Welcome to my monthly email to people with an interest in physics.
July activities from the Australian Institute of Physics include Reinhard Genzel talking on black holes and galaxies in the Canberra and Perth, Zdenka Kuncic on physics for medicine and astronomy in Sydney, Neil Boucher on Marconi and Braun, winners of the 1909 Nobel Prize for physics, and a chance to contribute to a discussion of physics in Australia in Adelaide.
Other physics activities include the open day at Parkes Observatory, the July lecture series for the the International Year of Astronomy at the University of Melbourne, teacher professional development at the Victorian Space Science Education Centre and many other public lectures.
I outline some of the infrastructure announcements in the budget that will provide additional support to physics and interdisciplinary research in Australia.
Congratulations to Jeremy Mould, University of Melbourne, who has been awarded the 2009 Gruber Cosmology Prize with two colleagues. And AIP members Michael Tobar and Eric May, both of University of Western Australia, have been awarded the Barry Inglis Medal and the NMI Prize, respectively, from the National Measurement Institute.
And on Monday 22 June Kim Carr announced the first fifteen Australian Laureate Fellows, who include Brian Schmidt (RSAA, ANU), Chennupati Jagadish (RSPE, ANU), Anthony Thomas (University of Adelaide) and Michael Tobar (University of Western Australia).Our regular prizes section includes information on the AIP awards and others. Please note that nominations for the Clunies Ross Awards close on 30 June.
More on all of these below.
And looking ahead, please note that the 2010 AIP Congress will be held in Melbourne from 6 to 10 December 2010.
If you want to contact me regarding AIP or other physics matters please email aip_president@aip.org.au.
If you have trouble reading the bulletin in this format, it’s also online at www.aip.org.au. You can also read it and rss it on my blog at http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/category/bulletins/aip-presidents-blog and now on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Please note that replies to this email go to Niall Byrne, Science in Public, who sends out the bulletin on my behalf and handles corrections, updates and bounces. If you have news or other information for the bulletin please email Niall by the 23rd of each month.
Kind regards,
Brian James,
AIP President
In this bulletin:
1. AIP events across the country
2. Physics activities across the country – general
3. Physics activities across the country – seminars
4. Good news in the budget for major physics infrastructure and national facilities
5. Australian Laureate Fellowships announced by Kim Carr
6. Jeremy Mould awarded the 2009 Gruber Cosmology Prize
7. AIP members Michael Tobar and Eric May recognised by the National Measurement Institute
8. AIP (Vic branch) Education Committee Travelling Scholarship
9. Network with other physicists on Facebook and LinkedIn
12. Submission deadlines for the bulletin and journal
AIP events across the country
SA: Thursday 25 June, 7pm, SA AIP
TITLE: Discussion of “Future of Physics in Australia”.
AIP members, and all physicists working in government, industry, high schools and in other disciplines outside of physics, are invited to contribute to the discussion. This is part of the project being undertaken by the National Committee for Physics (Australian Academy of Science) led by Michelle Simmons, University of New South Wales, to produce a snapshot of physics around Australia.
VENUE: Kerr Grant lecture theatre, Physics building, University of Adelaide.
For more info go to the SA AIP branch website or phone (08) 8201 2093 or email aip-sa@physics.adelaide.edu.au
TAS: Thursday 2 July, 8pm, Tas AIP
Tasmanian IYA national lecture series
TITLE: Is the Universe made for me? The anthropic principle in astronomy
SPEAKER: Geraint Lewis, University of Sydney
VENUE: Physics Lecture theatre 1, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Hobart
More info: http://tas.aip.org.au/
VIC: Thursday 16 July, 6pm, Vic AIP
AIP members & families are invited
TITLE: Star Wars: Where science meets imagination
VENUE: Scienceworks Spotswood
There are limited spaces available. RSVP by Wednesday 1 July to Scott Wade (Hon. Secretary) on scott.wade@eng.monash.edu.au, or (03) 9905 9642.
ACT: Monday 27th July, 6pm (refreshments from 5.30pm), ACT AIP and the Black Hole Society
TITLE: Black holes and galaxies
SPEAKER: Reinhard Genzel, University of California, Berkeley, USA
VENUE: Lecture theatre Chem T1, Chemistry Building 33, Australian National University
More info on the ACT AIP website.
NSW: AIP NSW branch meetings, held in conjunction with the University of Sydney
The NSW branch holds meetings in the Slade Theatre, School of Physics, University of Sydney, from 6.30 pm. Refreshments are available from 6pm and entrance to all events is free. For more info, contact Frederick Osman on fred_osman@exemail.com.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 28 July | Zdenka Kuncic, University of Sydney | Physics for medicine and astronomy |
| 18 August | Tony Farmer, CSIRO | High-power ultrasonics and its applications |
| 24 August | Roger Rassool, University of Melbourne | Einstein’s Lecture at the Power House Museum: Amazing laser light and sound show “Muppets Program” |
QLD: Tools of science series, The Physics Museum, Qld AIP and School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Qld
Tools of science talks are held on Tuesdays in Room 222 Parnell Building, St Lucia campus, University of Queensland, from 6-7pm. The lecture, illustrated where possible with items from the Physics Museum collection, will be followed by a discussion period where participants will be encouraged to show items they have brought along. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the School of Mathematics and Physics. The Physics Museum will be open from 5.30pm.
More info at the Tools of Science website or contact Norman Heckenberg on (07) 3365 3369 or heckenberg@physics.uq.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 28 July | Neil Boucher | The 1909 Nobel Prize: G. Marconi and K. Braun |
| 18 August | Lindsay Ball | Pocket calculators |
| 15 September | Alan Emmerson | W5 and the Littlemore Click |
| 20 October | Kim Hajek | Science and literature in the late nineteenth-century France |
WA: International Year of Astronomy public lecture series, the Astronomical Society of Australia, with AIP, University of Western Australia, Scitech, Curtin University of Technology Institute of Theoretical Physics and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research
The Astronomical Society of Australia has chosen six speakers to communicate the excitement of astronomy to the general public in Perth, as part of the International Year of Astronomy. The public lectures are at 6pm, at venues shown below.
For more info go to the Institute of Advanced Studies, UWA, website or call (08) 6488 1340 or email iasuwa@admin.uwa.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title | Venue |
| 23 July | Reinhard Genzel, Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (Germany) & Dept of Physics, University of California, USA | Black holes and galaxies | Alexander Lecture Theatre, UWA |
| 19 August | Charley Lineweaver, Australian National University | Is there more than one universe? | Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UWA |
| 9 September | Ray Norris, Australia Telescope National Facility | The astronomy of Aboriginal Australians | Scitech, City West, Sutherland Street, West Perth |
| 29 September | Geraint Lewis, University of Sydney | A universe made for me? The anthropic principle in astronomy | Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UWA |
| 14 October | Marc Duldig, Australian Antarctic Division | Particle astronomy – the second window | Bankwest Theatre, Building 200, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley |
| 4 November | Paulo de Souza, Tasmanian ICT Centre, CSIRO | From Mars to Earth: a journey fostered by science, technology and fascination | Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UWA |
Physics activities across the country – general
VIC: Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University, public lectures
The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing holds regular free public lectures on the Hawthorn campus (AR Building, Room 104) at 6.30pm. More info here or contact Carolyn Cliff at contact@astro.swin.edu.au or phone (03) 9214 5569. Bookings are essential, please contact Carolyn Cliff.
| Date | Speaker | Title | Room |
| 2 July | Lisa Kewley, University of Hawaii | Oxygen: breathing the universe | EN102 |
| 15 July | Chris Fluke, Swinburne University | From science to screen: premiere of “Extreme Places” in 3D | AR104 |
| 19 August | Chris Blake, Swinburne University | What is dark matter/dark energy? | AGSE207 |
VIC: School of Physics, University of Melbourne, public lectures
The School of Physics, supported by the Vic branch of the AIP, is holding the July lecture series for the International Year of Astronomy, with speakers David Jamieson, Brian Boyle, Matthew Colless and Reinhard Genzel. Another public lecture will be given by Leonard C. Feldman.
The lectures are given in the Elisabeth Murdoch Theatre A, University of Melbourne (adjacent to the School of Physics). More info at the School of Physics: events website. Booking is not required.
| Date | Time | Speaker | Title |
| 3 July | 8pm | David Jamieson, University of Melbourne | Galileo’s astronomical telescope invention and his remarkable discoveries: moons, stars and a new planet |
| 10 July | 8pm | Brian Boyle, CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility | The Square Kilometre Array |
| 17 July | 8pm | Matthew Colless, Anglo-Australian Observatory | The Giant Magellan Telescope – 400+10 years after Galileo |
| 22 July | 6.30pm | Leonard C. Feldman, University of Melbourne, Rutgers the State University and Vanderbilt University | The materials revolution |
| 24 July | 8pm | Reinhard Genzel, Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (Germany) & Dept of Physics, University of California, USA | The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Galaxy |
VIC: Monday 6 July, Astronomical Society of Australia
Annual Harley Wood public lecture, and part of the program for the Annual Scientific Meeting of the ASA
TITLE: Australian Indigenous astronomy
SPEAKER: Ray Norris, Australia Telescope National Facility
VENUE: Elisabeth Murdoch Lecture Theatre, University of Melbourne, Parkville
More info at the scientific meeting website.
VIC: Thursday 9 July, 6-7.30pm, Australian Academy of Science and University of Melbourne
Public lecture
TITLE: Excellence in Australian Science – Australian Academy of Science New Fellows’ and Medalists’ Symposium
SPEAKERS: Newly elected Victorian Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science together with this year’s medal winners will give brief presentations about their work.
VENUE: Lecture Theatre GM15, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham St, Carlton
More info on the University of Melbourne: events website or contact Kerry Grieser on kerryh@unimelb.edu.au or (03) 8344 9866.
WA: Gingin Observatory, Gingin
Gingin Observatory runs a variety of public events, many suitable for families, as well as regular stargazing tours. More info is available at the Observatory website or by contacting Carol Redford or Donna Vanzetti on (08) 9575 7740 or stars@ginginobservatory.com. Contact Carol or Donna to book into events.
| Date | Time | Event |
| 27 June | 7-9pm | Stargazing in June: Clear nights in winter offer a perfect opportunity for stargazing. Rain helps remove dust from Earth’s atmosphere which ensures very clear views of Saturn and all the stars! |
| 10 and 11 July | 6.30-8.30pm | Holiday family space adventures; stargazing from 6.30 to 8.30. but you can also visit the Gingin Discovery Centre and climb the Leaning Tower of Gingin. |
| 26 July | 7-9.30pm | Moon landing celebrations – 40 years on! John Jacob investigates the theories that the moon landing was a hoax, followed by stargazing |
| 15 August | 7-9.30pm | Radio Astronomy and the Square Kilometre Array: Steven Tingay, Curtin University, discusses Western Australia’s role in the biggest science project this century – the Square Kilometre Array. This is an excellent opportunity for young scientists to discover possible employment pathways in astronomy. Stargazing follows. |
| 22 August | 7-9.30pm | The Great Zadko Telescope and Gamma Ray Burst science: David Coward, University of Western Australia, will present the new $1million Zadko Telescope to visitors for the first time and detail its important Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) research. Stargazing follows. |
SA: Friday 17 July, Mars Society Australia
Public lecture
TITLE: Results of the Phoenix mission to Mars and analog sites on Earth
SPEAKER: Chris McKay, Planetary Scientist, Space Science Division, NASA Ames
Dr Chris McKay of NASA Ames will open this year’s Australian Mars Exploration Conference (AMEC2009) with a public lecture on the findings of NASA’s recent Phoenix Mission.
More info on the Mars Society website.
NSW: Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 July, CSIRO Parkes Observatory
TITLE: CSIRO Parkes Observatory Open Days
VENUE: Parkes Observatory
The CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On 21 July 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became the first people to set foot on the surface of the Moon. The television pictures of this historic event were received by the CSIRO Parkes telescope and relayed to 600 million people.
Parkes will be hosting open days on the weekend of 18-19 July. The open days will showcase the achievements of the Parkes Radio Telescope as a world-leading astronomical telescope as well as its roles in supporting some of the most significant space missions in history.
More info on the open day website or email the Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre parkes-vdc@csiro.au.
VIC: Wednesday 22 July, 9.30am-3pm, Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC)
Teacher professional development
TITLE: Teaching science in context and the E5 Instructional Model
VENUE: VSSEC, 400 Pascoe Vale Rd, Strathmore, Melbourne
The program uses VSSEC’s Mission to the Orbiting Space Laboratory to demonstrate the increased engagement of students where science is taught within a relevant context.
RSVP Friday 13 July. More information and booking at the VSSEC website or call (03) 9379 3456 or email information@vssec.vic.edu.au.
Physics activities across the country – seminars
Check the institution websites for any late changes
VIC: Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University
The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing holds regular colloquia on Thursdays at 11.30am, in the Swinburne Virtual Reality Theatre (AR Building, Room 104). More info here or George Hau on colloquium@astro.swin.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 25 June | Alan Brito, Swinburne University | TBA |
| 30 June (Tuesday) |
Kim-Vy Tran, Texas A&M | TBA |
| 2 July | Kai Noeske, Harvard | TBA |
| 16 July | Marina Rejkuba, European Southern Observatory | TBA |
| 23 July | Helene Courtois, Institut de Physique Nucléaire de Lyon | Cosmic Flows and the skeleton of the Local Universe. Observations vs numerical simulations to unveil dark matter distribution and dark energy local density |
| 13 August | Tamara Davis, University of Queensland | Using cosmology to test fundamental physics |
QLD: Physics Department, University of Queensland
The Physics Department holds regular colloquia on Fridays at 4pm (refreshments from 3.30pm) in the Parnell Building Room 222, University of Queensland. More info here or coll_sched@physics.uq.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 3 July | TBA | |
| 31 July | Austin Lund, Griffith University | Coherent state quantum computing and error correction |
| 7 August | Matthew Davis, University of Queensland | TBA |
| 14 August | Ben Powell, University of Queensland | TBA |
| 21 August | David Jamieson, University of Melbourne | Galileo’s invention of the astronomical telescope and his remarkable discoveries: moons, stars and a new planet |
WA: School of Physics, University of Western Australia
The School of Physics holds regular seminars on Tuesdays from 3.30-4.30pm in the Physics Lecture Room 2.15, Physics Building, University of WA. More info here or (08) 6488 2738.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 30 June | Gerhardt Meurer, Johns Hopkins University | TBA |
NSW: School of Physics, University of NSW
The School of Physics holds regular colloquia on Tuesdays from 4-5pm in the School of Physics Common Room, Room 64, Old Main Building, University of NSW. More info here or contact Adam Micolich (02) 9385 6132 or mico@phys.unsw.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 23 June | Michael Tobar, University of Western Australia | Cooling acoustic oscillators and prospects for measuring below the quantum limit |
NSW: School of Physics, University of Sydney
The School of Physics hold regular colloquia on Mondays at 3.15pm (refreshments from 3pm) in the Slade Lecture Theatre, School of Physics A28, University of Sydney. More info here or contact Bruce Yabsley (02) 9351 5970 or colloquium_chair@physics.usyd.edu.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 26 June (Friday) |
Gavin Rowell, University of Adelaide | Massive stellar clusters, supernova remnants and particle astrophysics at TeV gamma-ray energies |
| 6 July | Rosie Hicks, Australian National Fabrication Facility | The Australian National Fabrication Facility – What can it do for me? |
| 13 July | Jack Cowan, University of Chicago | Statistical mechanics of large-scale brain activity |
| 20 July | Moshe Elitzur, University of Kentucky | The AGN torus – a paradigm change |
| 27 July | Optics speaker TBA | TBA |
NSW: Australia Telescope National Facility
The Australian Telescope National Facility holds regular colloquia on Wednesdays at 3.30pm (coffee at 3.15pm) in the ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre. More info here or contact Patrick Weltevrede Patrick.Weltevrede@atnf.csiro.au.
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 22 July | Ingrid Stairs, University of British Columbia | TBA |
| 5 August | Helen Courtois, University of Lyon | Cosmic flows |
Good news in the budget for major physics infrastructure and national facilities
There were three research infrastructure announcements in the budget under the Super Science Initiative that will have a welcome impact on major facilities that support physics and interdisciplinary research across the country.
The Australian National Fabrication Facility (that previously received support as part of NCRIS and has major facilities nodes in all mainland states and the ACT) received $50 million of additional infrastructure funding. This will be a very welcome boost to materials and device/sensor technologies by providing state-of-the-art fabrication equipment and facilities.
The H-1 National Plasma Fusion Facility at the ANU received $5 million and this funding will allow upgrades and operational support to the facility that forms a vital part of any Australian involvement with the international ITER program. There is strong interest from ITER to have an Australian involvement in the area of plasma diagnostics and this funding will open up new opportunities for the Australian research community in this area.
Finally, Australia’s ion accelerator facilities, that were part of the NCRIS roadmap for future funding, were also highlighted in the budget for infrastructure support. The ANU and Melbourne University received an allocation of $10 million to support new infrastructure, upgrades and hopefully operations of these major national facilities. In addition, ANSTO received funding for a new accelerator facility including building infrastructure.
Australian Laureate Fellowships announced by Kim Carr
On Monday 22 June Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced that 15 world-leading scholars will be awarded Australian Laureate Fellowships worth around $2.7 million each.
Australian Laureate Fellows are researchers of international repute who will play a leadership and mentoring role in building Australia’s international competitive research capacity. Four physicists, Brian Schmidt, Chennupati Jagadish, Anthony Thomas and Michael Tobar, were among the recipients.
Brian Schmidt, from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at The Australian National University, leads Mt Stromlo’s effort to build the SkyMapper Telescope, a new facility that will provide a comprehensive digital map of the southern sky from ultraviolet through near infrared wavelengths. The research made possible by the SkyMapper Telescope will make significant, high profile discoveries in astronomy ranging from understanding objects like Pluto, to discovering the first black hole in the distant Universe.
Chennupati Jagadish, from the Research School of Physics and Engineering at The Australian National University, is widely recognised as the pre-eminent Australian researcher in the fields of optoelectronics and nanotechnology. Professor Jagadish aims to build a world class research program on quantum nanowire optoelectronics leading to next generation nanowire lasers, optical switches and optical interconnects.
Anthony Thomas, from the University of Adelaide, leads long range planning in the Jefferson Laboratories at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Anthony will aim to generate advances at the frontiers of nuclear and particle physics and their interface with astrophysics.
Michael Tobar, from the University of Western Australia, has expertise in microwave and optical technology and applications to fundamental and industrial physics. He will develop new techniques in time and frequency metrology to test fundamental physics and create essential technology for commercial, space and astronomical applications. This project will strengthen Australian knowledge and expertise, and place us in a position to participate in current and future space missions.
More info at the Australian Research Council website.
Jeremy Mould awarded the 2009 Gruber Cosmology Prize
Jeremy Mould, Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne, is a joint winner of the 2009 Gruber Cosmology Prize with two colleagues in the US and Britain. Mould, Wendy Freedman and Robert Kennicutt are being honoured for their leadership of the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale, which has produced the definitive measurement of the value of the Hubble constant, one of the most important numbers in astronomy. The Hubble constant indicates the rate at which the universe has been expanding since the “Big Bang,” thus connecting the universe’s age with its size.
More info at the Gruber Foundation website.
AIP members Michael Tobar and Eric May recognised by the National Measurement Institute
On World Metrology day, 20 May, Michael Tobar of the University of Western Australia, was awarded the Barry Inglis Medal for excellence in practical measurements by an individual in Australia, for his work at the leading edge of sophisticated frequency control systems, which has lead to patents of inventions with commercial applications.
The NMI Prize for excellence in measurement techniques for a scientist aged 35 years or under was awarded to Eric May, also of the University of Western Australia, for his contribution to gas measurements and the successful application of measurement techniques to resolving industrial problems.
More information at the NMI website.
AIP (Vic branch) Education Committee Travelling Scholarship
Barry Homewood from Braemar College in Woodend has been awarded the inaugural AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee’s Travelling Scholarship (worth $1,500) to attend the week long EinsteinPlus 2009 Teachers Workshop at the Perimeter Institute in Canada.
Network with other physicists on Facebook and LinkedIn
Remember that you can network with other physicists on Facebook and LinkedIn:
- Facebook is at http://www.facebook.com. You will need to have a Facebook account, which is free and can be set up with your email address and a password of your choice. Then just search for the Australian Institute of Physics group and become a member.
- LinkedIn is at http://www.linkedin.com. All you need to do is search on the LinkedIn site for the Australian Institute of Physics group and ask to become a member. Please use the same email address as that in your AIP membership profile. It will help us quickly verify that you’re an AIP member.
Science prizes
Please consider if you know people who would be appropriate candidates for the following science prizes.
I’ve also listed the AIP’s awards.
2010 Bragg Gold Medal for excellence in physics (AIP)
The Bragg Gold Medal is awarded annually to the student who is judged to have completed the most outstanding PhD thesis under the auspices of an Australian university.
The thesis must have been approved between 1 June 2008 and 1 July 2009. Each university may submit one candidate. Nominations from the universities must reach the Secretary of the local state AIP branch by 1 July 2009. This award will be announced in 2010.
For further information see the AIP website: Bragg Gold Medal or contact Olivia Samardzic, Honorary Secretary, at aip_secretary@aip.org.au or phone 0410 575 855.
2009 Walter Boas Medal (AIP)
The Walter Boas Medal was established to promote excellence in research in physics and to perpetuate the name of Walter Boas (University of Melbourne 1938-47, CSIRO 1947-69). The award is for physics research carried out in the five years prior to the date of the award, as demonstrated by both published papers and unpublished papers prepared for publication.
Nominations should reach Olivia Samardzic, Honorary Secretary, at aip_secretary@aip.org.au or by mail at 205 Labs, EWRD, DSTO, P.O. Box 1500, Edinburgh, SA 5111 by 1 September 2009.
For further information see the AIP website: Walter Boas Medal or contact Olivia Samardzic as above or phone 0410 575 855.
2009 Award for Outstanding Service to Physics in Australia (AIP)
The AIP Award for Outstanding Service to Physics recognises an exceptional contribution on the part of an individual who gives great amounts of time and effort to the furtherance of physics as a discipline.
Nominations should reach Olivia Samardzic, Honorary Secretary, at aip_secretary@aip.org.au or by mail at 205 Labs, EWRD, DSTO, P.O. Box 1500, Edinburgh, SA 5111 by 1 September 2009.
For further information see the AIP website: Outstanding Service or contact Olivia Samardzic as above or phone 0410 575 855.
AIP Women in Physics Lecturer
The AIP Women in Physics Lecturer, a woman who has made a significant contribution to physics will give a series of lectures to a non-specialist audience to interest students in studying physics. The next Women in Physics Lecturer, for 2010, is likely to be an international speaker. The AIP will call for nominations later in the year.
2010 ATSE Clunies Ross Awards
The ATSE Clunies Ross Awards celebrate people who have made important contributions to the application of science and technology for the economic, social or environmental benefit of Australia. The Award is formally presented and publicly announced at a ceremony and dinner to be held in 2010 at the Melbourne Town Hall in May. Award recipients receive a unique 10 oz fine silver medal created by the Australian Mint and a certificate.
Nominations for the 2010 ATSE Clunies Ross Awards close on Tuesday 30 June 2009. I invite you to nominate one of your colleagues or clients who meet the requirements of the ATSE Clunies Ross Award. Award criteria and nomination forms are available on the Clunies Ross website at www.cluniesross.org.au.
Australian Academy of Science prizes
The Australian Academy of Science offers several awards for scientific excellence. Three are of particular interest to physicists:
- AAS Frederick White Prize for scientists in Australia whose research has contributed, or could contribute, to community interests, rural or industrial progress or the understanding of natural phenomena (closing 31 July 2009)
- AAS Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture for physical science research by early scientific researchers. Researchers must be nominated by a Fellow of the Academy (closing 31 July 2009)
- AAS Pawsey Medal for outstanding research in physics by scientists under 40 years old (closes 31 July 2009).
More info on the AAS awards website.
Australian University Teaching Awards
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council offers a number of awards and citations recognising teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to student learning.
The closing date for the program and teaching awards is 10 July.
More info on the ALTC awards website.
Physics conferences
The Many Faces of Centaurus A
Sydney, NSW
28/06/2009 – 03/07/2009
Harley Wood Winter School
Geelong, Vic
03/07/2009 – 05/07/2009
The Astronomical Society of Australia Inc. Annual Scientific Meeting
Melbourne, Vic
05/07/2009 – 09/07/2009
5th International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy (ICAVS5)
Melbourne, Vic
12/07/2009 – 17/07/2009
35th Professor Harry Messel International Science School: ISS2009 Genes to Galaxies
Sydney, NSW
12/07/2009 – 25/07/2009
9th Australian Mars Exploration Conference (AMEC2009)
Adelaide, SA
17/07/2008 – 19/07/2009
The Elizabeth and Frederick White Conference on Nuclear Astrophysics
Australia Academy of Science’s Dome, Canberra
24/08/2009 – 25/08/2009
11th International Symposium on Radiation Physics (ISRP-11)
University of Melbourne, Vic
20/09/2009 – 25/09/2009
The workshop below is held in conjunction with this symposium.
Workshop on advances in analytical techniques in geology, conservation science, forensic science, border technology, biomedical & other applications
University of Melbourne, Vic
26/09/2009 – 27/09/2009
This workshop is held in conjunction with the symposium above.
10th International Conference on Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation (SRI09)
Melbourne Convention Centre, Vic
International Conference on Physics Education (ICPE) 2009
Bangkok, Thailand
18/10/2009 – 24/10/2009
Shanghai International Congress and Exhibition on Renewable Energy 2009
Shanghai, China
22/10/2009 – 24/10/2009
Tenth International Symposium – Frontiers of Fundamental & Computational Physics (FFP10)
Perth, WA
24/11/2009 – 26/11/2009
International Science Education Conference 2009: Science Education – Shared Issues, Common Future
National Institute of Education, Singapore
24/11/2009 – 26/11/2009
Australasian Conference on Optics, Lasers and Spectroscopy and Australian Conference on Optical Fibre Technology in association with the International Workshop on Dissipative Solitons (ACOLS ACOFT DS 2009)
The University of Adelaide, SA
29/11/2009 – 03/12/2009
Abstracts are due by 3 August 2009; early bird registration closes 12 October 2009
AINSE/ANBUG Neutron Scattering Symposium, AANSS 2009
Lucas Heights, Sydney, NSW
07/12/2009 – 09/12/2009
Conference on Computational Physics 2009, Taiwan
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
15/12/2009 – 19/12/2009
5th Australasian Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
16/12/2009 – 18/12/2009
Online registration will be available from August 2009
2010 AIP Congress
Melbourne, Vic
06/12/2009 – 10/12/2009
Submission deadlines for the bulletin and journal
Our next bulletin will be for August 2009. We welcome contributions about activities, conferences and announcements. Our next submission deadline is Wednesday 22 July. Please send your submissions to Margie Beilharz from Science in Public on margie@scienceinpublic.com.au or (03) 9398 1416.
And the AIP’s journal, Australian Physics, welcomes your articles. The deadlines for upcoming issues are: 29 June (Jul/Aug issue), 17 August (Sep/Oct) and 12 October (Nov/Dec). Email John Daicopoulos on ap-editor@renegadescience.tv
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For more information on physics events visit http://www.aip.org.au and click on ‘physics events’ or on your state branch.
If you know of anyone who would like to receive these updates, please feel free to forward this to them.
Kind regards,
Brian
——————————————————————-
Assoc. Prof. Brian James
President of the Australian Institute of Physics
Phone: +61 (2) 9351-2471
Email: aip_president@aip.org.au
(Sent by Niall Byrne, Science in Public on behalf of the Australian Institute of Physics, www.aip.org.au)