The „Arbeitskreis Ellipsometrie (AKE) - Paul Drude e. V." was born from the Working Group Ellipsometry. This working group was founded by an initiative of Prof. Dr. Achim Lunk (Universität Stuttgart) and Dr. Uwe Beck (BAM Berlin) as a coalition of interested scientists. These scientists also prepared the 1st Workshop Ellipsometry at the University of Stuttgart in the year 2000. The succeeding Workshops Ellipsometry took place in the years 2002 (2nd Workshop Ellipsometry at BAM in Berlin), 2004 (3rd Workshop Ellipsometry at the University of Stuttgart), 2006 (4th Workshop Ellipsometry at BAM Berlin) and 2009 (5th Workshop Ellipsometry at the University of Applied Sciences in Zweibrücken).
Increasing positive feedback caused the Working Group Ellipsometry to found the registered association (e.V.) „Arbeitskreis Ellipsometrie (AKE)" with name addition „Paul Drude" on 27th September 2005. The association aims at the promotion of science, in particular of ellipsometry and related methods. The spoken language is German. The association operates in Germany and membership is open to any interested party throughout Europe.
The „Workshop Ellipsometry" takes place every 2 to 3 years. Low conference fees shall particularly encourage the participation of young scientists. In general, the discussion of results is facilitated. According to the workshop character, all conference documents are provided as „Book of Abstracts" and as conference-CD containing presentations and posters. A publication in a scientific journal is not intended. The program of presentations and posters is completed by an exhibition of instruments and applications. Since the „4th Workshop Ellipsometry" in 2006 at the BAM in Berlin English is the conference language and the workshops are open to participants from all over Europe.
For the first time, the “Paul Drude Medal”, a prize for up-and-coming young scientists, and the best workshop poster were awarded by the „Arbeitskreis Ellipsometrie (AKE) - Paul Drude e. V." at the „5th Workshop Ellipsometry" 2009 at the FH Zweibrücken.
Eva Bittrich
from the IPF Dresden is the prize winner 2009 for her work „Application of in-situ vis-ellipsometry for the investigation of stimuliresponsive polymer brushes and adsorption processes thereon".
