|
Director's Message
Dear Colleagues,
Last week marked the end of Semester 1 classes, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to all our teaching staff for their efforts throughout what has been another big semester. My particular thanks to Linda Barbour and Prof Ben Buchler for keeping us all on track despite the many changes in this space, and to Prof Ilya Shadrivov and Prof Yuri Kivshar for their work as Honours Convenor and PhB Coordinator respectively. I also want to acknowledge the hard work of Dr Mika Kohonen and Dr Dige Wang, who support our physics undergraduate labs, and to all the teaching assistants and lab demonstrators who give our students such a terrific experience. I did hear that Tim Tams were on offer in the final first-year workshops of the semester, which made me smile- a well-earned sweet treat for everyone who made it to week 12! Best of luck to everyone now working through exams and marking.
This week a team from the school heads to Shandong University to deliver a two-week intensive course and we wish them all the best. Congratulations also to our Honours cohort, who have completed their first semester coursework subjects. It is always an intense period and we wish you all the best as you now turn your full attention to your research projects.
One thing worth naming is that Physics consistently receives strong student satisfaction results, yet we tend to be underrepresented when it comes to teaching awards. I suspect this is partly because excellence has become the norm here, and partly because everyone is simply too busy to stop and nominate. But recognition matters, both for those newer to teaching and for our more experienced staff, and I would encourage everyone to think about who in our community deserves a formal acknowledgement. The Dean's Commendations for Excellence in Education recognise individual staff or teams who demonstrate excellence in delivering educational experiences and whose efforts have gone above and beyond expectations. Further information can be found here.
Finally, a heads up that the Event Horizon will take a short break next week for the long weekends and will return on Monday 15th June.
Jodie |
|
Teaching Opportunity: Life Physics (PHYS1004)
PHYS1004 is a flipped course that's intended to provide non-physics students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of physics in the context of biological, medical and environmental examples. It runs in semester 2 with about 30 students. It's a rewarding course to teach since the students are a diverse and engaged bunch, and for many this is their only experience of physics. In the long term we're looking for a convenor, but the role this year can be minor.
An overview of the material covered is https://bit.ly/phys1004.
Contact Adrian Sheppard for more information. |
|
|
ANU Staff Card Printing And Collection
New and replacement staff cards will now be printed and collected from different locations.
New staff cards are printed and collected from the Provisioning Team at Chancelry 10B (Lower Ground Floor) by appointment.
Replacement cards are printed and collected from ANU Security in the Fulton Muir Building (Building 95). Staff can just drop-in.
For building access enquiries, please email security@anu.edu.au. » read more
|
|
|
Life Changing Nanotechnology Makes Diabetes Care A Breeze
|
|
Professor Lan Fu is waiting for a call from the hospital about someone ill with diabetes.
It’s not a sick friend or family, but the first patient in her first pilot clinical study of the Ketowhistle breath test.
The Ketowhistle is a ground-breaking device that can detect the tell-tale signs of diabetes – and other diseases – from the gases we exhale.
Professor Fu’s career in nanotechnology, combining a knowledge of quantum physics with exquisite fabrication techniques to design structures many times smaller than the point of a syringe, has led her to this point. » read more
|
|
|
How To Protect Intellectual Property And Commercialise Your Research At ANU | June 3
Please join us for an engaging presentation hosted by the ANU Commercialisation & Intellectual Property (CIP) team and Davies Collison Cave.
This session has been designed for Academics and Students within the Research School of Physics.
You will leave with practical insights into the role of intellectual property in research translation and commercialisation, including how to identify and protect valuable IP, common considerations when engaging with industry, and pathways for taking research beyond the lab.
This will be a valuable opportunity to ask questions about your projects, learn about relevant policies and procedures, gain practical guidance, and better understand the support available including funding.
Date: Wed 3 June
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Conference Room (4.03), Bldg 160 & Via Zoom » read more
|
|
|
Ideas On Tap | June 18
A night of big ideas and great conversations
Ideas on Tap is a relaxed, cross‑sector pitching and networking event bringing together researchers, manufacturers and industry organisations working at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2–5 across space, quantum and cyber. The event focuses on early‑to‑mid stage ideas with clear potential for collaboration, translation or commercial impact. This event is perfect for researchers, industry advocates and working professionals to meet and connect in a laid-back atmosphere.
Date: Mon 18 June 2026
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Location: Work Club Two24 Bunda, 224 Bunda Street #Lvl 13
Register » read more
|
|
Social Media Buzz Builds Around SABRE South |
|
The Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics is excited about the progress of the SABRE (Sodium Iodide with Active BAckground) South, an experiment designed to search for the elusive substance known as dark matter using ultra-pure NaI crystals. The project is now in its final construction phase, located 1km underground in an active gold mine in Victoria.
To build anticipation ahead of the experiment’s arrival in Stawell later this year, the Centre has been producing a series of videos highlighting the project. One recent video tour of the dark matter laboratory, featuring Zuzana Slavkovska (postdoc at ANU) and Theresa Fruth (postdoc at UoS), generated strong interest on social media, receiving more than 12,500 views on Facebook and over 1,300 views on YouTube.
Watch the video here. » read more
|
|
|
|
Call For Presenters - College of Science & Medicine 3MT Competition 2026
Take your research to the College, the University and the world!
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an international competition for HDR candidates to showcase their research. Using plain language and with only a single PowerPoint slide, candidates have three minutes to present to a non-specialist audience on what their research is and why it is important.
3MT is a great opportunity for you to develop presentation skills that are crucial for your future careers, regardless of whether they are inside or outside of academia.
Eligibility
To participate in this competition, please check if you meet the following criteria:
- You have completed your Confirmation of Candidature (CoC) or Thesis Proposal Review (TPR). If you are unsure, please contact our office on hdr.cosm@anu.edu.au.
- You haven't won the CoSM 3MT Competition in the past.
- You are available to present at the COSM 3MT event, Wednesday 25 June, 10.00–12.00pm, noting this is an in-person event and there is no option to present virtually.
It’s a great opportunity to showcase your thesis in just 3 minutes!
If you are interested in participating in this competition, please speak to your primary supervisor before registering your interest here. » read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
King's Birthday Public Holiday
Monday 8th June 2026 |
|
|
College Hot Desking In Physics
HR, RM & Finance Teams
Thursday Mornings
Lv2 Tearoom, Bldg 160 |
|
|
University Travel
- When booking travel for any type of University business, it is mandatory to use ATPI - » read more
|
|
|
Departmental seminars
Mr Xianming Meng - 2 June
New features in light diffraction at edges
» read more
|
|
Director's Colloquium - 17 June
Using plasmas to protect the ozone layer and reduce global warming
- Dr Tony Murphy » read more
|
|
|
Know your administrators...
Nikki Azzopardi, Belinda Barbour, & Petra Rickman » read more
|
|
|
|
Know your HDR Convenors...
Dr Michaela Froehlich
Dr Lilli Sun
HDR Convenors
A/Prof Vanessa Robins
Associate Director HDR |
|
|
|
Know your Student Reps...
Lingxiao Li, Lakshmi Raja, Jessica Wierbik, Sheil Sequeira, Luke Johnstone & Taskil Dastoor
hdrsreps.physics@anu.edu.au |
|
|
|
Defence Trailblazer | Commercialisation Bootcamp
As part of the DINAMIC Innovation Program from Defence Trailblazer, applications are now open for live Commercialisation bootcamps. » read more
|
|
|
|
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. » read more
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
