Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

I hope your week is going well and you’ve had a chance to enjoy the weather.

I’m pleased to acknowledge all the recipients of the annual Australian Institute of Physics awards for 2024. In particular, I’m delighted to congratulate two outstanding colleagues of our own,

• Professor Jodie Bradby, awarded the Women in Leadership Medal, recognising her “leadership at the Australian Institute of Physics including strategic advocacy and community building at the national level and for her long-standing work in gender equity.”
• Dr Matthew Berrington, awarded the Bragg Gold Medal for Excellence in Physics, recognising the most outstanding PhD thesis in physics or its applications by a student from an Australian University, for the thesis titled: “Optical studies of magnetically ordered erbium crystals.”

No doubt you will know some of the other excellent colleagues on the AIP site.

It’s not often that I welcome back a recent traveller (on average we welcome back a person every day) but for A/Prof James Sullivan I think a special note is warranted. James has had the privilege of working in the remote community at stunningly beautiful Kununurra, WA. He was selected as part of the Jawun Organisation’s partnership program that brings corporate, government and philanthropic organisations together with Indigenous communities to affect real change. When James is back from leave he’s promised to give a presentation about his great work in the great outback.  

I’m thrilled to promote a special evening of poetry featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from the US, Rae Armantrout (above) on Sept 18th at the Street Theatre. After the reading our very own AD(E), Prof Ben Buchler, will be hosting a Q&A with Rae. Register here (the tickets are almost gone).

Don’t forget PEC Planning day is this Thursday (at RSAA).

And, really don’t forget to take the 2024 ANYOU pulse survey, closing on Monday 16 September. This four-minute survey provides employees with opportunity to provide feedback on the ANU employee experience. I strongly encourage all staff to submit a response. It’s a critical time for ANU and your voice needs to be heard. 

Cheers,
Tim

John Carver Seminar Series 2024

You are warmly invited to participate in the John Carver Seminar Series 2024, an annual event aimed at showcasing the amazing research done by our HDR students and celebrating the wealth of talent in our School.

The John Carver Seminar Series 2024 will be held on Thursday 26 September starting at 10am in the new Auditorium (building 160).

Participants will need to present a 15-minute talk on their research to the audience of fellow students and RSPhys colleagues. The talks are not followed by questions.

The talks are judged by a panel of three judges (two academics and a student). See here for competition rules and the judging criteria.

Expressions of interest: Please register your interest by 15 September 2024 via this link.

Everyone is invited to attend and support your colleagues as this is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the incredible research undertaken by our students!

» read more

Distinguished Professor Susan Scott and Dr Karl Wette hosted a 2-day conference, on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd September, 2024 at ANU celebrating the Australasian Society for General Relativity and Gravitation (ASGRG) 30-year anniversary. The ASGRG was founded In September 1994, by a group of mathematicians and physicists at a meeting in Canberra. This year’s event was focused on reflections on the last 30 years, and how Australasia has contributed to research in general relativity and gravitation, as well as future ambitions for the next 30 years, and opportunities for continued success in general relativity and gravitational research in Australasia.  

'Plant immunity at the cell surface: Engineering non-canonical plant cell surface immunity receptors to protect our crops'
Associate Professor Simon Williams

Date: Monday 16 September 2024
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Eucalyptus Seminar Room, RN Robertson Building (46) or Via Zoom

Our research endeavours to unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms employed by pathogenic fungi to manipulate host plants and cause disease. Additionally, we aim to understand how plants recognise fungal virulence proteins, thereby activating defence pathways.

» read more

Rae Armantrout Reading and in-Conversation with Physics Professor Ben Buchler

Join us for an evening of poetry featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from the US Rae Armantrout.  

This is a unique opportunity to hear renowned poet Rae Armantrout read from her body of work. She will present selections from her ‘science’ poems and other works, including readings from her latest collection, Go Figure (Wesleyan UP, 2024). The reading will be followed by a Q&A session with Professor Ben Buchler, an expert in quantum and nano-optics from ANU.

When: Thursday 19 September, 6:30pm
Where: Street 2

'Read More' for ticket information.

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The Heavy Ion Accelerator Symposium (HIAS) abstract submission deadline is 8 September, please submit your abstract by this date.

Abstracts need to be sent to hias.physics@anu.edu.au.

» read more

Use the QR code to register for the HDR student workshop. A link to the supervisor signup is available at the top of the 'Event Description' section.

» read more

Establishing a Community of Practice - Conceptual Frameworks for HDR Candidates

University House has received generous philanthropic support to host a project of research and educational development to support HDR candidates in the development of conceptual frameworks. This academic work is consistent with University House’s commitment, as part of its hailstorm recovery program, to supporting HDR candidates across campus.

The project is being undertaken in partnership with the PVC (Graduate Research) portfolio, including the Directors of HDR Supervision Development and Researcher Development.

We invite ANU colleagues with an interest in this topic to join us in a community of practice to engage with the project.

Please contact: Em Prof Craig McDonald (e: craig.mcdonald@anu.edu.au | m: 0403 653 884)

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Staff Movements

Prof Andrew Stuchbery will be away 6/9/24 - 2/10/24
^{Prof Greg Lane will be Acting HoD in this period}

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College Hot Desking In Physics

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

EVENTS

Departmental seminars

Associate Professor Etienne Puyoo - 9 September
In situ thermal characterization of threshold switching devices
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Mr Hendrik Heimes - 11 September
Carbon Materials Under Extreme Pressure Conditions
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Director's Colloquium - 24 September

Quantum stochastic resonance of individual Fe atoms - Professor Susan N Coppersmith

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Research Fest 2024: Enhancing Research Impact

December 3 to December 5, Copland Theatre and other venues

Research Fest 2024 will offer valuable insights for researchers at all career stages, from early career to established academics and research leaders, who are interested in exploring strategies for improving their research impact and engaging with industry.

» read more