Dear {Contact_First_Name},

Happy New Year. I hope you’ve had a restful holiday season.

We ended 2023 with a highly successful Summer Meeting. There were many excellent talks, including Ed Simpson’s public lecture on nuclear science, together with networking and career development events.

A highlight for me was the forum on the draft National Science and Research Priorities, at which it was clear that support for discovery research and overall levels of research funding are seen as priorities by our community. The AIP will continue to advocate on these topics in the year ahead.

The annual AIP Council Meeting and AGM were held in Melbourne last week – the first in-person Council meeting post-covid. It was great to have all the branch representatives together in the same room, for long-overdue discussions and networking.

The Council meeting also marked some key departures from the AIP Executive: I would like to thank Judith Pollard, who has stepped down from the AIP Executive after many years of service as Treasurer. Judith’s contributions to the AIP have been invaluable. I also thank Joanna Turner, who has stepped down after completing a term as the AIP Awards Officer.

I am delighted to announce that Prof Susan Coppersmith FAA FAIP is the 2024 AIP Women in Physics Lecturer. It is excellent to see such a high-profile scientist in this role. More below.

Congratulations to the many scientists who were recognised in the Australia Day Honours, including AIP members Dr Katarina Miljkovic OAM and Emeritus Prof Dudley Creagh AM. Their contributions to the AIP, and physics more broadly, are appreciated. More below.

It’s the time of year to think about award and prize nominations. The 2024 AIP annual and biennial awards are now open, and I encourage you to nominate yourself or a colleague. More below. I also encourage you to nominate colleagues for AIP Fellowship.

Last (but not least!) we recognise 7 members elected to AIP Fellow in 2023: John M Bell, Matthew J Dolan, Lorenzo (Laurie) Faraone, Melanie Johnston-Hollitt, Mariusz Martyniuk, Ian P McCulloch and Martin J White. Congratulations to all!

Best wishes,

Nicole Bell
President, Australian Institute of Physics
president@aip.org.au
 

Announcing the 2024 Women in Physics Lecturer

The AIP is delighted to announce that Professor Susan Coppersmith FAA FAIP, a theoretical physicist at UNSW Sydney, will tour Australia this year as the AIP’s 2024 Women in Physics Lecturer.

Susan has used principles of theoretical physics to understand a wide variety of systems ranging from sand to pearls to glasses to quantum dots used to make quantum computers.

Read more about Prof Coppersmith’s research.
 

AIP award nominations open now

Each year, the AIP recognises excellence in research, leadership, and outreach.

If you have recently completed postgraduate research, are a woman in leadership, are furthering physics education, or have made outstanding contributions to physics in other ways, consider nominating for the 2024 AIP Awards.

The awards are now open and most close on 1 April 2024.

Nominate now.
 

2024 Australia Day Honours

The AIP would like to congratulate the following AIP members for their Order of Australia awards.

2022 AIP Women in Physics Lecturer A/Prof Katarina Miljkovic OAM was awarded an Order of Australia Medal "for service to science as a researcher".

AIP Life Member Emeritus Prof Dudley Creagh AM was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia "for significant service to science, and to tertiary education", including contributions to X-ray scattering and the development of the Australian National Beamline Facility at Tsukuba, Japan, and the planning of, and the design of the Spectroscopy beamline for, Australian synchrotron.

Read more.
 

Renew now for a discount

Have you renewed your AIP membership for 2024? We are offering one extra day for you to renew your AIP membership before the price increases. Renew TODAY to receive the $10 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT on your membership fees for 2024. This price ends Tuesday 6 February.

For any questions email aip@aip.org.au.
 
Renew now
 

News and opportunities

Nominations for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science closes Thursday 8 February. There is $750k in prizes for outstanding researchers, innovators, and science teachers. Apply here.

Nominations for IUPAP C20 Early Career Scientist Prize on Computational Physics close 31 March. A €1000 prize and medal will be presented at IUPAP CCP2024 in Greece. Apply for the award here.

The AIP NSW branch has published their list of awards and events for 2024. The first event will be the 2024 Frontiers of Science Forum, held in Sydney on 22 March. Visit the Frontiers of Science webpage to learn more and register.

AstroMailbox is a new mailing list for astronomy and space communicators. It is the place to celebrate your successes, ask for advice, share resources, and meet potential collaborators. While it is UK-based, it may be of interest to Australian astronomy communicators to expand their networks. You can learn more and join here.

Australian Physics magazine is calling for technical article submissions. All members of the physics community are encouraged to contribute, especially early-career physicists. Note, as Australian Physics magazine is not a peer-reviewed research publication, it cannot publish articles containing the results of original research that has not already been published in the peer-reviewed literature. If you would like to write an article for Australian Physics, please contact the editors at editors@aip.org.au.
                 

                From metal fatigue to large-scale rail

                "I work for Rio Tinto supporting rail and port operations”, says Duncan Barton.

                “Prior to joining Rio Tinto, I led international programs for a tech start-up, developing a patented solution for real-time detection of fatigue cracks in metals and composites. I also had the opportunity to work on the certification of the Airbus A380.”

                “Physics trained me how to think through problems at a deeper level, to be naturally curious, and to continue to ask ’why’.”

                Read more about Duncan’s physics journey.

                Do you know someone with training in #physics who has followed an interesting career path outside of academia? We would love to profile them for our #PhysicsGotMeHere career profiles, which explore all the places your physics training can take you. Get in touch.
                 

                Upcoming events

                46th Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Meeting | Wagga Wagga | 6-9 Feb 2024

                Victorian Physics Teachers’ Conference 2024 | Melbourne | 23 Feb 2024

                Frontiers of Science Forum | Sydney | 22 Mar 2024

                Atomically Correct @ Comedy Festival | Melbourne | 27 Mar – 7 Apr 2024

                AIPNSW Research Poster Presentation Network Event | Sydney | 8 Apr 2024

                IUPAP Conference on Computational Physics (CCP2024) | Greece | 7-12 Jul 2024

                Are you running an event? Email the details to your branch chair or events@aip.org.au to be posted on the AIP website. Events on the AIP website are profiled in this monthly newsletter and shared through the AIP social media accounts.
                   

                  Australian physics in the news

                  Can a thumb-sized nuclear battery last 50 years? (Cosmos Magazine)

                  Australia may spend hundreds of millions of dollars on quantum computing research. Are we chasing a mirage? (The Conversation)

                  ABC’s Robyn Williams presents the Top 100 Australian Scientists for 2024 (ABC The Science Show)

                  January's best science images include a mysterious exploding star and lounging grey seals (Nature)

                  More on the Order of Australia Awards (The Age)
                                   

                                  Jobs corner

                                  Are you looking for a new career opportunity? See our Jobs Links section (best viewed on desktop) for a list of selected physics-related job openings: Quantum Device Physicist (CSIRO); Beamline Scientist (ANSTO); Nuclear Analyst (ANSTO); Education Officer (ANSTO); Research Associate (OzGrav); Applied Scientist – Technology Leadership (MCS Consulting); PhD Student (CEEDWA); Research Engineer, and many more.

                                  Each year, Physics World publishes Physics World Careers, a guide aimed at helping those with a physics background make informed decisions about their career path. Download a copy of Physics World Careers 2023 .

                                  We can provide a free link to your physics-related job or PhD opportunity. If you would like to advertise your job, we can feature more details and a picture for a small cost. Email Michael Schmidt for more information.

                                  Need help? Contact aip@aip.org.au.

                                  Contact us
                                   

                                  Thank you to our supporters

                                  Sent by Science in Public, on behalf of the Australian Institute of Physics, www.aip.org.au. Send enquiries and contributions to Kieren Topp by the 20th of each month physics@scienceinpublic.com.au 

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