Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Whether this finds you back at work, or just flicking through emails like me, welcome back and a very happy new (Gregorian) year to you all. I hope you had, or are still having, a great break. After some healthy down-time I’m feeling hugely enthusiastic for 2024.  

I started the year joining the Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro (seen above) and CEO of the National Youth Science Forum, Dr Melanie Bagg in welcoming 300 new students to the NYSF and to ANU. In 2024, the NYSF celebrates 40 years of inspiring STEM enthusiasts, over 15,000 alumni to date. 

Easing into the year and looking for inspiration I found some new stories up on our website. Two caught my eye, thanks Phil, one written up below from Advanced Energy Materials (EME) and another just out in Nature Communications (NPAA) this week. This amazing work shows just how far nuclei can be from each other before nuclei transfer mass and charge. Both amazing perspectives of our material world, on completely different length and time scales, and each well worth a look.

Speaking of inspiring ideas – this year we celebrate our 75th anniversary – our diamond anniversary - a material very close to the heart of many groups across the School. As you come back and have a chance to see your Head of Department please feel free to float ideas of what things we might look to do this year. The laying of our foundation stone by the Prime Minister, the Honourable Ben Chifley occurred on 24th October 1949. The same day he laid the stone for University House and the John Curtin School of Medical Research. Accordingly, the three organisations will be coordinating some events in October and I reckon it is about time we officially open our new building. Anyway, please feed your initial thoughts through your HoD, ultimately we will establish a committee to coordinate events.

Have a great week.
Tim

Nanoflowers Help To Grow The Hydrogen Economy

In the search for optimum hydrogen production researchers have found decorating their electrodes with tiny metal flowers boosts the process significantly.

Dr Asim Riaz said the structures not only enabled efficient electrolysis (splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen) but cost of producing electrodes is around one hundred times lower than existing technology. They are quick and easy to grow and can even be easily reused or recycled.

» read more

The Ninth Pacific Rim Conference in Mathematics

The Ninth Pacific Rim Conference in Mathematics (PRCM) is a high-profile mathematical event that covers a wide range of exciting research in contemporary mathematics.

Registrations are now open for the 2024 Pacific Rim Conference in Mathematics with early bird discounted rates available. Limited accommodation and travel funding is available to support participants.

» read more

Dana Jones (CGA) who was awarded the Janet Elspeth Crawford Postgraduate Leadership Prize in 2023. 

The TMOS conference was an opportunity for our researchers from all nodes to come together for three days of the latest meta-optics research insights, collaboration opportunities, fun and dolphins. We had several of our high profile international partners join us, giving our students and ECRs valuable connections. Thank you to Alina Bryleva, Julie Arnold and Galina Shadrivova, who were there and made the entire event run smoothly.

Staff Movements

Cedric Simenel will be away 20/11/23 - 31/1/24
^{Yuri Kivshar will be Acting HoD in this period}

Ben Buchler will be away January 2024
^{Jodie Bradby will be acting Associate Director (Education)
Please direct all physics education queries to pec.physics@anu.edu.au or ade.physics@anu.edu.au}

2024 Wall Planners

College Hot Desking In Physics

Finance, HR & RM Teams
Thursday Mornings
^{Lv2 Tearoom, Bldg 160}