Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you had an enjoyable long weekend. My first pleasure this week is to pass on my sincere congratulations to Dr Dige Wang who has just joined our PEC Lab Team with Dr Mika Kohonen. Many will know of Dige’s long contribution to undergraduate education (incl. Shandong), being proactive in helping new 1st year lab demonstrators and her enthusiastic participation in PEC outreach activities such as NYSF (National Youth Science Forum). Please congratulate Dige when you see her next, she brings a great deal to our education program. 

My next pleasure is to congratulate Distinguished Professor Susan Scott (CGA) and PhD Candidate, Shankar Dutt (EME), on their recognition at the annual Royal Society of NSW awards night last Thursday. Susan received the Walter Burfitt Prize for her contributions to theoretical physics, notably in general relativity and in gravitational wave science. Shankar received the Jak Kelly Award for excellence in postgraduate research in physics. I'll be sure to share the official photos when they arrive.

Below a photo from the “In Conversations 2” panel session for International Women’s Day last Wednesday, showing Prof Vince Craig (DMP) as moderator with Profs Jodie Bradby (RSPhys), Kylie Catchpole (SoE), Hanna Suominen (SoC) and Naomi McClure-Griffiths (RSAA). I was so pleased to see the event so well attended with colleagues from across campus. My thanks to Noemie Bastidon for providing the photos at the bottom of the winning entry (our very own Stores Team) in the 'Dress for STEM' photo competition.

Cheers,
Tim

ANYOU - Staff Engagement Survey

The Survey will be launched in On Campus on Tuesday afternoon at 2.00pm, and staff will receive individual emails from Culture Amp (the platform we’re using for the survey) at around 3.00pm. Staff can complete the survey using:

• Link emailed directly from Culture Amp;
• Link in On Campus; or
• QR code featured on posters and Xibo screens across campus – the code takes you to our internal web page which features a button to access the survey (not available until after 3.00 pm on Tuesday).

The ANYOU Survey web page features all relevant information about the survey, including a link to Frequently Asked Questions.

» read more

A new field of nonperturbative nonlinear optics is associated with a new phenomenon of high-harmonics generation usually observed in gases and solids. The first observation of enhanced high-harmonic generation from metasurfaces has been just reported for structured halide perovskites. Perovskites gain novel nonlinear properties from structuring as demonstrated experimentally at ANU, said a PhD student of Nonlinear Physics Center Mr. Pavel Tonkaev, the first author of the paper published in ACS.

The Physics equity and diversity committee welcomes new members from both staff and students. The committee is structured so that you can get involved at the level that suits you in a variety of areas including Gender equity, First nations engagement, LGBTIQ* issues as well as in Strategy and Communication. How to join? You can talk to the current co-chairs Mary Gray and James Sullivan or contact them by email (James & Mary).

Prof Lan Fu who was amongst 50 female scientists and researchers listed in Cosmos Magazine as exceptional and interesting in their fields, in honour of International Women’s Day 2023.

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Registration is now open for the NSQN Industry Workshop

Date: 15-16 March 2023
Time: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Where: ANU Research School of Physics, 160 Mills Road, Acton, ACT 2601

REGISTER NOW: https://buff.ly/3Y0f6rb 

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It was an honour to welcome two academics from the Royal University of Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. Hosted by NPAA, their visit aimed to establish graduate-level teaching in nuclear science in collaboration with the ANU.

This academic exchange was run by IAEA Technical Cooperation Project, and involved a tour of our very own Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility! While here, discussion centred on curriculum design and the hands-on training aspects of the new program. Outcomes of the visit included hands-on training in nuclear measurement techniques at HIAF, and the discussion of future collaboration and research opportunities aligned with Australia and Cambodia's development goals. 

Distinguished Prof Susan Scott FAA studies the fabric of space time. Her inception-level skills help advance our understanding of gravitational waves and the nature of singularities and have earned her the prestigious Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal for outstanding achievements in Mathematics and Physics. 

» read more

PhB Mentors Needed

This year we have 9 first-year Physics students in the PhB program, some of the smartest high-school graduates from across the country.

Each student is to be assigned an academic mentor for their time at ANU, and we would like to make a call for people willing to take on this role.

This typically involves 1-2 meetings per semester to provide advice regarding their degree. All students should do research projects and also enter the Honours Program, so this is an excellent opportunity to expand your research groups with extra hands. 

Please contact us to express your interest., and 'read more' for further details about the program.

James Sullivan and Yuri Kivshar
PhB Physics discipline coordinators

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Specialist Media Training Session For Science Researchers

ANU Media is teaming up with the Australian Science Media Centre to deliver a free online specialist training session, taking place Tuesday 28 March, 12-2pm.

During this online session, Dr Susannah Eliott and Dr Joseph Milton from the Australian Science Media Centre will provide you with some practical tips on how to navigate public engagement through the media when working in a potentially contentious field.

The session is open to all ANU researchers, including postgraduate students studying for a PhD or master’s by research. More details, including the registration portal, can be found on the ANU Eventbrite page. 

If you have any questions, please email James Giggacher, Associate Director of Media and Communications at ANU.

2023 Wall Planners

Need to Edit a Requistion?

If you are new or old to the RSPhys online requisition system, 'read more' for time saving tips when editing a requisition with a mistake.

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EVENTS

Departmental seminars

Mr Shankar Dutt - 15 March
Exploring ion tracks and nanopores using small angle X-ray scattering
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School Seminar Program - 21 March

Engineering optical resonances in nanostructured dielectric materials for nonlinear photonics - Dr Kirill Koshelev

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The Robert and Helen Crompton Award

We are seeking applications for the Robert and Helen Crompton Award, valued up to $15,000.

Complete applications should be emailed to hdr.physics@anu.edu.au

Applications closing date is 31 March 2023

» read more