
The humanitarian crisis in India and the current lockdown in Melbourne continue to highlight the need for accessible vaccines around the world — and a large uptake across the population where they are available. Australia is fortunate to be in the latter situation and it is positive to see that future mRNA therapeutics development has been identified as a priority.
Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist and past AIP president, will chair the 7th International Union of Pure and Applied Physics International Conference on Women in Physics, to be held virtually between 11 and 15 July. The AIP delegation will be led by Pegah Maasoumi from Swinburne University. It was great seeing the recent coverage by the ABC on the participation of women in physics in different countries, featuring Prof Mahananda Dasgupta from ANU.
The AIP Summer Meeting (6-12 December) will feature 11 streams covering the broad spectrum of academic and industrial physics activities in Australia. In parallel to the regular Scientific Program, members are invited to send submissions for focused streams on cutting edge research themes. Cut-off date is 14 June.
In 2022, the AIP Congress will be held in Adelaide at the Convention Centre from 11 to 15 December. A COVID-related shift of the event meant it was not possible to secure the first week in December, as originally planned.
Congratulations to our colleagues Susan Coppersmith FAA, John Sader FAA, and Gregory Clark AC FAA FTSE for their election to the Australian Academy of Science. Read on for more.
If you know a student who has demonstrated ‘excellence in physics’, consider nominating them for the Bragg or Laby medal. There is also a winter vacation internship, and the Science Olympiad is open for registration.
We profile John Innis from EPA Tasmania who co-ordinates the ambient air pollution measurement program. He tells us how #PhysicsGotMeHere.
This month, back in 1980, our magazine Australian Physics had a story about William Bragg in Adelaide and a photo of him and his lacrosse team. Back in 2021, our next edition magazine includes a feature on the toroidal analyser end-station at the Australian Synchrotron.
We’re on the look-out for a co-editor for the magazine so if that sounds like you, please get in touch.
And finally, a big thanks to Zurich Instruments, who develop and sell measurement instruments, for sponsoring the AIP.
Kind regards,
Sven Rogge
President, Australian Institute of Physics
aip_president@physics.org.au