Written by Associate Professor Karen Livesey.

The 2024 Women in Physics tour by Professor Susan Coppersmith wrapped up on Thursday 17 October with a public lecture in Sydney.

Professor Coppersmith chose her home institution, UNSW Sydney, for the tour’s finale.

The lecture was held in the Council Chambers and was attended by people of all ages from across the Sydney metro area.

She posed the question: What do theoretical physicists do?

Professor Coppersmith showed that they push human knowledge into new and interesting directions. This was presented through the lens of quantum mechanics.

She took the audience on a journey starting in the 1800s with a humble lightbulb, to quantum technologies that have changed our lives. She mentioned how to steal all the money in the world by breaking quantum algorithms.

This year’s tour consisted of eight public lectures, 23 school visits, and numerous radio interviews. Professor Coppersmith visited all Australian states and the ACT. She said: “The tour was so meaningful, and I am incredibly inspired by the dedicated educators and enthusiastic students that I met.” 

The Dean of the Faculty of Science at UNSW and past president of the AIP, Professor Sven Rogge, introduced the public lecture. Astrophysicist Professor Sarah Brough, incoming chair of the UNSW School of Physics, ran the question time after the public lecture.

The event concluded with the awarding of the Women in Physics medal to Professor Coppersmith by the AIP’s representative, Associate Professor Karen Livesey of the University of Newcastle.

The audience congratulated Professor Coppersmith on the award in recognition of her work enabling a new understanding of complex systems ranging from biomineralised structures and granular materials to glasses, quantum magnets, and quantum computers.

She was also thanked by the AIP for her work to promote physics to Australians from all walks of life, especially school children.

The AIP’s Women in Physics lecture tour has run nationally since 1997. It is aimed at promoting the excellent research performed by women.

Find out more about the 2024 Women in Physics Lecture Tour.

Applications close 15 Nov 2024 for the 2025 Women in Physics Lecturer.

Photos (credit to Cassandra Hannagan):

1. Prof. Coppersmith talking to the audience
2. Prof. Coppersmith mid-lecture
3. Prof. Rogge, Prof. Brough, Prof. Coppersmith with her certificate and medal, and A/Prof. Livesey

The last lectures for this year’s Women in Physics lecture tour with Prof Susan Coppersmith are in Brisbane and Sydney.

Optimising silicon/silicon-germanium quantum dot qubits: Brisbane, 2pm 8 Oct. Event details.

What do theoretical physicists do? WIP lecture: Brisbane, 5:30pm 8 Oct. Event details.

Girls in Physics Breakfast: Brisbane, 8am 10 Oct. Event details.

What do theoretical physicists do? WIP lecture: Sydney, 5:30pm 17 Oct. Event details. 

From Grains of Sand to Quantum Computers: Prof Susan Coppersmith FAA FAIP kicks off the 2024 Women in Physics lecture series in Melbourne with 2 events:

1) a lecture for the general public to attend in-person, Wednesday 8 May 7pm-8pm. More info here

2) a live-stream lecture, Thursday 9 May 8.15am-9.15am. More info here.

This second lecture is part of the Girls in Physics Breakfast events run by VicPhysics. Full list of events here.

See more information about the 2024 Women in Physics Lecture Tour.

After 11 public talks, 16 school visits, 7 technical seminars, 8 radio interviews, and connecting with 1,600 + attendees at events around the country, theoretical physicist Dr Karen Livesey presented her final Women In Physics lecture to a packed crowd in her home town of Newcastle.

A diverse audience gathered at the University of Newcastle's downtown Q building to hear how nano-magnets can:

•  influence the way bacteria move
•  jiggle to heat up and kill cancer cells
• create a binary system for higher-density data storage in computers.

"The tour has been overwhelming,” said Dr Livesey. “It has been a privilege to learn about physics research, high school studies, and diversity initiatives across all states and one territory. I hope my talks have had an impact on some young people." 

She thanked the AIP national and state branches, her Newcastle and Colorado colleagues for their unwavering support of Women in Physics, and her family for making the tour possible.

Karen was presented with her AIP Women In Physics Lecturer medal on the night, presented on behalf of the AIP by Past President Emeritus Professor John O'Connor. Dr Hannah Schunker, a Future Fellow in Physics at the University of Newcastle, gave the event introduction.

See photos from the event by Lachlan Rogers:

Coming soon to: Adelaide, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney, Launceston, Hobart and Newcastle.

The AIP Women in Physics Lecture Tour with Dr Karen Livesey has seen jam-packed visits to Perth and Melbourne so far.

A public lecture at University of Western Australia in Perth kicked off the tour in June with around 100 attendees – including friends, family, former colleagues and members of the public.

"I think we had record high numbers for the WiP lecture series, and Karen delivered an outstanding lecture that captivated our audience," said WA AIP branch president Jingbo Wang.

A technical seminar and tour at Curtin University was followed by several visits to Perth public high schools, plus a radio interview on ABC Perth.

The Melbourne leg of the trip was packed with a public lecture at RMIT, plus research visits at RMIT, The University of Melbourne and Monash University.

Karen also gave a talk at a Girls in Physics breakfast at Monash University, in front of a fully-engaged crowd of high school girls, and women in STEM.

A technical seminar at the ARC Centre of Excellence Future Low Energy Electronic Technologies (FLEET) rounded off the Melbourne visit.

Next stops on the tour include Adelaide, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney, Launceston and Hobart in September.

The tour will naturally finish in Karen’s hometown at the University of Newcastle.

Stay tuned for details of an event near you.

The Women in Physics Lecture tour celebrates the contribution of women, everywhere, to advances in physics. This annual tour selects one outstanding lecturer each year to showcase her contribution in the field of physics.

The AIP is thrilled to announce that Dr Karen Livesey, theoretical physicist at the University of Newcastle, will be touring Australia in 2023 as the AIP’s Women in Physics Lecturer.

Free public talks in Sep as part of 2022 Women in Physics Lecture Tour in SA, WA,*** NSW and QLD

QLD events will also be streamed online

What’s the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite? How do you measure quakes on Mars and what do they tell us about the structure of Mars’ interior? How do you go about it if you want to work with NASA?

Find out from planetary scientist Associate Professor Katarina Miljkovic, our 2022 Women in Physics Lecturer.

She’ll be giving free public talks this month in Adelaide, Perth*** , Newcastle, and Brisbane. Everyone is invited. The events in Brisbane are a reschedule from the cancelled July dates.

Katarina will be talking about her modelling work on impact processes and cratering mechanics, and how these affect the evolution of planets. She will also provide insights on her involvement in billion-dollar space missions and her unique career path.

She was a co-author on a recent Nature paper that traced the source of a Mars meteorite that crashed into Africa.

Register to attend her public talks:

• Tue 6 Sep at University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 6:30 pm onwards.
• Thu 22 Sep at Curtin University*, Perth, 5:30 –7:40 pm. ***
• Wed 28 Sep at University of Newcastle, Newcastle, 7 – 8 pm.
• Thu 29 Sep at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane and Online, 4:30 – 5:30 pm.
• Fri 30 Sep at University of Queensland**, Brisbane and Online, 11 am – 12 pm.  

* The talk at Curtin University will follow an expo featuring science demonstrations and hands-on activities in physics, featuring impact craters, rocks from space, and space exploration.

** This is a physics colloquium geared towards those with physics training.

*** Curtin University talk rescheduled for 1 Dec due to the new 22 Sep public holiday.

As part of her lecture tour, Katarina will also give private talks to high school students and participate in afternoon teas with university students studying physics and early career researchers.

Read more about Katarina and the lecture tour here.

Know a brilliant female physicist who you can nominate for the 2023 Women in Physics Lectureship? Details and how to nominate here.

CANCELLED: Due to unforeseen circumstances, all QLD events of the 2022 Women in Physics lecture tour will not be going ahead.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We hope to re-schedule the events, either in-person or online, at a later date.

Please watch this space for more announcements.

Free public talks by Women in Physics Lecturer Associate Professor Katarina Miljkovic in Melbourne in July.

Women invited to participate in Girls in Physics Breakfasts in VIC.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: QLD EVENTS CANCELLED - more below.

The 2022 Women in Physics (WiP) Lecture Tour continues with events in QLD from 18-20 July and in VIC from 27-28 July.

The title of the WiP lecture is ‘Impacts! Rocks from space colliding with planets’ and will give given by planetary scientist A/Prof Katarina Miljkovic (Curtin University). She will describe her work on impact processes, cratering mechanics, and shock physics applied to geological materials.

She’s already given lectures at high schools, universities and public venues in NSW and ACT, including Science Space (Wollongong) and Questacon.

This month, A/Prof Miljkovic will give free talks open to the public on:

• Tues 19 Jul at Room 7-22, Parnell, Bldg, University of Queensland, 2 - 3 pm. 
• Wed 20 Jul at The Gibson Room (Z Block, Level 10), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, 11 am - 12 pm.
• Wed 27 Jul at Storey Hall, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Click on the event venues for more details and to register.

A/Prof Miljkovic will also participate in the Girls in Physics Breakfasts occurring across VIC. These events are an opportunity for students in years 10 – 12 to share a table with women in physics or engineering and ask them about their work and lives.  She will participate in the event on 28 Jul at the William Angliss Institute, Melbourne.

Women in physics or engineering (including those studying these subjects at university) are invited to attend and participate in the Girls in Physics Breakfasts by registering here.

A/Prof Milkovic will also give private talks at senior high schools in Brisbane, Cairns, and Melbourne.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

CANCELLED: Due to unforeseen circumstances, all QLD events of the 2022 Women in Physics lecture tour will not be going ahead.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We hope to re-schedule the events, either in-person or online, at a later date. Please watch this space for more announcements.

More information

To read more about A/ Prof Miljkovic and her work, as well as the lecture tour, visit here.

Further requests for information about the Girls in Physics Breakfasts can be directed to the organiser, Dan O’Keefe.

Further requests for information about QLD events can be directed to the AIP QLD branch chair, Joel Alroe. 

A/Prof Katarina Miljkovic will be giving free talks open to the public at the following NSW and ACT venues:

• Tues 31 May at Macquarie University, North Ryde, 6 - 7 pm.
• Wed 1 Jun at Science Space, North Wollongong, 6.30 - 7.30 pm. 
• Thu 2 Jun, at UNSW Canberra, Canberra, 5.30 - 7 pm.

Click on the events for more details and to register.

She will also be giving at talk at the follow event but it is only open for physicists at the Australian National University:

• Thu 2 Jun, at Australian National University, Canberra/online, 2 - 3 pm.