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Director's Message
Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone is enjoying the break or has had a chance to ease back in after the lovely long weekend. The Artemis II mission was a welcome distraction and a wonderful reminder of what science and international collaboration can achieve. It was great to see ANU's Quantum Optical Ground Station at Mount Stromlo playing a role, testing laser communications with the Orion spacecraft as part of the first crewed mission beyond Earth's orbit in more than 50 years. I was very relieved to see the astronauts safely back on Saturday.
This week's research highlight is also a fine example of international collaboration, a paper just published in Nature Communications from Matthias Wurdack. Matthias completed his PhD and a postdoc here at ANU and is now a Schmidt Science Fellow at Stanford University. The work demonstrates a new type of chiral light-matter quasi-particle in atomically-thin semiconductors. By all accounts this was very much a passion project for the lead author, who showed real perseverance in seeing it through over many years. Well done to the whole team.
Also congratulations to AJ Mitchell from the Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications on his election to Academic Board for another two-year term. It is wonderful to have Physics staff playing such an important role in university-wide governance.
Nominations are now open for the inaugural Brian Robson Award, which is being offered for the first time this year. The award supports international and domestic Honours students, postgraduate research candidates, and early career researchers working in Theoretical Physics within the School to attend a conference or workshop, make a collaborative visit to an overseas or Australian institution, host a collaborator, or organise a scientific event such as a workshop or summer school. This is a wonderful example of philanthropy within our school, and we are grateful to Brian for the generous gift that makes it possible. Details on how to nominate can be found below.
We also have a School Executive meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). Minutes from these meetings are available on the school intranet (once you are logged in, search "minutes" and they should come up).
Jodie
For meeting requests for the Director please use the jodie.bradby@anu.edu.au calendar |
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NHMRC Presentation | Apr 13
The ANU Research Funding and Contracts team are pleased to host representatives from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) presenting on current and upcoming NHMRC schemes.
The session will primarily focus on the current Ideas Grants 2026 round, but there will also be time for Q&A. This information session is open to all prospective ANU applicants, current or preparing for future proposals.
Date: Mon 13 April 2026
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM
Location: Finkel Lecture Theatre, JCSMR
Register |
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Scientists Observe Pairs of Atoms Existing In Two Places At Once For The First Time
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In a new quantum physics experiment, ANU researchers have shown that matter can experience entanglement – an effect Einstein dismissed as ‘spooky action at a distance’.
Quantum physicists at ANU have observed atoms entangled in motion.
“It’s really weird for us to think that this is how the Universe works,” says Dr Sean Hodgman from the ANU Research School of Physics. “You can read about it in a textbook, but it’s really weird to think that a particle can be in two places at once.”
Their experiment using helium atoms represents a major advancement on similar experiments using photons, which are particles of light.
But unlike photons, helium atoms have mass and experience gravity. » read more
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The Brian Robson Award | Applications Open Now
Each year the Research School of Physics may offer one or more awards known as the Brian Robson Award. Funding for this Award has been provided by an endowment made to The Australian National University in 2025 by Emeritus Honorary Professor Brian Robson.
The objective of the Award is to assist international or domestic Honours students, postgraduate research candidates and early career researchers (ECR) working in the area of Theoretical Physics in the Research School of Physics to attend a conference or workshop, make a collaborative visit to an overseas institution or in an Australian university, host a collaborator, or organise a scientific event (workshop, summer school). It is the intention of the Research School and the donor, that the Award is used to enhance career opportunities and experience of ECRs and students in theoretical physics, preferably in the research area of nuclear and particle physics.
For eligibility and how to apply, please 'read more'.
Applications close May 1st. » read more
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New MOU To Fuse International Capabilities In Nuclear Science
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A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will support a unique collaboration between two of the world’s foremost nuclear science facilities on opposite sides of the globe.
The MoU strengthens the partnership between the Research School of Physics and the Heavy Ion Accelerators (HIA) and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States (US). » read more
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First Wednesday Connect | May 6
CBRIN’s fast-paced pitching and networking event
All ANU staff and students are invited to connect with local industry and external stakeholders right here on campus, hear what others are building, and showcase the exciting research translation happening across ANU.
Researchers, startups and project teams are invited to deliver a 1-minute pitch introducing their startup, technology or research opportunity. It’s a great chance to raise visibility, spark new collaborations and celebrate innovation in action.
Date: Wed 6 May
Time: 5.00–6.30pm
Location: School of Cybernetics, Birch Building bldg. #35
Professor Aaron Quigley, Dean of the College of Systems and Society, will open the evening. Catering will be provided by the Commercialisation and Innovation team in collaboration with the School of Cybernetics. Networking from 5.00pm, pitches from 5.30pm.
If you would like to pitch but can’t attend yourself, you are welcome to nominate someone else from your team — please email and copy in your delegate so presenters can be kept track of. » read more
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College Hot Desking In Physics
HR, RM & Finance Teams
Thursday Mornings
Lv2 Tearoom, Bldg 160 |
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University Travel
- When booking travel for any type of University business, it is mandatory to use ATPI - » read more
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Director's Colloquium - 30 April
100% renewable energy and all that - Professor Andrew Blakers » read more
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Know your administrators...
Nikki Azzopardi, Belinda Barbour, & Petra Rickman » read more
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Know your HDR Convenors...
A/Prof Vanessa Robins
Dr Michaela Froehlich
HDR Convenors
Prof Vince Craig
Associate Director HDR |
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HR Support For CoSM SharePoint
The People and Culture division have re-aligned work within functional teams to improve consistency and quality of advice across the University.
This includes re-aligning recruitment support to the People and Culture recruitment team for CoSM. Information to assist CoSM Schools and areas, and to provide some clarity on who to contact for support, can be found at the HR Support for CoSM SharePoint. » read more
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Free Flu Vaccinations
The University is committed to supporting staff health and wellbeing during the upcoming flu season. Free vaccinations are available this year, with three options to choose from:
1. On campus at the ANU Medical Centre (appointment bookings are available from 31 March 2026)
2. On campus at the ANU Pharmacy – book via the QR code on the Safety and Wellbeing webpage or attend as a walk-in
3. Off campus at a Terry White Chemist. Access the TWC voucher code in HORUS (valid until Friday 31 July) » read more
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