Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Last Friday we had the delicious pleasure of sharing cake with Prof Joe Hope, recently retired from his role as long-serving AD(E). Thanks Joe! And for those who couldn’t make it, his favourite cake is a Black Forest cake. Joe admitted that while the sleek modern version (above) was yummy it was missing the traditional and essential ingredient his family always soaks their version in - kirsch. Sounds good.

Congratulations to Dr Tom McGoram, Prof Nanda Dasgupta and Prof Andrew Stuchbery for their efforts to establish an historic Memorandum of Understanding with Los Alamos National Labs last week, announced as part of Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to the US. ANU Reporter covered the announcement with a great interview with Tom and Andrew. 

Yesterday the ARC announced the latest Discovery Project outcomes. For ANU-led grants our three successful teams came entirely from Department of Quantum Science and Technology. Congratulations to;

• Prof Andrew Truscott, Prof Kenneth Baldwin, Prof Li-Yan Tang, Prof Gordon Drake, “Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium”
• Prof Ben Buchler, Prof John Close, Prof Derek Kimball, “Atomic sensors for dark matter, rotation and magnetic fields”
• Dr Sean Hodgman, Prof Andrew Truscott, Asst Prof Robert Lewis-Swan, “Quantum non-locality with mass-entangled metastable helium atoms”

For projects led by other universities, our only two successful applications came entirely from Department of Materials Physics. Congratulations to;

• Led by Deakin Uni - Prof Jodie Bradby, “Exploiting phase transition under pressure to unlock exceptional properties”
• Led by UNSW – Prof Mark Knackstedt, “Physico-chemical effects on long-time fluid transport for CO2 geostorage”

In this round Physics had a success rate of 17%, just above the ARC success rate of 16.3% and equal to the Go8 success rate. The ANU success rate was 24%, and overall the CoS success rate was 28% with 19 successful grants out of 69 submitted. My thanks as always go to our wonderful CoS Research Management team for all their assistance and care.

Below, are some snaps from an impromptu visit last Thursday by Minister Husic who chose our new cleanroom as the backdrop to announce the recent $650M NCRIS commitment, of which ANFF and HIA both did very well indeed.

School Executive is on Thursday from 1000. Please let your Heads or representatives know if there is something you would like raised. The guest will be Mr Suthagar Seevaratnum, ANU Chief Information Security Officer who will discuss Foreign Interference and associated legislation.

Have a great week,
Tim

Dark Matter Day 2023 is approaching! 

Celebrate the day of this mysterious substance together with scientists from the ANU and the University of Sydney. 

Join us on 30th October 2023 from 6:30pm in the Marie Reay Teaching Centre room 5.02 in the ANU's Kambri Precinct. 

Chat to scientists, enjoy a range of interactive demos on display and listen to presentations about one of nature's biggest mysteries. 

This is a free event but please register and get your tickets via Eventbrite.

Kirill Koshelev (FTP) for winning the AIP Bragg Gold Medal for the best thesis in Australia!

This comes on top of his earlier JG Crawford and Jagadishwar Mahanty awards.

Post-Doctoral Application Support (PAS) Initiative

The College Research Office would like to announce the Post-Doctoral Application Support (PAS) initiative. PAS aims to drive greater equality, diversity, and inclusion in the ONI-funded research workforce.

PAS is based on the NISDRG-ICAS pilot by the Australian Research Council (ARC) (on behalf of ONI) in July this year (your office should be familiar with ICAS).  The National Intelligence Post-Doctoral Grants (NIPG) PAS initiative is for funding commencing in 2024 (Round 4). PAS aims to:

• level the application playing field for the researchers from underrepresented/disadvantaged groups;
• drive greater equality, diversity, and inclusion in the ONI-funded research workforce in support of the National Intelligence Community (NIC); 
• support the program intent of identifying and building best-quality capability in the University Sector. 

» read more

The Australian Academy of Science is delighted to announce that The Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, will speak at the Academy’s National Symposium on Tuesday 14 November.

We would like to share details below from the Australian Academy of Science notifying of the Academy’s National Symposium and Symposium dinner.  Please click on this link to view the program Symposium 2023 program | Australian Academy of Science and to register for the Symposium and/or Symposium dinner, click here.

Registrations close Tuesday 31 October

» read more

Michaela Froehlich (NPAA) on receiving the "2023 Environmental Chemistry Medal Award" from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

The Future of Sustainability 2023 Conference - Attend for free!

Whether you're a sustainability professional, educator, or simply passionate about sustainability, this virtual event, hosted by Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), will inspire, educate, and empower you. With four non-consecutive days of virtual sessions and expert speakers, you’ll access the latest sustainability trends and best practices in tertiary education sustainability.   

Save the dates!  

• November 2 - Progress & Innovation  
• November 8 - Leading the Transition  
• November 14 - Transformational Campuses  
• November 16 - Carbon & Climate.   

ANU staff and students can register for free! Read more about the conference schedule here. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with champions from campus communities across Australasia.  

Celebrating the creativity and innovation of HDR researchers

Research Fest is a day to think and play in a creative environment, try new ideas and connect with your fellow HDR travellers.

Date: Friday 1st December
Time: 9:00am — 3:00pm

» read more

NSW Smart Sensing Network - Calls for Proposals Now Open

The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) is partnering with at the NSW Connectivity Innovation Network (CIN) to offer funding to support projects that develop innovative disaster sensing technologies in the fields of physical and information sciences and engineering.  Example areas include, but not limited to are: 

• Robotics  
• AI 
• Signal processing  
• Low-cost radar &  
• Internet of Things (IoT)  

All CIN and NSSN members are eligible to apply with applications closing Tuesday, 31st October 2023.

Please contact the College Research Office if you have any questions or intend to apply.

» read more

ANU Solar Oration 2023: Generation Change – and the Role of Solar PV

Australia’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 will see a transformation in our energy system from households to power stations and across the grids that connect them. At the same time, the global commitment to reduce emissions will see a change in Australia’s economy and exports.

Date: Thursday 9 Nov 2023
Time: 5.30–7.30pm
Location: T2, Upper Level, Kambri Cultural Centre, Kambri Precinct

» read more

New Reimbursement Process

College Hot Desking In Physics

Finance, HR & RM Teams
Thursday Mornings
^{Bldg 160}

EVENTS

Departmental seminars

Dr Manukumara Manjappa - 6 November
Terahertz Polariton dynamics in the Strong and Ultra-strong coupling regimes
» read more

Maitri Scholarships opportunity for Indian students in STEM-related fields

A generous scholarship opportunity is availble for Indian students, for commencement between February and December 2024. 

It is a highly competitive program and there are 6 scholarships available nationally, to ‘attract and support top Indian students to complete postgraduate HDR...studies in the STEM-related fields of 

• advanced manufacturing
• critical technology (incl batteries)
• critical minerals and
• clean energy solutions’

Please address any questions to hdr.physics@anu.edu.au in the first instance.

» read more

Australian Academy of Science - Call for Applications now open (Theo Murphy Initiative Australia)

The Theo Murphy Initiative (Australia) grant funding to support career development opportunities is now open for applications.  There are three streams of funding available, 'read more' for further information.

Closing 5pm, 6 November 2023.

» read more

Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator Forum 2023 - Information Sessions (Reminder)

The College Research Office would like to inform you of the following session on the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator Forum 2023 which may be of interest.

'Read more' for further information.

» read more