The 2025 AIP Summer Meeting will be held 1 to 5 December at the University of Wollongong, showcasing the work of the Australian physics community.

You are invited to submit recommendations for the following:

Plenary and invited speakers for topical groups:

Email summer-meeting-2025@aip.org.au by 15 February 2025.

Focus sessions: showcasing emerging research topics of significant interest to the Australian physics community. Your proposal can be either on a specific emerging field or incorporate multiple fields related to a common theme.

Sessions typically consist of at least 3 speakers and can include non-traditional elements such as panel or group discussions.

Email summer-meeting-2025@aip.org.au by 15 March 2025.

Please include:

• Title
• Abstract
• Session chair/s
• Potential invited speakers with an indication that you have identified speakers to ensure diversity of gender, career stage, and location within Australia
• Recent scientific highlights from the potential invited speakers

Many sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available: Download our prospectus here. Contact us here for any further information or to discuss your ideas.

This article was first published by Cosmos.

The quantum bee’s wings and the quantum choose-your-own-adventure are the first two winning entries of the CSIRO’s Double Helix Extra, Cosmos Magazine, and the AIP’ s challenge: Explain quantum physics to kids aged 12-14.

The judges looked for two main qualities in the entries: scientific accuracy and the ability to engage a young audience.

They said: “Quantum mechanics can often be seen as an intimidating and abstract subject, but it’s really just a different perspective on the world around us.

“The strongest submissions captured this perspective effectively, presenting the science in a way that was both clear and captivating.

“They managed to simplify intricate concepts while staying true to the facts, encouraging students to think differently and explore further.

“We were impressed by the creativity and dedication in every entry, and it’s clear that there’s a strong passion for making science accessible and exciting for young learners.”

The President of the AIP, Nicole Bell, was delighted to see the positive response to the Quantum Explained Challenge.

“We set out to challenge participants to explain quantum mechanics in a way that would resonate with school students, and the effort we saw was impressive,” Prof Bell says.

“The competition highlighted how powerful it can be to present complex science in an approachable and engaging manner.

“It’s been inspiring to see so many creative ways to make quantum physics relatable, and I’m excited to see how these ideas will help spark curiosity in young minds.”

Read more on the Cosmos website or in the CSIRO Double Helix newsletter.

A pioneer in gravitational wave theory and mathematical physics, Distinguished Professor Susan Scott’s groundbreaking work has influenced the global scientific community and inspired a new generation of researchers.

AIP Fellow Prof Scott (Australian National University) has been awarded the George Szekeres Medal of the Australian Mathematical Society (AustMS).

The George Szekeres Medal is the most prestigious award of the AustMS. She is only the third woman to be awarded it, the second person (first woman) from ANU.

The medal was awarded in the opening ceremony of the joint meetings of the AustMS, American Mathematical Society, and New Zealand Mathematical Society held in Auckland in December 2024.

Read more about Prof Susan Scott and the Medal here.

Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a pioneer in the exploitation of the mechanical action of light: radiation pressure, photon momentum, and electrical and magnetic forces.

Her research has been a significant driver of new physics and new technologies in biomedicine.

AIP Fellow Prof Rubinsztein-Dunlop (University of Queensland) has been awarded the SPIE Gold Medal for innovations in the transfer of optical angular momentum to matter.

This Medal is the highest honour the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers bestows.

Read more about Prof Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop and the Medal here.

We invite you to be part of this transformative initiative celebrating quantum science. Here’s how you can get involved:

Plan and register your events

Host your own Quantum Year event and use our branding to amplify your efforts. Register early to collaborate with others and avoid scheduling conflicts and create buzz for your event and the Year.

Register here: https://quantum2025.org.au/calendar/community/add

View events: https://quantum2025.org.au/events

Branding: https://quantum2025.org.au/resources

Join our committees

Help shape activities in your state by joining your local AIP branch’s Quantum Year planning committee. Please contact us if you’d like to get involved in local activities.

Partner with us

Support Quantum Year through sponsorship and help us deliver:

• Grants, lecture tours, and industry events.
• Publications celebrating Australian quantum science.

Packages start at $5,000. Learn more: quantum2025.org.au/partners.

Stay connected

Visit the AIP Quantum Year website quantum2025.org.au for updates, subscribe to the Quantum Year Bulletin, and follow AIP social media using #QuantumYear.

For sponsorship or event registration queries, contact Niall Byrne: niall@scienceinpublic.com.au or Jacqui Tyack: jacqui@scienceinpublic.com.au.

Let’s make Quantum Year an incredible success!

What do you know about the AIP and what do you think?

Your feedback is essential to helping us improve and grow.

We invite you to complete our AIP Member Survey.

Once completed, you will have the chance to win a year of free membership, with access to awards, scholarships, the Australian Physics magazine, and more.

The survey asks about your awareness of AIP initiatives, such as advocacy and member benefits and services, and what you would like to see from the AIP at the National and Branch level.

Deadline extended! Entries close on 16 February 2025.

Thank you for your time and good luck!

Get started now

All responses are anonymous.
The winner will be randomly drawn from all participants who submit a completed survey and opt in to the prize draw.
Winners will be notified by email.
This prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

The winners of the 2024 AIP ACT Photography Competition:

“Doubling Up: Reflection and Refraction”

This photo demonstrates how light interacts within a calcite crystal rhomb.

When light passes through the cleavage plane (a fracture within a crystal) it splits into two beams, creating two laser beams in the left rhomb and a double image in the right rhomb.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Dr Margaret Wegener.

“Laser Cavities for Quantum Science”

A laser cavity is an enclosed space with mirrors that can control the resonant frequency of the light beam, causing constructive interference and standing waves.

This technology is used in a variety of physics applications from spectroscopy to quantum computing.

The Second Prize was awarded to Jayne Ion.

“Surface Tension”

Water’s strong surface tension causes individual droplets to shrink to the smallest surface area possible.

This effect is more prominent when the water drop is on a hydrophobic surface, such as a waxy leaf covered in tiny hair papilla.

The Secondary Sector Award was awarded to David Stewart.

Congratulations to the winners and everyone who participated.

The annual photo competition is run by the ACT branch and open to members Australia-wide.

The winner will have their photo published in next year’s monthly newsletters.

That’s the 2024 tally of Year 10-12 students (aka NextGen science stars) who woke up extra early to join the ‘Girls in Physics Breakfasts’ initiative in six locations across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Championed by the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network, with the support of Invergowrie Foundation, the initiative aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in physics and STEM by facilitating connections with accomplished women role models in these fields.

The 2024 program covered events in Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Mildura, Monash, and Traralgon. Each featured guest speakers, interactive sessions and panel discussions.

Speakers included:

• Professor Emma Ryan-Weber, Swinburne University of Technology
• Associate Professor Gail Iles, RMIT University
• Associate Professor Kaye Morgan, Monash University
• Ms Natalie Clements, GenesisCare
• Professor Wendy Timms, Deakin University
• Professor Bre-Anne Sainsbury, Deakin University
• AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2024, Professor Susan Coppersmith, UNSW Sydney (whose presentation was livestreamed)

All shared insights into their educational and professional journeys, challenges faced along the way, and the rewards of pursuing a career in STEM.

The result? Students reported renewed enthusiasm for STEM and appreciated insights on career paths and diverse experiences shared by speakers.

Launched in 2016, Girls in Physics Breakfasts puts an emphasis on demystifying STEM by enabling students to share a table with – and ask questions of – women role models who are either in a career in physics or engineering or attending university.

Looking ahead, the initiative is exploring virtual sessions to reach more students, especially in regional and remote locations.

Venues and speakers for 2025 are currently being finalised. For more information, please contact: projects@vicphysics.org

Fellowship of the AIP (FAIP) is an honour that recognises significant acknowledged impact over a sustained period.

Impact may be demonstrated through outstanding original research; significant contributions to education; significant development of industrial applications of physics; and leadership in government of industry, or outstanding contributions to outreach or service to physics.

Congratulations to the AIP Fellows elected in 2024:

• Prof Daoyi Dong FAIP, The Australian National University
• Prof Joanne Etheridge FAIP FAA, Monash University
• Prof Yuerui Lu FAIP, The Australian National University
• Prof Andy Martin FAIP, University of Melbourne
• Prof Harry M Quiney FAIP, University of Melbourne
• Prof Soumitra Satapathi FAIP, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
• Prof Michael Tobar FAIP, The University of Western Australia
• A/Prof Muhammad Usman FAIP, CSIRO
• Prof Zongyou Yin FAIP FRSC, The Australian National University

Newly elected Fellows will be presented with their certificates at the AIP Congress in Melbourne next month.

Read more about nominations for Fellowship of the AIP.

The 33rd General Assembly of IUPAP (The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics) was held in October.

The following Australian nominees were elected to roles on IUPAP commissions for 2025-2027:

A/Prof Yvonne Wong (UNSW Sydney):
C4, Commission on Astroparticle Physics

Dr Carla Verdi (The University of Queensland):
C10, Commission on Structure and Dynamics of Condensed Matter

Prof Nicole Bell (The University of Melbourne):
C11, Commission on Particles and Fields

Prof Manjula Sharma (The University of Sydney):
Chair, C14, Commission on Physics Education

Prof Jan de Gier (The University of Melbourne):
Vice-Chair, C18, Commission on Mathematical Physics

Prof Derek Leinweber (The University of Adelaide):
C20, Commission on Computational Physics

The AIP VIC branch ran a field trip to the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) on 25 October this year.

This major new facility – the only underground science lab in the southern hemisphere – is located 1km beneath the surface, in the Stawell Gold Mine in regional Victoria. SUPL is designed to host dark matter experiments and other science projects that require an ultra-low radiation environment provided by a deep underground lab.

Twenty AIP members made the journey underground, including students, professors, high school teachers, and physicists in industry.  They saw the new infrastructure and heard commentary from SUPL Facility Manager Kim Mintern-Lane and AIP President (and dark matter physicist!) Prof Nicole Bell.