Hallo everyone!

We are Lukas, Christian, Johannes, and Matthias – also known as DerAlteKannsNichtLassen. This is the team name we used during our multiple participations in PLANCKS, both on the national and international stage. We share many fond memories of this competition, and it truly brought us together.

Unfortunately, the clock of life keeps ticking, and three of us have (had to) transition to the next stage of our academic careers – the PhD. This means we can no longer compete in PLANCKS. But that’s no reason for despair! Without hesitation, we decided to found a new association (Pauli) and take over the organization of PLANCKS Austria. We hope to bring joy to many young physics talents!

Christian Binder	A hobby singer, wannabe pianist, football player, and occasional Dampfplauderer (big talker), Christian is one of the founding members of the team. After completing two master’s degrees in Technical and Theoretical Physics, he set out to conquer the world. For his PhD, he chose the University of Oxford, where he now works on building a quantum computer in collaboration with a startup. Teaching, research, and his role as “Minister of Social Affairs” at his college keep him busy. As a result, his joint research projects with Johannes in quantum chemistry, which await completion in Austria, sometimes take a backseat. But giving up is definitely not in his nature!
Johannes Krondorfer	If you wake up at 9 a.m. and see Johannes having breakfast, there’s a good chance he has already run up a 3,000-meter peak. A passionate runner and ski mountaineer, he has more than one trick up his sleeve – academically, the “man without qualities” is also highly motivated. In addition to his master’s degree in physics, he hopes to soon complete his studies in mathematics and philosophy. Soon, PPM will mean more than just parts per million! Like Christian, Johannes was a founding member of DerAlteKannsNichtLassen. His PhD work is a wild medley of topics – from molecular physics to new quantum computing gates. What’s next? Probably even he doesn’t know.
Matthias Diez	Mr. Diez joined us a little later. In 2021, he became part of our legendary team. We were in urgent need of a new member, so we emailed him a day before the competition – and 10 minutes later, we got his response: “I’m in.” Matthias has a long history in physics competitions, having won the Austrian Physics Olympiad national finals during high school (though he had to pay for it with a cold bath in a fountain). Naturally, continuing his career at PLANCKS made perfect sense. A lover of good music and fine dining, he often finds himself in his second home, Bad Gastein. In his PhD, he collaborates with Johannes in the field of molecular magnetism but is also active in particle physics – a dangerous mix!
Lukas Drescher	Lukas was the last to join the team. Energetic and almost manic, he’s always in a good mood. His language? A wild mix of German and English. His dream? “To do something cool in physics.” We all agree – that one’s definitely coming true. Unlike the others, he is still pursuing two master’s degrees (at TU and Uni Graz). Also, unlike the others, he has devoted himself to nuclear fusion research and thus, to classical physics. Not only is he an incredibly friendly guy, but – hard to believe – he’s already a married man. When he’s not calculating or teaching, he’s often traveling with his wife, from Greece to Finland. So, we can only say: If you don’t want to do quantum mechanics with us, at least build us a fusion reactor, Luki!

Former Organizers

Alexander J. Pfleger	Alexander J. Pfleger always wanted to be an archaeologist and immersed himself in classical languages. However, studying the works of Archimedes and Newton led him to the Physics Olympiad – representing Austria at the 2011 International Physics Olympiad in Bangkok. Later, he decided to study physics in Graz. In addition to his second degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Alexander volunteers with the Red Cross.
Patrick Schiffmann	Patrick Schiffmann has always loved numbers, which led him to excel in the Physics and Mathematics Olympiads and later to study Technical Physics. He is currently spending a postgraduate year in Edinburgh. His love of travel and passion for student competitions of all kinds were key factors in his team’s participation in PLANCKS 2014. Outside of physics, he is actively involved in the maker community.
Katharina Rath	Katharina Rath always wanted to do something with art – until a physics teacher sparked her interest in science, leading her to study Technical Physics. However, her passion for art never faded, so she also studies Early Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. To stay connected to technology, she works in gear calibration at AVL.