Posted on behalf of Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

Already, 2014 is shaping up to be an interesting year, in terms of both discoveries and the political and funding environment in which we operate.

But it’s great to start with a triumph, so we congratulate Professor Bruce McKellar who was named a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Australia Day honours. With his achievements in theoretical physics and his continuing contributions to scientific organisations here and overseas, this is an honour richly deserved.

For the AIP, this year we want to reinvigorate our Women in Physics programs. Physics has traditionally been a field dominated by men, and we must work to redress the deeply-rooted gender imbalances that prevent career advancement. [continue reading…]

Posted on behalf of Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

The Australian Research Council announced a new grant round on 8 November, and there were of course winners and losers in this process. I congratulate those in physics who’ve been successful, and particularly the three AIP members who received Australian Laureate Fellowships in July this year.

Earlier in the year I congratulated Lloyd Hollenberg for receiving the 2012 Walter Boas Medal but, as is the tradition, I don’t actually hand it over to him until he delivers a lecture on his work at a Victorian Branch meeting. So his talk on 5 December is a good opportunity to hear more about what he’s been up to. Another chance is at this weekend’s Science, Technology and the Future Conference at RMIT University, where Lloyd will be presenting alongside people like Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty.

[continue reading…]

Posted on behalf of Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

It’s been a great month for prizes and recognition of physicists.

Heartiest congratulations to physicist Andrea Morello on winning the 2013 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year— it’s a fantastic dream to make qubits in silicon, and Morello and others at UNSW are making it a reality. Thanks to my place on the Board of Science and Technology Australia, I was fortunate enough to attend the ceremony for this and the other Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science at Parliament House last night and see Andrea’s work receive this high-level recognition.

[continue reading…]

Posted on behalf of Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

Now that the federal election is over, things are starting to settle down and, while “Science” no long has its own named Cabinet seat, my own perception is that we may have a strong friend of science in Ian Macfarlane as the new Industry minister. I met with Mr Macfarlane twice last year—he visited us at ANSTO, and joined Science Meets Parliament, and he showed a keen and educated interest in a wide variety of research issues.

[continue reading…]

From Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

Welcome to my round-up of physics news and events for September and beyond.

It’s 50 years since the Australian Institute of Physics broke away from the UK-based Institute of Physics to represent Australian physics in research, education, industry and the community.

To help us celebrate, Hans Bachor AM, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, will give a series of 50th Anniversary talks across the country over the next few months. An expert in experimental quantum optics and an active promoter of physics, Hans is a Fellow of the AIP whose contributions to physics have been recognised with many AIP and other awards over his career. I’ll bring you details of his talks in future bulletins. [continue reading…]

From Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

It’s that time again! National Science Week officially kicks off on Saturday and will run through to 18 August, with almost 800 events being held across Australia. This special bulletin brings you the physics highlights from National Science Week. [continue reading…]

From Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

Welcome to my round-up of physics news and events for August and beyond.

First, a quick reminder: nominations for the Walter Boas medal and the AIP Award for Outstanding Service to Physics in Australia close today (Thursday 1 August). Details are below.

In mid-July, I was one of 18 Australian delegates to the 12th Asia-Pacific Physics Conference in Chiba, Japan.

[continue reading…]

From Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

I’m pleased to announce today that the 2013 Bragg Gold Medal for Excellence in Physics has been awarded to Dr Martin Fuechsle from the University of New South Wales for his thesis titled “Precision Few-Electron Silicon Quantum Dots”. The Bragg Gold Medal recognises the student who is judged to have completed the most outstanding PhD thesis in physics at an Australian university in the past year. And this is also a timely reminder that nominations for the 2014 Bragg Gold Medal should get to your state AIP branch today.

[continue reading…]

From Rob Robinson, President of the Australian Institute of Physics

First, I have great pleasure today in announcing two AIP awards: Lloyd Hollenberg from the University of Melbourne is the recipient of the 2012 AIP Walter Boas Medal, which recognises excellence in research in physics in Australia; and David Jamieson, also from the University of Melbourne, is the recipient of the 2012 AIP Outstanding Service to Physics Award. I congratulate them on the outstanding achievements that have led to their awards, of which more below. [continue reading…]