Posted on behalf of Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics.
There’s an art to presenting research, and that’s never been more true than it will be in December at the 2014 AIP Congress, ‘The Art of Physics’. Now is your chance to show off your creativity, by submitting an abstract for a 15-minute presentation or poster.
We’re fast approaching the federal government’s budget, and along with our fellow members of Science and Technology Australia and other research groups, we’re hoping to see a fulfilment of election promises for a long term, stable vision for science and research. There are worrying signs though with rumours of large cuts to CSIRO. Universities Australia have launched a campaign to keepitclever.com.au.
Last month three AIP representatives met with politicians and journalists at the annual Science Meets Parliament. Over two days, Dalia Hadaya, Deb Kane and Niraj Lal discovered that there are some on both sides of parliament who care about science, but getting their attention is a battle against other priorities. However, our delegates did leave with some new connections in Canberra, and a better understanding of how the policy-making process works.
The Australian Academy of Science’s top honour – the Academy Medal – goes this year to a physicist and educator Harry Messel. He founded the International Science School program and the Physics Foundation at the University of Sydney. He also wrote the famous ‘Blue Books’, textbooks which formed part of Australia’s first compulsory science syllabus, at a time when no girls’ school in Sydney offered a course in physics.
Three other physicists were also elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science: Hans Bachor, for his research in quantum optics, Lisa Kewley for her advances in understanding the formation of galaxies and stars, and Margaret Reid for her work in new tests of quantum theory in areas like teleportation and cryptography.
In March 2013, four Australian physicists—John Dunlop, Tony Farmer, Don Price and Gerry Haddad—were killed in a tragic helicopter accident. To honour the memory of these dedicated scientists, leaders and mentors, the CSIRO Alumni is holding an appeal to establish an annual post-graduate scholarship. You can find details on how to donate below.
And finally, AIP members can grab tickets to American physicist, author and TV presenter Michio Kaku’s public talks. Our NSW and Victorian branches are each giving away two VIP and two student tickets for the June lectures: details on how to enter are given below.
Please note that replies to this email go to Science in Public, who send the bulletin out for me. You can contact me directly on aip_president@aip.org.au, and there is a comprehensive list of contact details at the end of the bulletin.
Regards,
Rob
Rob Robinson
President, Australian Institute of Physics
aip_president@aip.org.au
In this issue…
AIP member news
Call for abstracts for AIP Congress
Abstracts are invited for either a 15 minute oral presentation or a poster to present at the 21st biennial AIP Congress, incorporating the Australian Optical Society annual meeting, to be held at ANU in Canberra from 7-11 December 2014.
Topics to be covered at the Congress include a wide range of fundamental research areas, as well as physics education, industrial physics and applications, women in physics.
Of course the Congress theme, ‘The Art of Physics’, is not only a topic in its own right, but something all contributors are encouraged to consider in how they present their work and communicate the inspiration behind it.
All abstracts must be submitted online at the Congress website by 5.00 pm AEST on Tuesday 4 June 2014.
Find out more and submit your abstract at aip2014.org.au/abstracts/?
Michio Kaku ticket giveaway
Our NSW and Victorian branches are giving away tickets to celebrity string theorist Michio Kaku’s June lectures.
There are two VIP tickets and two student tickets available in each of these states, but only for AIP associates, members and fellows.
If you’d like one of these free tickets, please email your branch secretary: Fred Osman in NSW or Kent Wootton in Victoria.
And if you miss out, bookings are still open for Michio Kaku’s lectures in Brisbane on 5 June, Melbourne on 6 June and Sydney on 7 June.
NSW award for community outreach
The New South Wales branch of the AIP has is offering its inaugural Community Outreach to Physics Award.
This award will be given annually to an individual involved in physics in NSW who has:
- worked to engage the academic community
- effectively developed community events
- increased physics awareness, knowledge or experiential learning opportunities for students.
The winner will receive $500 and a certificate recognising their achievements.
Nominations close 10 October 2014. You can find out more at the NSW AIP website.
Nominate for AIP medals & awards
There is still time to submit your nominations for the following AIP medals and awards:
- Harrie Massey Medal, for contributions to physics by an Australian anywhere in the world, or for work carried out in Australia by a non- resident (must be an AIP or IoP member).
- Alan Walsh Medal, for contributions by a practising physicist to Australian industry.
- Walter Boas Medal, awarded by the Victorian Branch for contributions to physics research by a member of the AIP.
- Education Medal, for contribution to Australian university physics education by a member of the AIP.
- Outstanding Service to Physics, for exceptional contribution by an individual who gives great amounts of time and effort to furthering physics as a discipline.
The AIP President will present these prizes at the 2014 Congress in Canberra in December, along with the Bragg Gold Medal for the most outstanding physics PhD thesis.
The Bragg Medal has a separate nomination process, with entries submitted by Australian universities to their state AIP branch.
Send your nominations for the other awards to Olivia Samardzic, olivia.samardzic@
Further information on all prizes can be found on the AIP website.
Other physics news
CSIRO scholarship appeal
In honour of physicists John Dunlop, Tony Farmer, Don Price and Gerry Haddad, who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident on 21 March 2013, the CSIRO Alumni has established an appeal for a scholarship in physics.
The scholarship will pay tribute to four CSIRO scientists who were influential in bringing novel techniques and products to industry, by giving a post-graduate physicist an invaluable opportunity to further their own research with travel to an overseas institution.
Contributions have already been received from the Laboratories Credit Union and the family, friends, colleagues and associates of the four physicists, and now further support is being sought to ensure this scholarship can be awarded annually.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible. You can find out more and donate online at the CSIRO Alumni website.
Petition to Keep it Clever
Universities Australia, the peak body for our university sector, is seeking your support to send the message that investing in universities is investing in our future.
If you agree that to avoid being left behind we need to keep being a leading nation in research and innovation, and to keep producing highly-skilled graduates, then sign the petition and share the message at keepitclever.com.au.
Science meets Parliament videos
This year’s Science meets Parliament event achieved some worthy goals, like the re-establishment of the cross-party Friends of Science group, with a record 90 members from all sides of politics.
For delegates though it was also a chance to learn more about the intricacies of policy-making, as well as how to get yourself heard in Canberra, in the media and in public.
For those who weren’t lucky enough to attend, Science and Technology Australia has provided videos of speakers and panel discussions from the event. You can watch them online at the STA YouTube channel.
Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
Nominations are still open for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Australia’s most prestigious awards for excellence in science and science education. They include the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, which last year went to Andrea Morello for his work on quantum computing.
The winners share $500,000 in grants, which are presented at a dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra.
You have until 5 pm AEST on Thursday 29 May 2014 to nominate. Find out more at www.industry.gov.au/
Crystallography photo contest
Celebrate the International Year of Crystallography and capture the art of crystals, by taking a photo fitting the theme ‘Crystallography in Everyday Life’.
Two winners will receive a USD 1000 bursary, sponsored by Agilent Technologies, to attend the International Union of Crystallography Congress in Montreal, Canada, in August 2014. The winners and 14 highly commended entries will also be featured in an academic calendar for 2014-15.
Find out more information, see sample submissions and submit your entry at www.iycr2014.org/
AIP events
7–11 Dec 2014
ANU, Canberra
Quantum technology for a networked world: Clocks, GPS and all that
Tue 29 Apr 2014, 5.30pm
Level 3 Function Rooms, Campus Hub, Building C10A, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW
Public lecture
Sir Peter Knight from the Kavli Royal Society International Centre will discuss the significance of the networked world and the quantum technology with even more dramatic potential.
The Australian Synchrotron in the International Year of Crystallography
Tue 13 May 2014, 6pm
ANSTO Discovery Centre, Lucas Heights, NSW
Public lecture and tour
Andrew Peele will discuss some of the outstanding science produced at the Australian Synchrotron that was made possible by the work of “Australia’s” W. L. Bragg.
State of the Climate 2014
Thu 29 May 2014, 6.30pm
The University of Melbourne, VIC
Public lecture
Scott Power from the Bureau of Meteorology will talk about the latest IPCC report and global warming.
News in brief
UNSW physicist joins US science academy
Michelle Simmons has been elected member of the elite American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellowship for senior women astronomers
Visit the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in WA. Applications close 30 May 2014.
Radiation Protection Conference
ARPS 2014 will be held in Hobart from 26–29 October, with the theme ‘Radiation protection: drawing the line.
Space School 2014
The Victorian Space Science Education Centre’s 5-day program for years 9 & 10 starts 30 June.
Pitch drop caught on camera
Another data point in the world’s longest running experiment, at the University of Queensland.
Colours put chemistry under the microscope
Monash University electron microscopists use chromatic aberration to make chemical maps at the nanoscale.
Positrons could come from pulsars, not dark matter
An Italian team has used the Australian National Telescope Facility Pulsar Catalogue to model the positron excess seen by the AMS-02 dark matter experiment.
ASKAP produces first spectral line ‘data cube’
Six antennas with phased array feed receivers at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory have used 15 baselines to observe a gravitational lens system.
Leading the race to quantum computing
UNSW scientists are manipulating matter at a fundamental to achieve a level of processing power that is impossible for normal computers.
Dance of dwarf galaxies remains rare
University of Sydney researchers have found that supercomputer simulations struggle to reproduce the coordinated orbit of the Andromeda Galaxy’s satellites.
Free online virtual universe
Swinburne University’s Theoretical Astrophysical Observatory lets scientists create their own customised views of the Universe.
Supernovae show gravity constant over time
Researchers at Swinburne University analysing the light of 580 Type 1a supernovae found no change in Newton’s gravitational constant over the past nine billion years.
Books for review
John Macfarlane, the book review editor for Australian Physics, is seeking volunteers write a short review (300-500 words) of one of the following books:
Nambu: A foreteller of modern physics
Edited by T. Eguchi & M.Y. Han, World Scientific 2014
Microcosmos: The world of elementary particles
Harald Fritsch, World Scientific 2014
Symmetry and fundamental physics: Tom Kibble at 80
Edited by Jerome Gauntlett, World Scientific 2014
One Hundred Physics visualizations using Matlab
Dan Green, World Scientific 2014
Living in a warmer world
Edited by Jim Salinger, CSIRO Publishing 2013
Particle Physics – a graphic guide
Tom Whyntie and Oliver Pugh, Icon Books 2013
How the Ray Gun got its Zap
Stephen R. Wilk, Oxford University Press 2013
Mt Stromlo Observatory – From Bush Observatory to the Nobel Prize
Ragbir Bhathal, Ralph Sutherland and Harvey Butcher, CSIRO Publishing 2013
If your review is accepted for publication you may keep the book for your own use.
If you are interested or want to suggest another book to review, contact John atjcmacfarlane@netspace.net.au
Events
denotes AIP events
ACT
Brian Cox – Making Sense of the Cosmos
Fri, 24 Oct 2014, 7pm
Royal Theatre, National Convention Centre Canberra
Public lecture
NSW
Sir Peter Knight: Quantum technology for a networked world – Clocks, GPS and all that
Tue, 29 May 2014, 5:30pm
Level 3 Function Rooms, Campus Hub, Building C10A, Macquarie University, North Ryde
Public lecture
Astronomy from the Ground Up teacher workshop
Fri, 2 May 2014
Parkes Observatory
For teachers
Andrew Peele: The Australian Synchrotron in the International Year of Crystallography
Tue, 13 May 2014, 6pm
ANSTO Discovery Centre, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights
Tour and public lecture
An evening with Dr Michio Kaku
Sat, 7 Jun 2014, 6pm
Sydney Town Hall
Public lecture
Physics in the Pub
Thu, 19 Jun 2014, 6:30pm
3 Wise Monkeys Hotel, Level 1, 555 George St Sydney City (close to Hay Market)
Public lecture
5th Annual Poster Presentation Lecture Evening (A.P.P.L.E)
Mon, 21 Jul 2014, 6pm
Trinity Grammar School, Dining Hall, 119 Prospect Road, Summer Hill
Brian Cox – Making Sense of the Cosmos
Wed, 22 Oct 2014, 7pm
State Theatre, Sydney
Public lecture
QLD
An evening with Dr Michio Kaku
Thu, 5 Jun 2014, 6pm
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Public lecture
Journey Through the Cosmos with Brian Cox and the QSO
Thu, 6 Nov 2014
QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
Public lectures and music
SA
Bragg Walking Tour
Tue, 6 May 2014, 10am
The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide
Tour and public lecture
Brian Cox – Making Sense of the Cosmos
Tue, 14 Oct 2014, 7pm
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Public lecture
TAS
No upcoming events are currently listed.
VIC
David Webb: VCE Lecture – Nuclear radiation: Its uses and abuses
Thu, 1 May 2014, 6pm
Hercus Theatre, School of Physics, The University of Melbourne
For students and teachers
Jim Al-Khalili: Time travel – separating science fact from science fiction
Mon, 12 May 2014, 7pm
Copland Theatre, Business and Economics Building (The Spot), 198 Berkeley Street, Carlton
Public lecture and livestream
AIP Education Committee meeting
Tue, 13 May 2014, 5pm
University High School
For teachers
Nick Lomb: Light pollution or who stole the night?
Fri, 16 May 2014, 6:30pm
Swinburne University, Hawthorn Campus, BA building, BA201
Public lecture
Scott Power: State of the Climate 2014 – the latest IPCC report and global warming
Thu, 29 May 2014, 6:30pm
University of Melbourne, lecture theatre TBC
Public lecture
An evening with Dr Michio Kaku
Fri, 6 Jun 2014, 6pm
The Plenary, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Public lecture
Brian Cox – Making Sense of the Cosmos
Sat, 18 Oct 2014, 7pm
The Plenary, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Public lecture
WA
Brian Cox – Making Sense of the Cosmos
Thu, 16 Oct 2014, 7pm
Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
Public lecture
Conferences
Solar 2014 Conference and Expo
8–9 May 2014, Melbourne, Vic
NEW Bilateral Italian-Australian Scientific Workshop and School
19–21 May 2014, Australian Synchrotron, Vic
CRC Association National Conference: Innovating with Asia 2014
20–21 May 2014, Perth, WA
Powerful AGN and Their Host Galaxies Across Cosmic Time
16–20 June 2014, Port Douglas, Qld
19th OptoElectronics and Communications Conference/39th Australian Conference on Optical Fibre Technology (OECC/ACOFT 2014)
6–10 July 2014, Melbourne, Vic
6th Pacific Rim Conference on Rheology
20–25 July 2014, The University of Melbourne, Vic
Joint International Conference on Hyperfine Interactions and Symposium on Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions 2014
21–26 September 2014, Academy of Sciences, Canberra, ACT
MEDSI 2014 – Mechanical Engineering Design of Synchrotron Radiation Equipment and Instrumentation
20–24 October 2014, Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
NEW 2014 Australasian Radiation Protection Society Conference
26–29 Oct 2014, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, 1 Davey St, Hobart, Tas
XRM2014 — 12th International Conference on X-ray Microscopy
26–31 October 2014, Melbourne, Vic
NEW The Periphery of Disks
3–6 Nov 2014, Sydney, NSW
OSA Optics and Photonics Congress on Light, Energy and the Environment
2–5 December 2014, Australian National University, ACT
AIP Congress – The Art of Physics
7–11 December 2014, Australian National University, ACT
AMN7 Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology
8–12 February 2015, The Rutherford Hotel, Nelson, New Zealand
Contributions and contact details
Please get in contact if you have any queries about physics in Australia:
- Rob Robinson, AIP President aip_president@aip.org.au
- the AIP website is www.aip.org.au
- membership enquiries to the Secretariat aip@aip.org.au or 03 9895 4477
- ideas for articles for Australian Physics to the Chair of the Editorial Board and Acting Editor Brian James, on b.james@physics.usyd.edu.au, or the editorial board, which is listed in your latest copy of the magazine
- contributions to the bulletin (e.g. activities, conferences and announcements) to Chris Lassig from Science in Public on chris@scienceinpublic.com.au or call (03) 9398 1416, by the 23rd of the month prior
- the AIP Events Calendar to check what’s on, and also to submit your own physics-related events (any queries to Chris, as above)
- to receive these bulletins, please email Chris, as above (you don’t need to be a member of the Institute).
(Sent by Niall Byrne, Science in Public, on behalf of the Australian Institute of Physics, www.aip.org.au)