Event Horizon

The Australian National University

Event Horizon

Research School of Physics

Weekly newsletter | vol 48 no 30 | 31 July–4 August 2023

Director's Message

Dear Colleagues,

I’m still buzzing with excitement over the news of our most recent Training Centre, Radiation Innovation with colleagues at Universities of South Australia and Adelaide. Through this Centre, the three universities, eight government agencies and eight companies have the leading opportunity to focus much of Australia’s radiation and nuclear expertise across government and industry sectors. I was witness to the amazing energy harnessed by the many involved and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to academic colleagues as well as our colleagues in Research Management, Business Management, Contracts and Partnerships teams. It is a great credit to the efforts of all involved. Thank you.

Above, a scene from a workshop our colleagues ran for ACT Government on elucidating the opportunities in the ACT region for quantum and quantum-adjacent research and development. My thanks to the facilitators, Dr Sophie Zhao (QST), Dr Aaron Tranter (QST), Mahasen Sooriyabandara (QST/Thaum), Dr Victor Pantano (DMP), Prof John Close (DST) and Dr Rose Ahlefledt (QST) who lead the mixed government-industry-training-research sectors through the process. A draft report will be circulated for review in the next few weeks, ahead of an ACT Government co-design process to develop a regional “quantum hub”.

Below, the lab relocation continues with the second tool moving up to the cleanroom. This week will see the Ion Beam Sputtering system beginning the installation process in preparation for coating the new beam splitter for the LIGO collaboration.

The August School Executive meeting will be held on Thursday. If you have topics you’d like raised please speak with your Heads or representatives. Also, just a reminder that the EoI for the AD(Education) is open (see EH last week).

Have a good week,
Tim

Physics Project Market Day - Aug 17

To enable our undergraduate students to have the opportunity to engage more with research conducted within the school, Physics Project Market Day will take place on Thursday 17th August from 12pm to 2pm in the foyer of the new building. The event is an opportunity to interact directly with undergraduate students by sharing/discussing your research and potential projects with them by presenting a poster. This will be the 10th Anniversary of Physics Project Market Day!

What you need to do:

By Friday 11th August, if you would like to participate in this event, can you please sign up in the participant list at Physics Project Market Day 2023 and include your email address
On Thursday 17th August, bring a poster to the foyer (if you have signed up a poster board will be allocated to you) and interact with students

A booklet for 2023 will be printed with all recently updated projects.

Contact Cormac Corr if you have any questions.

ANU Student Research Conference Judge Recruitment

The ANU Student Research Conference is currently calling for judges for student presentations at the 2023 conference hosted on-campus from 6-8 September (first week of the mid-semester break).

The ANU Student Research Conference (SRC) is the Australian National University's undergraduate, honours and Masters by coursework conference. SRC is an annual event and is a proudly multidisciplinary three-day conference open to students from all academic disciplines. SRC provides students with a platform to present research completed as part of their coursework at University alongside development opportunities to build the skills to successfully communicate their research to a multidisciplinary audience with impact. Each year, a range of prizes across all presentation categories are awarded which recognise the achievements of students at the conference.