Event Horizon

The Australian National University

Event Horizon

Research School of Physics

Weekly newsletter | vol 47 no 37 | 19–23 September 2022

Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

We received some excellent news late last week, Dr Kaitlin Cook (NPAA) has been awarded an ARC DECRA and Dr Sean Hodgman (QST) awarded an ARC Future Fellowship. Kaitlin’s project will revolve around the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facilities exploring energy dissipation in heavy element fusion on the zeptosecond timescale. Sean’s project will use his helium Bose-Einstein Condensate apparatus to develop tests of quantum entanglement at the nano-Kelvin scale. My congratulations to Sean and Kaitlin as they push the very limits of Physics.

One of the most successful spin-out companies from ANU, Liquid Instruments (LI), announced the closure of another successful funding round, securing $28.5 million in Series B funding led by Acorn Capital. The funding enables Liquid Instruments to accelerate its growth plans, expand its product line and introduce novel services that connect lab measurements directly to the cloud, and brings Liquid Instruments' total funding to more than $50 million. It’s an enormous pleasure to see Prof Daniel Shaddock and the whole LI team continue to do so well.

This week’s top pic comes from NPAA when Prof Nanda Dasgupta hosted the Minister for Industry and Science, Hon. Ed Husic. The College Dean, Prof Kiaran Kirk (left) and the Director of Research Initiatives and Infrastructure, Prof Ute Roessner (right) joined the hour-long tour of the Heavy Ion Accelerator. My thanks to all those who lined the halls and greeted the Minister. By all accounts he was highly engaged. Below are some pictures from the visit (first one courtesy Prof. David Hinde, the remainder are courtesy David Grover, DISR).

Don’t forget to consider coming to the Wizards of Oz event the VC has personally invited us to (see below).

Have a good (short) week,
Tim

Founder's Day Art Display

The Admin Team is looking for volunteers to help coordinate the Founder's Day Art Display!

If you would like to volunteer for this year's Founder's Day, please contact the Admin Team with your interest.

End of Year Purchasing Schedule

Please note the end of year purchasing schedule – for an easy and smooth book keeping for 2022.

Sept-Oct........Purchase of goods

November.....Delivery and the invoicing of goods

December........Payment of goods

All goods purchased on Purchase Cards also need to be paid in November to be reconciled in December.

If goods are delivered/invoiced in December, they will not be paid until January, creating issues.

An additional reminder that central finance will pause processes during December, so they can complete end of year checks and balances before the Christmas break.

Thank you,
The Purchasing/Stores Team

The Ralph Slatyer Medal Presentation & Public Lecture

Forest Responses to a Warming Climate - Professor Belinda Medlyn

When: Tuesday 27 September 2022, 5:00pm
Where: Robertson Lecture Theatre, RN Robertson Building 46, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra

RSVP by 20 September 2022