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Director's Message
Dear Colleagues,
On Saturday morning, amongst close family Em/Prof Michael Gore, AO, aged 87, passed away. Mike is one of Australia’s most impactful educators, commencing his career in the Faculties as Physics lecturer in 1962, he led a tectonic shift in science communication and outreach. Mike was a cultural revolutionary, inspiring countless Australians for over 40 years. It would be impossible to imagine an Australia without the Questacon, or the Science Circus, or the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS). Any one of these inspiring institutions represents a massive legacy. My heartfelt condolences are with his friends and family. I know many in our School have a deep emotional connection to Mike, many were and are still involved in Questacon, the Science Circus or CPAS. Articles in the ABC and Canberra Times and the ANU website beautifully cover aspects of his contributions and life. Four years ago (EH 56, 2018), we joined with CPAS to dedicate the recently renovated Physics Teaching and Learning space, the MakerSpace and technical workshop to Mike in recognition of his approach to education and his spirit of collaborative, hands-on learning and making. I’ve included some photos from that wonderful night below. There is so very much to say about Mike, and the institutions he founded, needless to say plans are underway to celebrate his life in a grand way.
Congratulations to the recipients of the DP22, announced at the end of business last year. Only the two led by Jagadish/Karuturi and Ward/McClelland of the twenty-one submitted by our School were successful (9.5%). While this is certainly our worse outcome on record it should be seen in the context this was a down-turn for the College over all, and for Physics as a discipline on a National scale. The interactive charts on the ARC site provide a helpful assessment but a fuller analysis will come. Pending that detailed analysis it is worth reflecting on the recent dramatic shift in Government focus on areas of National interest, specifically translational research. After reflecting on several chats with government colleagues I think it's worth sharing their personal perspectives about how government thinks/works. In early February I will host a lunch time panel chat with these colleagues so we can freely discuss our preparedness for this political mindset.
My congratulation to Prof Hoe Tan (EME, ADI), who will be serving as an editor of Semiconductors and Semimetals books series, a series with over 50 years of history.
Congratulations also to our colleagues cited in the College of Science teaching and learning awards for 2021 (see below). Well done, it was a very big year.
Finally, if you are on campus please continue to wear your mask, even inside the buildings.
My best wishes to you for 2022.
Tim |
