Category Archives: QLD

Public Lecture, QLD, School Lecture, Women in Physics

Prof Susanna Guatelli – Women in Physics Lecture Tour – QLD 10-12 May

Radiation protection of astronauts in human missions to Mars: simulation and reality

**Please note: Venue details for the Public Colloquium at UQ have changed.

If you wish to attend in person, to comply with COVID-Safe plans we require you to register via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/women-in-physics-public-colloquium-tickets-156452103453). Seating capacity is capped at 170 seats and we have already over 80 of those seats allocated to schools.

Live stream options are now available for the colloquium and the School seminar at Ipswich SHS. See the flyer below for details.**

This year A/Prof Susanna Guatelli will be presenting school seminars at 4 schools across Cairns, Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba, in addition to a public colloquium at the University of Queensland, St Lucia.

All events are free, although school events are open to school students and teaching staff only. Full details regarding times, venues and RSVP contacts are available in this flyer, or by contacting the QLD AIP branch at: aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au

A/Prof Guatelli trained as a nuclear physicist at the University of Genova, Italy, worked with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, and is now the academic director of the Medical Radiation Physics bachelor degree at the University of Wollongong.

In 2003, she undertook a PhD at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), investigating possible radiation protection solutions for human missions to Mars (a project led by the European Space Agency). Since there are no particle accelerator facilities capable of reproducing the complex cosmic radiation fields encountered in space, she has developed simulations to predict radiation interactions for astronauts and space mission habitats.

In these seminars, she will discuss the nature of these radiation hazards and the simulation tools used to address this challenge to space exploration.

Education, Excellence in Physics Teaching, News, QLD, Teacher

QLD EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICS TEACHING Award 2021 – nominate now!

The AIP-QLD is looking for nominations of Physics teachers that have made a positive impact to teaching Physics to students at the high school level by anyone of the following criteria.

  1. Promote student interest in physics by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and learning.
  2. Use, develop or write innovative instructional materials and new technologies and approaches to the teaching of physics.
  3. Be a positive role model or mentor for other teachers of physics.
  4. Participate in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and continuous development as an effective science educator, with a focus on physics.

If you have a colleague, a former teacher of your own, or have heard of an inspiring teacher in your circle of friends, please consider nominating them for this years award by filling out the nomination form and sending this nomination (or any inquiries) by email to: aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au

The award consists of a cash prize, plaque and certificate.

Nominations close Friday 4 June 2021.

Excellence in Physics Teaching, News, QLD, Teacher

excellence in teaching physics Prize QLD 2020

The AIP QLD branch would like to congratulate Shane MacDonald, from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School who was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Prize for 2020 . Shane was awarded the 2020 prize, due to the range and depth of work he has displayed across all the criteria the award is assessed upon. This criteria includes:

  • promoting student interest in physics by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and learning,
  • using, developing or writing innovative instructional materials and new technologies and approaches to the teaching of Physics,
  • be a positive role model or mentor for other teachers of physics
  • participate in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and continued development as an effective science educator, with a focus on physics.
Shane MacDonald receives the Queensland Excellence in Teaching Prize for 2020

Congratulations Shane!

Do you know a deserving Physics teacher in Queensland you would like to nominate for this award in 2021?

In other news, the 2019 winner Richard Walding was acknowledged for receipt of his Excellence in Physics Teaching Award in a ceremony earlier in 2020. Moreton Bay College has kindly shared this ceremony and the presentation of the award. The ceremony can be viewed at the AIP YouTube channel or below.

Edit: We apologise for incorrectly spelling Shane’s surname. We have subsequently edited the post.

Education, News, QLD, Teacher

QLD EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICS TEACHING Award 2020 – nominate now!

The AIP-QLD is looking for nominations of Physics teachers that have made a positive impact to teaching Physics to students at the high school level by anyone of the following criteria.

  1. Promote student interest in physics by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and learning.
  2. Use, develop or write innovative instructional materials and new technologies and approaches to the teaching of physics.
  3. Be a positive role model or mentor for other teachers of physics.
  4. Participate in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and continuous development as an effective science educator, with a focus on physics.

If you have a colleague, a former teacher of your own, or have heard of an inspiring teacher in your circle of friends, please consider nominating them for this years award by filling out the nomination form and sending this nomination (or any inquiries) by email to: aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au

The award consists of a cash prize, plaque and certificate.

Nominations close Friday 24 July 2020.

Education, News, QLD, Teacher

QLD Excellence in PHYSICS TEACHing AWARD 2019

We received several outstanding nominations last year and are very pleased to announce Richard Walding as the prize winner for our 2019 Excellence in Physics Teaching Award.

The award recognises outstanding efforts by Queensland physics teachers in stimulating student engagement with physics, developing innovative teaching resources or techniques as an effective educator, and/or mentoring and facilitating the development of other physics educators.

Richard’s contributions have been particularly noteworthy including the development of the Oxford Senior Physics texts and extensive online resources for students and teachers. He helped create the Physics Discussion List and continues to have an active role, offering advice to fellow educators. In addition, he has contributed to state-level curriculum development and oversight and has been very active in delivering physics education seminars for teachers both locally and overseas.

So we sincerely congratulate Richard and thank him for his contributions to physics education!

We will be calling for nominations for the 2020 Excellence in Physics Teaching award in coming months.

Branch AGM, Public Event, Public Lecture, QLD

2019 Annual General Meeting QLD Branch

Members of the Australian Institute of Physics, Queensland Branch.

You are invited to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

The AGM will be held on the 15 November from 4pm – 5:30pm, Room E207, E Block, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus.

I am very pleased to announce that the QLD nominee for the 2019 Bragg Gold Medal, Dr Satya Undurti, will be presenting his research prior to the AGM. More information about his presentation are provided below.

The expected timing of the proceedings will be as follows:

4.00pm – 4.50pm      Dr Satya Undurti presents his research

5.00pm – 5.30pm      AGM

For catering purposes it would be appreciated if you could register your attendance by Thursday  the 14th of November to aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au . Catering will involve pizza and cold drinks.

We additionally hope to stream the presentation online using the Zoom platform. You can join us at AEST 4pm-5:30pm here.

Additionally, part of the business for the AGM will be to elect the branch committee for 2020.

As per the AIP by-laws, the retiring committee has made nominations for next year’s committee, and these are listed below:

Joel Alroe (Chair) (QUT),

Joanna Turner  (Secretary) (USQ),

Scott Adamson (Vice-Chair) (All Hallows),

Igor Litvinyuk (Treasurer) (GU),

Carolyn Brown (USQ),

Scott Hoffman (post-graduate student representative UQ),

Austin Lund (UQ),

Nunzio Motta (QUT),

Till Weinhold (UQ)

Members may make further nominations, which need to be duly proposed and seconded and forwarded to the Secretary at least 24 hours before the AGM, directed to aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au . I look forward to seeing you on 15th November!

Dr Satya Undurti

Title: ‘Attoclock’ experiments on atomic and molecular hydrogen

Abstract: This thesis describes strong-field ionization experiments on atomic and molecular hydrogen using an ultrashort-pulse laser source and a sophisticated electron/ion detection setup called a reaction microscope (REMI). It aims at benchmarking strong-field physics with the help of precision measurements performed on the simplest atomic (H) and molecular (H2) systems. This work resulted in a definitive resolution of a long-standing controversy on measurement, value and interpretation of quantum tunneling time – determining that electron tunneling in atomic hydrogen is instantaneous within experimental precision (tunneling time is less than 1.8 attoseconds, or 1.8×10-18 seconds) and ruling out all previously proposed theoretical definitions of tunneling time.

QLD, School Lecture

organic research creates excitement for QLD students

The John Mainstone Youth Lecture Tour has wrapped up for another year after a successful tour!

Pegah poses for a self with the students of All Hallow’s School in Brisbane

Our 2019 John Mainstone Youth Lecturer was Dr. Pegah Maasoumi, a postdoctoral research fellow in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science at the University of Melbourne. The John Mainstone Youth Lecture Tour took Pegah and her presentation: ‘My organic Research’, to 12 Queensland schools from the Sunshine Coast, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Brisbane to Toowoomba where she inspired and engaged the students with her exciting research and her journey as a scientist.

Pegah talked to more than 600 students in years 10-12, revealing the secrets behind foldable mobile phones, Ironman’s suit and next generation of solar windows. She told the story of her journey as a scientist and enlightened the students about the excitement and opportunities with a career as a Physicist.

All Hallow’s studens and teachers with Dr Pegah Maasoumi.

Pegah says: “no doubt, one of the highlights of my tour was the way students engaged with my research and story. The questions and ideas they shared during the talk, and all the promising feedback I got from their teachers, strongly suggest that they are considering science and Physics as career path. I am also very happy to be an organic example for them that a physicist is not just an old man with a fuzzy hair who works with forces. I like to think, they are now not picturing us as clumsy Big Bang Theory Physicists but more of capable Tony Stark version.”

With students from Padua College, Brisbane.

“Their questions totally blew my mind” Pegah said, “one of the very common questions was, ‘why are we not using solar more?’ and ‘still our politicians insist on burning coal?’ That question for me was pure joy to see. Not only are we promoting and fostering future scientists, but perhaps smarter politicians and better future for Australia.”

St Aidan’s Anglican School

Pegah believes the tour was very successful and nothing can be more effective than exposing our kids to living examples and questions out there. “I am absolutely grateful for this experience and I would love to see one of those bright girls as future John Mainstone Youth Lecturer and custodian of our worldwide famous pitch drop experiment.”

QLD, Women in Physics

How Neutrons will save the world in brisbane

How Neutrons Will Save the World!

Women in Physics lecture Tour, 15th August, 2019.

This year’s Women in Physics Lecturer, Dr Helen Maynard-Casely is traveling around the country to tell us how neutrons will save the world! While in the area visiting schools, Helen will be at the University of Queensland, St Lucia campus on the 15th August talking to us about her research in more detail.

Where: Room 03-206

When: 1pm – 2pm 15th August, 2019.

We hope to see you there!

In the meantime, check out what Helen will be chatting about:

Exploring the materials of the solar system with Australia’s central facilities

Our solar system contains a great array of small planetary bodies that show remarkable variability in the chemistry, and subsequent materials, that form on their surfaces.  From sulfuric acid hydrates that are spattered on Europa, to organic minerals that fall in flurries on Titan to the plastic solids of methane and nitrogen on Pluto.

Sadly we’re yet to scoop any sample of these planets and bring them home, however informed by spectral observations from space missions such as Galileo, Cassini and New Horizons, we can re-create their surface chemistries and conditions in the lab.  What this has revealed that despite the ‘simplicity’ of the chemistry involved the surfaces are likely to be made up of a large array of materials with potentially planet-shaping properties. 

I’ll overview some of the materials we’ve found, and why central facilities (like the OPAL neutron source and Australian Synchrotron) have been crucial for this work.  Hopefully, I’ll also show how this is very much a growing business, and with new exoplanets being discovered daily there is still a wide range of materials that need to be investigated.    

Branch AGM, Public Event, Public Lecture, QLD

2018 Annual General Meeting QLD Branch – Room Change

Please take note, we have incorporated a room change so that there will be better amenities to account for our online viewers!

The new location will be:

Parnell Building: Room 7-302

The link to join us online is available below.

 

Members of the Australian Institute of Physics, Queensland Branch.

 

You are invited to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting .

The AGM will be held on the 2 November from 4pm – 6pm, Room 50-S201, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus.

I am very pleased to announce that we will have two speakers bracketing the AGM, with the QLD nominee for the Bragg Gold Medal Dr Sarah Walden presenting her research; and the John Mainstone Youth lecture Tour presenter Dr Sean Powell.  More information about their presentations are provided below.

The expected timing of the proceedings will be as follows:

4.00pm – 4.50pm      Dr Sarah Walden presents her research

5.00pm – 5.15pm      AGM

5.15pm – 6.00pm      Dr Sean Powell – “Physics is everywhere!”  Presentation from the John Mainstone Youth Lecture Tour.

For catering purposes it would be appreciated if you could register your attendance by Tuesday the 30th of October  to aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au . Catering will involve pizza and cold drinks.

 

We additionally hope to stream the presentation online using the zoom platform. You can join us at AEST 4pm-6pm here.

 

Additionally, part of the business for the AGM will be to elect the branch committee for 2019.

 

As per the AIP by-laws, the retiring committee has made nominations for next year’s committee, and these are listed below:

 

Joel Alroe (Chair) (QUT),

Joanna Turner  (Secretary) (USQ),

Scott Adamson (Vice-Chair) (All Hallows),

Igor Litvinyuk (Treasurer) (GU),

Simon Critchley (Qld Health),

Austin Lund (UQ),

Nunzio Motta (QUT),

Carolyn Brown (USQ),

Till Weinhold (UQ)

Jacinda Ginges (UQ)

Scott Hoffman (post-graduate student representative UQ)

 

Members may make further nominations, which need to be duly proposed and seconded and forwarded to the Secretary at least 24 hours before the AGM, directed to aip_branchsecretary_qld@physics.org.au . I look forward to seeing you on 2nd November!

 

Dr Sarah Walden

Title: Nonlinear optical properties of ZnO and ZnO-Au composite nanostructures for nanoscale UV emission

Abstract: This thesis investigates the nonlinear optical properties of ZnO and ZnO-Au composite nanostructures. For applications such as photodynamic therapy, it is desirable to use nanoparticles to generate localised UV emission while illuminating them with visible or infrared light. This is possible using nonlinear optical processes such as two photon absorption. Nonlinear optical processes however, are extremely weak, so this work investigates the potential of increasing the efficiency of two photon absorption in ZnO nanoparticles by coupling them to metal nanoparticles. Using new experimental methods, the two photon absorption and resulting UV emission from the nanoparticles are measured.

Dr Sean Powell

Physics is everywhere! – a journey from sub-atomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe, where physics seeks to answer the most fundamental questions about reality. As we learn more, we can do more! Physics is everywhere in our world and underpins all our technologies. This year, Sean will discuss the important problems that all of us encounter every day: how do I teleport myself to school? What do I do when I find myself inside a black hole? Why is my time-machine not working? He will also talk about the superpowers that you can gain as a physicist, such as the ability to make accurate quantitative observations and predictive and interpretive mathematical models.  These powers mean that you can become very valuable and work in many industries such as fundamental physics research, economics and finance, space and aeronautics, healthcare and medicine, learning and teaching, electronics and computers, and so much more!

QLD, School Lecture

The John Mainstone Youth Lecture Tour 2018, Queensland

This year’s youth lecture tour will promote physics to senior high school students and science teachers. Commencing in August, Dr Sean Powell and Dr Jacqui Romero will present lectures in Physics to high school students in major centres across the state.

 

The 2018 AIP Lecture Series will be delivered by Dr Sean Powell.

 

Dr Powell’s talk in 2018 is titled Physics is everywhere! – a journey from sub-atomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe, where physics seeks to answer the most fundamental questions about reality. As we learn more, we can do more! Physics is everywhere in our world and underpins all our technologies. This year, Sean will discuss the important problems that all of us encounter every day: how do I teleport myself to school? What do I do when I find myself inside a black hole? Why is my time-machine not working? He will also talk about the superpowers that you can gain as a physicist, such as the ability to make accurate quantitative observations and predictive and interpretive mathematical models.  These powers mean that you can become very valuable and work in many industries such as fundamental physics research, economics and finance, space and aeronautics, healthcare and medicine, learning and teaching, electronics and computers, and so much more!

 

An additional regional lecture will be delivered in Mount Isa in 2018 by Dr Jacqui Romero.

 

Dr Romero’s talk in 2018 will focus on Slower light in free space. The speed of light is nominally given by c/n, where n is the refractive index of the medium in which the light is travelling.  The refractive index of free space is 1, hence it is natural to expect that in free space, light travels at c. We show that this is not the case when you consider real beams.

We consider photons in a Bessel mode and a focused Gaussian mode, and show that in both cases, the reduction in group velocity results to a delay of several micrometers over a propagation distance of 1 m or ~30 femtoseconds in terms of arrival time.

Please refer to the attached itinerary for information regarding dates, times and venues and contact details for the host at each venue.

AIP 2018 Youth Lecture Itinerary Brief

There is no cost to attend these presentations; however, we do ask that you RSVP the organiser at each venue to indicate your school details, staff attending and anticipated student numbers , by Wednesday 25 July.

 

We would appreciate your assistance in forwarding this to any interested staff and students who may not receive it via the Physics Discussion list.

 

Scott Adamson (on behalf of the Australian Institute of Physics – Queensland Branch)