Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

The last few weeks have been crazy-busy for many as labs from Physics North are relocated to the new building. Many, many thanks to those involved and in particular Michael Blacksell, James Irwin and Chris Kafer, our logisitics and wrangling team. Above Jie (Sophie) Zhao is seen with Mick and his team of heavy lifters after moving a particularly delicate optical table which was transported with fragile components attached! Eeek!! It is a great testament to the team that the entire move was done so efficiently and safely. Some very long days (and weekends) for everyone involved and I’m grateful for the care committed to this arduous task. The other image shows the same lab a day later. Clearly the enormous task of the relocation has just begun.

My congratulations to Prof Xi-Wen Guan (Honorary FTP) on his recognition as APS Fellow and on his award of first prize of Hubei Provincial Natural Sciences.

At the Academy next week Dr Ed Simpson and Prof Nanda Dasgupta (NPAA) will pay a tribute to the achievements of Sir Mark Oliphant and the role of nuclear physics in Australia. The event will be on Tuesday 8th October, 5:30-7:00. You can register to attend or view online here.

There’s another great article on the Physics website (you’ll have to click the link to find out what it’s about). Thanks Phil! It’s fabulous to have these great stories shared.

I hope you have had a chance to see the VC’s announcement today. A recording is available and the details are worth catching up on. No doubt we will spend a good deal of time considering the ramifications. I am enthusiastic that it presents an opportunity for our School, and for the university at large. The changes will help us lean into the headwinds ahead of the university sector and I feel it can position us well to maintain our lead role in Australian physics.

While I’m taking a week’s break Prof Cedric Simenel has kindly agreed to be acting as Director.

Cheers,
Tim

CSIRO Alumni Scholarship In Physics 2025

The CSIRO Alumni Scholarship in Physics is a postgraduate scholarship of $6000, which will be used to fund travel costs to visit and/or conduct research in an overseas or interstate institution such as a university or research establishment of international standing in the field of proposed research. In these uncertain times, we understand that travel restrictions may have an impact. To reflect the current situation, we have updated our criteria for the scholarship to allow the winner up to 18 months to use the scholarship for travel or use it to further their career with training, attend online conferences or develop their research.

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Forge Photonics, a start up company using gravitational wave detection technology has launched, setting its sights on the $A120 billion global market for autonomous vehicle navigation systems.

The company aims to dramatically reduce the cost of navigation systems for a range of markets including self-driving cars, marine vehicles and defence. 

“Our work involves translating expert techniques for detecting gravitational waves – one of the hardest things to measure,” said Forge Photonics CTO, Dr Chathura Bandutunga.

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Dark Matter In The Pub 2024 - The Invisible Mystery

This year’s science outreach event “Dark Matter in the Pub” was a joint event between researchers from the ANU and the University of Sydney, organised by Lindsey Bignell and Zuzana Slavkovska from the ANU. It took place on two consecutive evenings during the National Science Week, on Friday 23rd August in a pub in Canberra and on Saturday 24th August in Sydney. The relaxed atmosphere of a pub offered space for a discussion between scientists and members of the public.

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Grassy woodlands are a threatened ecosystem, and we are lucky to have here on campus a relatively well-preserved example. Dominated by eucalypts, grassy woodlands have an open canopy with shrubs and a diverse groundcover. Located below 1000 metres on fertile lowlands after fires ground orchids and lilies emerge, the regeneration an important part of the lifecycle of these plants. 

Join us for a walk through this important habitat, learn about the threatened and protected species that can be found here, and how we manage and conserve them with Mick Kelly our Landscape & Conservation Manager.

During the walk, keep an eye out for the Hoary sunray, an endangered everlasting daisy species that can be found.

Bring your hat, some comfortable shoes and a bottle of water.

Date: Wednesday 9th October (Will be rescheduled if weather is bad)
Time: 1:00-2:30pm
Location: meet at the front entrance gate to Old Canberra House on Lennox Crossing

Register your interest here - Grassy Woodlands Walk Registration

Defence Innovation Network Forum On Nuclear-Powered Submarines

ANU will host the Defence Innovation Network Forum on Nuclear-Powered Submarines – For further information and registration details 'read more'.

Date: Thursday, 17 October 2024
Time: 11.00-14.30
Location: Physics Auditorium, ANU

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CGA 2024-2025 Summer Research Program

The ANU Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Summer Research Program. The program runs over 10 weeks from 25 Nov 2024 until 31 Jan 2025 and best suits third-year and Honours students in Physics, Astrophysics and Engineering. For more information, and to apply please visit here.

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

Ms Nahid Afrin - 9 October
Application of conical nanopores in silicon dioxide membranes
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Founder's Day 2024 - 18 October

Founder's Day 2024 - 75 Years of Physics

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From Last Week...

Post PhD Opportunity: Quantitative Researcher with SIG (Sydney, AU)