From Marc Duldig, President of the Australian Institute of Physics Around the country in April you can hear about solar radiation and Antarctic sea ice in Hobart; exploring space with the head of NASA in Canberra; the sub-atomic world on the edge of th…

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were presented by the Prime Minister and the Innovation Minister at the Prize Dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Wednesday 12 October. [continue reading…]

Brooke Topelberg

In 2003, Mrs Brooke Topelberg—only three years out from an education degree and just back from two years’ teaching in inner London—was appointed science coordinator of Westminster Primary School. The school is set in a high immigrant, low socio-economic suburban area in northern Perth. Science was a low priority at the school.

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Jane Wright

Students at Adelaide’s Loreto College have been investigating extra-sensory perception, finding the best way to neutralise spills of household cleaners, and testing the antibiotic effects of Manuka honey. They present their results not just by writing reports, but using talks, videos, role-plays and stories. Their activities are typical of the practical, can-do attitude of their science coordinator, Dr Jane Wright. It’s an attitude she’s also applied in her leadership of her chosen profession.

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From Marc Duldig, President of the Australian Institute of Physics Welcome to my bulletin covering physics news and events for September 2011 and beyond. This month Tamara Davis (right) is talking to the public and school students about the dark side o…

From Marc Duldig, President of the Australian Institute of Physics Welcome to my bulletin covering physics news and events for August 2011 and beyond. This month sees the AIP learning about the Universe from the Large Hadron Collider in Hobart, seeking…

From Brian James, President of the Australian Institute of Physics Welcome to my February bulletin to people with an interest in physics. On Monday we have the AIP AGM in Melbourne, as well as meetings of the AIP Council and Executive. Other activities…

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Today’s stories from the physics conference in Melbourne include:

Tomorrow’s technology pioneers recognised today

• From the laser to quantum optics
  Prof Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov (Kostya.Ostrikov@csiro.au), a CSIRO scientist who set the ground rules for constructing new materials atom by atom using collections of charged particles known as plasmas;
• Teleportation
  Prof Hans-Albert Bachor (hans.bachor@anu.edu.au) from the Australian National University (ANU) whose work on the graininess or particle nature of light is leading to new technologies such as quantum encryption and teleportation;
• Laser controllers
  A/Prof Robert Scholten (scholten@unimelb.edu.au), a University of Melbourne physicist who has established a thriving and profitable business which makes and exports laser controllers; and
• Acoustics of music
  Prof Joe Wolfe (j.wolfe@unsw.edu.au) of the University of New South Wales, an expert on the acoustics of music whose multimedia learning resources are accessed about 60,000 times a day.

Also:
Diamond dust adds sparkle to medical imaging
Electronic paper makes itself
Bionic valves without the batteries
Invisible fibres disappearing soon
Acquiring a better feel for disease
Healthy and unhealthy brain states – what role does electrical conductivity play?
Is that a diamond in your eye? [continue reading…]

Welcome to my monthly bulletin for people around the country with an interest in physics. It contains news and events for December 2010 and beyond. The AIP National Congress begins in Melbourne on Sunday, and is chock full of interesting research paper…