The AIP has been informed of the passing of Em/Prof Ronald Gardiner in June. Gardiner began his academic journey in the United Kingdom, where he excelled as a pilot in the University Air Squadron.

His career led him to The University of Queensland, as a senior lecturer in physics. Gardiner worked his way up to Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) at QUT, where he pioneered Peer Assisted Study Sessions and lead the Academic Staff Development Unit.

His long and distinguished service to higher education was acknowledged with Emeritus Professor Status by the QUT board in 1996, and Fellowship of the AIP.

Read more about Gardiner’s life on page 4 of the Inside QUT newspaper.

The Gardiner family have invited the AIP community to attend Ronald’s memorial service:
11 am Friday 11 July
QUT Garden Theatre, Brisbane.
Web link for service: https://qut.zoom.us/j/82259872596?pwd=PG6TDSCojsexQeVCMHbTCFcNi6chhg.1
Password: 331 718

AIP members toured ANSTO’s Low-Level Radiation labs in Sydney, where A/Prof Tony Hooker gave a presentation on low-dose radiation exposure.

Tony also talked about two of the quietest places on Earth: the 1 km deep Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) in Victoria, and Canada’s 2 km deep SNOLAB. These labs are so isolated that the smallest signals can be measured as scientists search for the secrets of dark matter, develop quantum technologies, and study life in extreme environments.

The ACT Branch of the Australian Institute of Physics is once again inviting photographers of all levels (and all branches across Australia) to participate in our photography competition celebrating the awe-inspiring beauty of physics.

Closing date is 30 September 2025. Details of how to enter are here.

Winners of the 2024 competition and descriptions of the physics behind each image are here.

The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition is an educational astronomy competition open to students from around the world. In three rounds, students use their problem-solving skills and expand their knowledge through diverse astronomy and astrophysics problems. Since its launch in 2019, IAAC has reached over 28,000 students and involved 1,400 educators from more than 120 countries.

This year's prizes include telescopes signed by the astronaut Frank De Winne and Nobel Prize laureates François Englert, Michel Mayor, Gerard 't Hooft and Didier Queloz.

The submission deadline for this year's Qualification Round is Friday, 4 July 2025

More information

Abstract submission is open and registration will open 7 June.

The AIP has a stellar line up of plenary speakers for its Summer Meeting.

Distinguished Professor Chennupati Jagadish is the President of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and was recently elected as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Prof Jagadish will speak on "Semiconductor Nanostructures for Optoelectronics Applications".

Professor Elizabeth Angstmann won the Universities Australia Award for University Teaching and the Australian Institute of Physics Education Medal. This year, she has an ACDS fellowship with the project “Beyond Grades: Embracing Competency-Based Assessment for Enhanced Learning”. Prof Angstmann will present on Physics Education.

View the full list of Plenary speakers here.

Join a conversation at the teachers’ breakfast on 4 December on how collaboration between schools, universities, and the broader physics community can support and sustain student engagement in physics.

The Panellists are:

Russ Taunton, STEM Project Officer, Corrimal HS & Lake Illawarra HS & Warrawong HS. A local teacher shares insights into curriculum delivery and student engagement.

A/Prof Helen Georgiou, School of Education, University of Wollongong. An academic discusses transition challenges and outreach successes.

Georgia Watson, Coordinator of The LIFT Project, iAccelerate, University of Wollongong. A representative highlights how industry supports physics education beyond the classroom.

Read more about the AIP Summer Meeting here.

The Australian-New Zealand Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Conference, colloquially known as “Wagga”, has been held almost annually at the Charles Sturt University Conference Centre, Wagga Wagga, NSW, since 1977.

In February 2026, Wagga will attract an international delegation from the Asia Pacific region. Catch up and hear recent advances in condensed matter research from Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

The AIP is a member of the Association of Asia Pacific Physics Societies (AAPPS), supporting physics research and collaboration throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2021, the AIP has also had representation on the executive committee of the AAPPS subgroup, the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.

Read more about the conference here.

The school theme for National Science Week in August 2025 is ‘Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language’.

Students and teachers across Australia are invited to delve into the mysteries of the Universe by exploring the fundamental languages of nature, including mathematics and quantum science.

Aligned with Quantum Year and the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which is being hosted in Australia, this theme serves as a bridge between basic science education and the exploration of specialised topics.

“Decoding the Universe” will empower educators to inspire and engage students by exploring the mathematics and quantum science that underpin both the natural world and the modern technologies we use every day, from photosynthesis to satellite navigation.

Read more about the theme announcement here.

Download the 2025 School Resource Book of Ideas for National Science Week here.

“Ocean temperatures and stored heat are rising at an accelerating rate, which cannot be explained by current climate models. However, quantum-thermal physics provides a mechanism to explain this acceleration. This mechanism predicts that the total stored heat and near surface temperatures will cease rising at ever faster rates only once the greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere stabilises.”

This is an excerpt of an article by Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith, from the University of Technology Sydney, on the quantum phenomena responsible for ocean warming. The full article appears in the next edition of Australian Physics, on its way to Member’s mailboxes next week.

The following excerpt by Professor Jared Cole, RMIT University, Associate Professor Trevor Finlayson, the University of Melbourne, and Dr Kirrily Rule, ANSTO, reflects on the status of Australian condensed matter research.

“Research in this area is recognised for its remarkable depth and breadth, driven by a strong desire to establish Australia as a major player on the global stage of cutting-edge research. This article considers some of the ingredients that are key to the success of condensed matter physics in Australia, both historically and into the future.”

Members receive the Australian Physics magazine every quarter. Join the AIP to receive this and other benefits.

The Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies (AAPPS) and the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP) have jointly established the AAPPS-APCTP Chen-Ning Yang Award (C.N. Yang Award) to honor young researchers with prominent research achievements and to promote the development of leaders in physics in the Asia Pacific region. 

As a member society of the AAPPS, each AIP Group may make one nomination every year to this award. The deadline for nominations is 2 June 2025.

Are you planning on attending the AIP Summer Meeting this year? Join or upgrade now to ensure you are eligible for an AIP Student Travel Grant.

Higher degree students who have been financial members of the AIP for at least six months are eligible to apply for AIP Student Travel Grants of up to $500. Applicants must be presenting a paper (oral or poster) at a national or international level physics meeting in Australia and New Zealand, or an international physics meeting held outside Australasia.

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Please note that travel grants are not available to free student associates. Join or upgrade to full membership now to ensure that you are eligible for support to attend the 2025 AIP Summer Meeting! Financial members of the AIP are also eligible for discounted registration to AIP events, receive physical copies of Australian Physics magazine, voting rights and many other member benefits.

Join or upgrade