciplinary focus for scientists around the world. Making connections between different scientific communities is an important aim.
Through a combination of informal talks, working sessions and
Lorentz Center workshops bring together groups of 40 to 60
discussions, participants are able to assess the status of a field and
junior and senior researchers in a stimulating environment with
its future and to collaborate, establish new international contacts,
working space for all participants: offices with a desk, personal
and spot upcoming talent. It is the only centre in the Netherlands
computer, white boards and meeting rooms.
that offers such a complete and international facility to scientists. Another activity of the center is combining the workshops with
The center tries to make the stay of the various national and
education, by inviting motivated and talented students to the
international speakers as pleasant and productive as possible.
workshops.
Therefore the organization takes on all responsibility for the accommodation of the guests and the programme of the work-
Facilities
shop. The scientists can focus completely on the science and do
In order to allow researchers to catch up with rapid international
not have to worry about hotel reservations and such.
developments and to establish new contacts for collaboration,
Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Science P.O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden www.science.leidenuniv.nl/graduateschool Lorentz Center Hugyens Niels Bohrweg 2 2333 CA Leiden www.lorentzcenter.nl
Application and support
The organization assists researchers with making good ideas
Workshops at the Lorentz Center can be proposed and organised
into great workshops. The staff of the Lorentz Center advises on
by any researcher from any country. Workshops organised by
programming, planning and attracting renowned researchers in
researchers from different scientific backgrounds and nationali-
a certain field of science.
ties are encouraged. Selection of the workshops is primarily based on scientific quality, and factors like impact and the interest from
Lorentz Fellowship
the Dutch scientific community are also considered.
Besides the workshops, the Lorentz Center also offers the Lorentz Fellowship programme. This is a joint venture between the
The Lorentz Fellowship programme is a joint venture
Proposals for workshops are reviewed by the Program Boards.
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences
between the Netherlands Institute for Advanced
Currently, the Program Boards within the natural sciences
and Humanities in Wassenaar (NIAS) and the Lorentz Center in
Study in the Social Sciences and Humanities in Was-
are astronomy, computer science, computational sciences, life
Leiden. The programme was launched to promote interdiscipli-
senaar (NIAS) and the Lorentz Centre in Leiden. The
sciences, mathematics and physics. The Center is also open to
nary research, which bridges the gap between the humanities and
programme was (formally) launched in 2006 to pro-
proposals from outside these fields. Proposals can be submitted
the social sciences on the one hand and the natural sciences on
mote interdisciplinary research that bridges the gap
throughout the year and are submitted for review by the Program
the other. Lorentz Fellowships are awarded by NIAS to scholars
between the humanities and/or the social sciences on
Board three times per year.
whose research reaches across this boundary.
the one hand and the natural sciences on the other. Lorentz Fellowships are awarded by NIAS to scholars whose research reaches across this boundary. Project proposals that approach research topics from an inherently interdisciplinary viewpoint are welcomed.
Graduate School of Science