Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back after a very fresh weekend.

My thanks to Dr Simon Haines (DQS) for kicking off Journal Club last week. It was an immensely enjoyable and engaging discussion. I can highly recommend it to all students and staff, irrespective of your field. And, my gratitude as always to the energy Associate Director for Research, Prof Elena Ostrovskaya, puts into our internal research engagement program. Through the seminar program and now the journal club we all have an excellent opportunity to enrich our academic life.

On Wednesday, the Chief Scientist of Australia, Professor Cathy Foley, will be attending the global launch of Moku Pro, the new super-high-end product from Liquid instruments, one of the amazingly successful spin-off companies from RSPhys. She is there to celebrate the story of the young innovators who have achieved so much on a very competitive world stage. Many of you will recognise the names and faces of the ANU graduates who have made Liquid Instrument the success it is today. I encourage those who wonder about the directions our research talents can take us to attend this event. Please register at Eventbright, and see you at 1230, Llewellyn Hall on Wednesday.  

Last week I mentioned RSPhys has joined the pilot of the ANUPassport project, in which will become a far more secure university. If you would like to join this pilot, ahead of the campus-wide roll-out later this year please email cybersense@anu.edu.au with your UID and mention you are from RSPhys by June 30th. All Staff and students are very welcome to join.  

Also last week, I offered a box of chocolate to anyone who could provide the best estimate of the number of electrical appliances in the School needing test and tagging. Sorry, no award this week! Not a single guess was anywhere near close enough and I'll hang onto the box until someone is within 10% or better. (Hint: all power boards, leads, computer power supplies, monitors, photocopiers, workshop machines, lab instruments, facility systems, building plant, distributions boards, etc. across all eleven buildings, excluding the new building).

Next week I will share with you some amazing outreach statistics from several of our successes over the last month as seen by the world’s media outlets.

Have a great week,
Tim

National Graduate Innovation Forum (NGIF)

Are you a postgraduate research student in science or mathematics? Would you like an experience of industry research and industry research culture? 

The National Graduate Innovation Forum (NGIF) is an elite program running from mid-July to November offering four exciting challenge problems from four major industry partners. 

Each challenge problem will be addressed by a team of eight students meeting weekly with industry and academic mentors. 

» read more

Graduate Women NSW has three significant funding opportunities for women students open now for applications. 

• Joan Bielski Scholarship
• Tempe Mann Scholarship
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award

» read more

Pub Night on Earth to the Moon to Mars

This month we’re setting up bases on the moon and Mars. How will we survive somewhere with no atmosphere, no organic soil, no running hot water?

» read more

Accelerator to Help Aussie Tech Survive in Space

Australia’s spacecraft and satellites will better survive damaging radiation and extreme conditions thanks to a $2.5 million grant, for space science to be led by the Australian National University (ANU). 

» read more

Exploring Learning and Teaching (ELT)

The ANU Centre for Learning and Teaching offers a range of short intensive courses to build and enhance your teaching practices. They are offering a suite of new programs in 2021, commencing with Exploring Learning and Teaching (ELT). ELT offers a hands-on experience that introduces you to important aspects of learning and teaching in the higher education context. This program is ideal for anyone who is new to teaching or looking to consolidate their teaching practice. Both face-to-face and online options available.

The next ELT intensive course will commence on July 19th. Please register at https://staffeducation.weblogs.anu.edu.au/programs/elt/

All academic staff, demonstrators and tutors in physics are encouraged to participate.

For any queries, please contact : staffeducation@anu.edu.au

3 Minute Thesis Competition

3MT: Three Minute Thesis (RSPhys round)

All Physics HDR students are invited to present their research in three minutes!

When: 10am on 1st July, 2021, Finkel Theatre

Register your interest by emailing hdr.physics@anu.edu.au

Prizes are on offer for the best presentation ($200, $100, $100).

All Physics candidates are also eligible to compete at the College level, regardless of their achievement at the School level.

» read more

Need to Schedule a Meeting with the Director?

For ANU Outlook users
Open a new invite for Director.Physics@anu.edu.au, and use Scheduling Assistant to propose a mutually convenient time and send.  

For all others
Please send an email request to Director.Physics@anu.edu.au 

Tim will reply to any meeting requests ASAP

Building and Room Security Access

Please note that the school now has a general access restriction of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.  

If you need to complete a new after-hours risk assessment, please see the new top section here: https://physics.anu.edu.au/intra/whs/

EVENTS

Departmental seminars

Ms Anastasiia Zalognia - 22 June
Nanoscale Classical and Quantum Light Sources
» read more

Liquid Instruments Launch - 23 June

Liquid Instruments new hardware launch - Professor Daniel Shaddock

» read more