This month there are 20 events around the country: nanotechnology in Sydney, quantum reality in Melbourne and the topical Large Hadron Collider in WA. We also have advance notice of some conferences in February 2009, for condensed matter and materials scientists, and VCE physics teachers.
The AIP Congress draws ever nearer, with a lot of work being done by the organising committee. They are currently looking for people to talk on the AIP Congress Industry Day, which is the Thursday of the conference. Details are below.
Congratulations to physicists Ben Eggleton and Mark Butler, winners in the NSW Scientist of the Year Awards. Also, Christine Charles is the winner of the 2009 Women in Physics lectureship.
Congratulations also to Geoff Taylor and Kevin Varvell for the remarkable job they did in feeding the media’s interest over the Large Hadron Collider. The AIP also issued a media release highlighting the contribution of Geoff, Kevin and their colleagues to the LHC- the world’s largest physics experiment.
I post this bulletin each month to all AIP members. Thank you for your continuing support of the AIP.
If you have any questions or comments on this bulletin, the AIP or physics in Australia, please let me know.
Please note that replies to this email go to Niall Byrne, Science in Public, who sends out this bulletin on my behalf and handles corrections, updates, bounces etc. If you want to contact me regarding other matters please email me at aip_president@aip.org.au.
Cathy Foley,
AIP President
In this bulletin:
Physics activities across the country – seminars
Physics activities across the country – other events
Nominations open for the AIP executive
Christine Charles wins the AIP Women in Physics lectureship
Physicists feature in the NSW Scientist of the Year Awards
AIP National Congress – seeking industry speakers
Submission deadlines for the bulletin and journal
AIP events across the country
QLD: Tuesday 7 October, 6-7.30pm, Qld AIP and School of Physical Sciences, UQ
SERIES: Tools of Science Series
A series of meetings for all those fascinated by old scientific instruments.
TITLE: Galvanometers
SPEAKER: Norman Heckenberg
VENUE: Room 7-222 St. Lucia campus, The University of Queensland
Norman will explain the operating principles, the history, and some of the many applications of galvanometers, once the most important electrical measuring and indicating instrument but now almost extinct.
Upcoming sessions:
Tuesday 4 November: Alan Emmerson – Tools of the Instrument Maker
For details contact Norman Heckenberg on (07) 3365 3369 or heckenberg@physics.uq.edu.au; http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/physics_museum/tools_of_science/tools_of_science.shtml
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NSW: Tuesday 28 October, 6 pm NSW AIP and the University of Sydney
TITLE: Science in NSW schools – where to from here?
SPEAKERS: Gina Grant and Peter Osland, NSW Board of Studies, and Glen Sawle, NSW Department of Education & Training
VENUE: Slade Lecture Theatre, School of Physics, University of Sydney
Forum on issues affecting science education, in particular physics. The forum will also explore the relationship between physics education and the opportunities available to, and chosen by, students.
More information: Fred Osman fred_osman@exemail.com.au
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NSW: Wednesday 12 November, 9am-5pm, NSW AIP
TITLE: Nanotechnology: a catalyst for Australian manufacturing?
2008 Physics in Industry day, with presentations from industry, research organisations and government, laboratory tours and a research poster competition
VENUE: CSIRO Material Science and Engineering, Lindfield, Sydney
How will nanotechnology influence manufacturing in Australia? Does it represent a new paradigm in materials that will drive fantastic, futuristic products or it is destined to be a collection of incremental improvements? Do the benefits outweigh the unknowns?
Early bird rates apply for registrations before 30 October.
More information: http://www.nsw.aip.org.au/industry/industry.php or contact Scott Martin (02) 9413 7746 or scott.martin@csiro.au
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VIC: Thursday 16 October, 6.30pm, Vic AIP
TITLE: Nobel Prize lecture
VENUE: Hercus Theatre, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
Following the announcement of this year’s Nobel Prize in physics on 7 October, the AIP Victorian branch will host a talk on the physics behind the prize. The talk will be presented by a local expert.
Details will be posted on the Vic AIP branch website http://vic.aip.org.au/#bm_next
Physics activities across the country – seminars
NSW: Thursday 2 October, 3.30pm, Anglo-Australian Observatory
TITLE: Astrometry of visual binaries with adaptive optics (observations)
SPEAKER: Krzysztof Helminiak, Torun, Poland
VENUE: AAO conference room, AAO, Epping
Krzysztof will talk about the use of astrometry to search for exoplanets using the 200inch Hale and the 10m Keck II telescopes.
Upcoming colloquia:
Wednesday 29 October: Bill Harris, McMaster University, Canada – The ages of elliptical galaxies.
More information: http://www.aao.gov.au/astro/colloquia/meetings.html#coming
VIC: Thursday 2 October, 11.30am, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing Swinburne University
TITLE: Mass/luminosity correlations for globular clusters and connections to events in galaxy formation
SPEAKER: Bill Harris, McMaster University, Canada
VENUE: Swinburne Virtual Reality Theatre, AR Building, Room 104, Hawthorn
Upcoming colloquia:
Thursday 9 October: Federic Courbin – The energy profile of a quasar accretion disk in the Einstein Cross from chromatic microlensing : 3 years of VLT spectrophotometry
Thursday 16 October: Charley Lineweaver – TBA
Tuesday 21 October: Andrew Walsh – TBA
Thursday October 23: Ilana Feain – ASKAP: science and user policy
Thursday 30 October: Adam Deller – TBA
More information http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/research/colloquia.html or colloquium@astro.swin.edu.au
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QLD: Friday 3 October, 4 pm, University of Queensland
TITLE: The density matrix renormalization group
SPEAKER: Ian McCulloch, UQ
VENUE: Parnell Building Room 222, University of Queensland
Upcoming colloquia:
Friday 10 October: Paul Meredith – Xerocoat
Friday 17 October: Martin Burd – TBA
Friday 31 October: Karen Kheruntsyan – TBA
More information: coll_sched@physics.uq.edu.au or http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/colloquium/?cat=3
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NSW: Tuesday 7 October, 4 -5pm, School of Physics, University of NSW
TITLE: Spin-dependent transport in Si/SiGe quantum dots (TBC)
SPEAKER: Mark Eriksson, University of Wisconsin, U.S.A.
VENUE: School of Physics Common Room, Room 64, Old Main Building, Kensington, Sydney
Upcoming colloquia:
Tuesday 14 October: Matthew England – The oceans and climate change
Tuesday 21 October: Peter Reece – TBA
Tuesday 28 October: Jeremy Bailey – TBA
More information: Adam Micolich mico@phys.unsw.edu.au or (02) 9385 6132
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WA: Tuesday 7 October, 3.30-4.30pm, University of Western Australia
TITLE: Cosmological distance indicators: past, present and future
SPEAKER: Martin Hendry, University of Glasgow
VENUE: Room 2-15, School of Physics, University of WA
Upcoming seminars:
Tuesday 14 October: David Blair, UWA – Opto-acoustic parametric amplifiers, quantum cooling and gravitational wave detectors
Tuesday 21 October: Stuart Napier, UWA – TBA
Tuesday 28 October: Andre Luiten, UWA – TBA
Tuesday 4 November: Ilana Feain, CSIRO-ATNF – A long overdue synthesis image of Centaurus A
Tuesday 11 November: Lister Staveley-Smith, UWA – How to be a radio astronomer
More information owner-seminar@physics.uwa.edu.au or Jingbo Wang (08) 6488 3790
NSW: Wednesday 8 October, 3.30-4.30pm, Australia Telescope National Facility
TITLE: How does the Milky Way disk fade away?
SPEAKER: John Dickey, Uni of Tasmania, Hobart
VENUE: ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre
Upcoming colloquia:
Friday 10 October, 11am-12noon: Rick Perley – EVLA: an update
More information: Tobias Westmeier (02) 9372 4622 tobias.westmeier@csiro.au or http://www.atnf.csiro.au/whats_on/colloquia/
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NSW: Monday 13 October, 3.15pm, School of Physics, University of Sydney
TITLE: Motion-compensated tomography of humans and conscious animals for medicine and research
SPEAKER: Roger Fulton, School of Physics, University of Sydney
VENUE: Slade lecture theatre, School of Physics, University of Sydney
Upcoming colloquia:
Monday 20 October: Christelle Monat – TBA
Monday 27 October: Theodore Martin – TBA
More information: Andrew Hopkins (02) 9351 7688, colloquium_chair@physics.usyd.edu.au or http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/local/coll/index.shtml
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VIC: Tuesday 14 October, 12 -1pm, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
TITLE: Colloquium: Read-out of phosphorus donor spin states
SPEAKER: Martin Brandt, Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München, Germany
VENUE: Hercus Theatre, University of Melbourne, Parkville
More information: http://physics.unimelb.edu.au/Community/Newsroom/Events/Colloquium-Read-out-of-Phosphorus-Donor-Spin-States
Physics activities across the country – other events
WA: Thursday 2, Friday 3, Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October, Gingin Observatory
TITLE: Gigantic Jupiter family space adventures
VENUE: Gingin Observatory
Gigantic Jupiter has returned for a stargazing sensation! It is the largest planet in our solar system and this means great views are available through the Gingin Observatory telescopes. Expert astronomers explain the Universe in an entertaining evening of stargazing especially for families. Before your space adventure, sit down for a fun “Cosmic Dinner”. Make your own Galaxy Burger and Rocket Banana Split!
Upcoming event:
Saturday 18 October, 7-9.30pm: Journey to Jupiter with Peter Birch
More information (08) 9575 7740 or email stars@ginginobservatory.com
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WA: Tuesday 14 October, 6-7pm, Institute of Advanced Studies, UWA
TITLE: Public Lecture: The quest for the 5th dimension at the Large Hadron Collider
SPEAKER: Tony Gherghetta, University of Melbourne
VENUE: Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, UWA
Tony will discuss some of the discoveries that may be made when the Large Hadron Collider begins to probe the subnuclear frontier, including new dimensions of space and time.
More information: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/gherghetta email ias@admin.uwa.edu.au or (08) 6488 1340
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VIC: Wednesday 22 October, 5.30-6.30pm, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
TITLE: Quantum reality-its uncertainty is not what it used to be
SPEAKER: Lloyd Hollenberg
VENUE: Laby Theatre, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
The School of Physics’ Physics Gymnasium is a program for highly interested students in Years 9-12 currently undertaking secondary school physics and science. The program brings together eminent physicists from the University and industry to give hour long lectures on a variety of topics.
More information: http://scampy.ph.unimelb.edu.au/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=50
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VIC: Sunday 26 October, 10am-4pm, Australian Synchrotron
TITLE: Open day 2008
VENUE: Australian Synchrotron, Clayton
Entry is free but bookings are essential. Book online at www.synchrotron.org.au
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WA: Wednesdays 29 October and 5, 12, 19 November, 7-9.30/10pm Gingin Observatory
TITLE: Astronomy for beginners with Peter Birch
VENUE: Gingin Observatory
Peter will present a beginners’ course in astronomy over four consecutive Wednesday evenings, covering both theory and practice. You can even bring along your own equipment to learn how to use it. The course costs $148 per person and there are only 25 places, so book early.
More information (08) 9575 7740 or email stars@ginginobservatory.com
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VIC: Friday 14 November, 9am-3.30pm, University of Melbourne
TITLE: A focus on the ‘New Study Design’ for VCE physics
In-service day for VCE physics teachers
VENUE: Laby Theatre, School of Physics, University of Melbourne
Specialists from a number of universities and institutions will clarify the changes to the year 12 study design, and there will be the chance to inspect some of research projects, resources and equipment.
Register by Friday 31 October.
More information: http://physics.unimelb.edu.au/Community/Physics-Outreach or contact Cilla Gloger (03) 8344 5124 or crgloger@unimelb.edu.au
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NSW: Tuesday 3 – Friday 6 February, 2009, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
TITLE: 33nd Annual condensed matter and materials meeting
VENUE: Convention Centre, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
This meeting is an opportunity for all condensed matter and materials scientists to meet and discuss their current research, future direction and other matters of importance in the field. The traditional informal Wagga format will apply, with emphasis on contributed poster papers plus a number of invited oral papers and selected contributed oral papers. Students are particularly encouraged to submit oral presentations.
The Organising Committee would welcome suggestions concerning invited speakers to deliver broad keynote presentations and, depending on submitted papers, the program will comprise some focussed sessions such as soft-matter science, studies of surfaces and interfaces, photonics, etc.
Abstracts are invited for presentations in all areas of condensed matter study. The abstract format will soon be available on the conference website http://www.acpo.csiro.au/wagga09/.
Deadline for abstracts and registration is Friday 28 November 2008.
For more information see the meeting website http://www.acpo.csiro.au/wagga09/ or contact Tim Barstow, CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, on (03) 9545 2657 or wagga09@csiro.au
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VIC: Monday 16 February, Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria
TITLE: 2009 VCE physics teachers conference
VENUE: Monash University, Clayton
STAV is calling for presenters to the VCE conference series. Submissions are due by Friday 24 October
More information: http://www.vicphysics.org/forthcomingevents.html
Nominations open for the AIP executive
We are inviting expressions of interest from AIP members to be nominated for the AIP executive. The next election is in February 2009 and the AIP executive will soon make recommendations to the members. We are seeking people for the roles of secretary, policy development officer and a new role of early career/student position. The policy development officer and early career/student role are ex-officio members. If you are interested in nominating contact Cathy Foley on aip_president@aip.org.au
Christine Charles wins the AIP Women in Physics lectureship
Christine Charles, Research Fellow in the Space Plasma, Power and Propulsion Group, Australian National University, is the winner of the 2009 Women in Physics lectureship. She will be giving lectures across Australia to celebrate the contribution of women to advances in physics.
Physicists feature in the NSW Scientist of the Year Awards
Ben Eggleton and Mark Butler are winners in the inaugural NSW Scientist of the Year awards.
Ben Eggleton, from the University of Sydney, won the physics and astronomy category. Ben is a world-leading researcher in optical physics and photonics, the use of light for the transmission and processing of information in communication technologies. In this field, he and colleagues are developing a photonic chip that will increase the speed of the Internet.
Mark Butler, the head teacher of science at Gosford High School, won the Leadership in Secondary Science Teaching category. The success of Mark’s teaching is evident in the 50% increase in the number of students taking senior science in the past decade.
More information: http://www.osmr.nsw.gov.au/science_communication/science_promotion/scientist_of_the_year
AIP National Congress – seeking industry speakers
The AIP Congress Industry Day, which is Thursday 4 December, is looking for industry speakers. Please contact Roger Clay, Congress chair (roger.clay@adelaide.edu.au), Olivia Samardzic, Program Chair (olivia.samardzic@dsto.defence.gov.au), or Cathy Foley, AIP President (aip_president@aip.org.au), if you want to speak, or can suggest any potential speakers.
Details of the conference can be found on the website http://www.aipc2008.com/index.html
Physics conferences
The Third International Conference on Women in Physics
Seoul, Korea
8/10/2008 – 10/10/2008
28th International Congress on High-Speed Imaging and Photonics
Canberra, ACT
9/11/2008 – 14/11/2008
http://ichsip28.unsw.adfa.edu.au/
18th National AIP Physics Congress
Adelaide, South Australia
30/11/2008 – 05/12/2008
33nd Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Meeting
Wagga Wagga, NSW
03/02/2009 – 06/02/2009
See article above
http://www.acpo.csiro.au/wagga09/
2009 VCE Physics Teachers Conference
Monash Uni, Melbourne
16/02/2009
http://www.vicphysics.org/forthcomingevents.html
Brighter Deeper Greener – Geophysics in a Changing Environment
Adelaide, South Australia
22/02/2009 – 26/02/2009
http://www.sapro.com.au/aseg/home.htm
Submission deadlines for the bulletin and journal
We welcome contributions about activities, conferences and announcements for next month’s bulletin. Our next submission deadline is Friday 24 October. 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 next deadline is Monday 20 October for the November/December edition. 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
Cathy