Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Just as last week was a celebration for students, this week celebrates some significant recent staff achievements. My congratulations to ANU Professors, Lan Fu (EME) and Larry Lu (CSS) on their appointments as 2025 Optica Fellows. Very notably, they are the only two Australians in this round. Well done, Lan and Larry.

Also, my congratulations to Dr Kirill Koshelev on recently receiving two ECR awards; Kirill has been awarded a 'Young Innovator Award' by Advanced Photonics journal of SPIE publishing, and an 'Emerging Leader Award' by Journal of Optics of IOP publishing.

Above, an image from the lovely pre-Graduation morning tea last week (another below). My thanks to A/Prof James Sullivan, Prof Ilya Shadrivov and Dist/Prof Brian Schmidt for their excellent votes of congratulations to our students. And, as always my many thanks to Luda Mangos and Siobhan Carson for making the event so special.

Below, a very happy reunion of some of the significant figures in the ongoing success of “Science Meets Parliament” (left: Profs Toss Gascoigne, Ken Baldwin, Cathy Foley and Brian Schmidt). Last night the National Museum of Australia was full to the brim with some of Australia’s most influential science leaders celebrating 25 years of this unique, annual event where researchers and science communicators at all stages of careers intersect with Federal politicians over three days. It is a very significant exchange of experience, in both directions, and a great opportunity for the two communities to learn from each other. Very significantly, and we should all be very proud, our very own Em/Prof Ken Baldwin was the main instigator of this visionary, unique event.

Below below, Stein (which is Rock in German btw) blasts Smith’s Alternative Bookshop last Saturday (credit: Cedric Simenel). The line-up is well known to you but I can’t help but praise them, encore;

Andrew Kiss, Bass (Earth Sciences ANU)
Patrick Kluth, Drums (ANU Physics)
Phil Dooley, Keyboard (ANU Physics)
Jason Judd, Lead guitar (Questacon)
John Close, Vocals (ANU Physics)

For this gig they raised funds for Room to Read, which supports literacy, particularly for girls, world-wide. 

Just a reminder to do your PDRs soon. Please speak to your Heads if you need a refresher on the new system. It’s far simpler than before.

Have a great weekend,
T

Quantum Science and Engineering Fellowships

The EPFL QSE Center has the pleasure to launch its second call for QSE postdoctoral fellowships. This fellowship offers motivated young researchers from Switzerland and abroad the opportunity to carry out their research in collaboration with the EPFL QSE community on cutting-edge topics in quantum science and quantum engineering.

The submission deadline is 18 March 2025 and the earliest project start is August 2025.

Please read carefully the eligibility requirements and submission process of this second call in the “Guide for Applicants”, available on the webpage.

For further info or if you have any questions please email: qse@epfl.ch

Alina Breyliva for being awarded a 'College of Science Service Award'! Alina has been recognised for her outstanding contributions made to the Research School of Physics, and the Melbourne School of Physics, in her role of Events and Engagement officer for the Heavy Ion Accelerators (HIA) NCRIS project.

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Women's/Equity in STEM Breakfast

Everyone is invited to attend the Women/Equity in STEM Breakfast!

Date: 11th February
Time: From 8-10am
Location: CSIRO Discovery Café

The theme this year for the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast is ‘Accelerating Equity in Science’. There will be a panel of women lined up from government, industry and academia to discuss both the theme and their science journey.

Register here

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2025-2026 Round of the Oxford PhD Exchange (ANU to Oxford University) – Applications Open

The Australian National University (ANU) has been invited to nominate up to two Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates for the 2025-2026 round of the Oxford PhD Exchange (ANU to Oxford University). 

The Oxford PhD Exchange is a graduate candidate exchange program between Oxford University and the ANU. The exchange aims to enable excellent PhD scholars to enrich their research in an international setting.  

The 2025-2026 round of the Oxford PhD Exchange (ANU to Oxford University) is a tremendous opportunity for ANU Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates to engage in independent research at Oxford University, audit classes, attend workshops and, network with academics working in their field. This opportunity is open to all disciplines. 

Applicants can apply for an exchange period of one academic year, or one or two academic terms.

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Oliphant Bldg. Meeting Rooms - Closed

All Oliphant (Bldg. #60) Meeting rooms will be closed from 12/12/24.

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College Hot Desking In Physics

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

EVENTS

Departmental seminars

Dr Soeren Ahmerkamp - 11 February
Unveiling the Microscale: Porous media in ocean biogeochemistry
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Professor Jurgen Schreuer - 12 February
Correlations between structure and elastic properties of crystals
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Dr Marie Munchhalfen - 13 February
Exploring dynamic processes and structural instabilities using elasticity
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