The AIP is very excited to announce the following awards:

WALTER BOAS MEDAL

2019 Walter Boas Medal

Professor Andrea Morello

UNSW Sydney

For Professor Morello’s world-first demonstration of quantum information processing with single spins in silicon, and for developing the fundamental components of a silicon-based quantum computer.

2020 Walter Boas Medal

Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn

University of Sydney

Professor Bland-Hawthorn laid the foundations for modern Galactic archaeology, near-field cosmology and astrophotonics, a field that lies at the interface of photonics and astronomical instrumentation.

BRAGG GOLD MEDAL

2019 Bragg Gold Medal

Dr Samuel Gorman

University of New South Wales

For Dr Gorman’s thesis entitled: "Charge and spin dynamics in multi-donor systems"

2020 Bragg Gold Medal

Dr Alexander Bray

Australian National University

For Dr Bray’s thesis entitled: “Strong field sub-femtosecond electronic processes”

TH LABY MEDAL

2018 TH Laby Medal

Felicity Lee

Australian National University

For her thesis entitled: “Pulsed Hydrogen Plasmas: Modelling and Experiment”.

And

Albert Zhou

University of Sydney

For his thesis entitled: “The Cosmological Electroweak Phase Transition in a Scale-Invariant Standard Model”.

2019 TH Laby Medal

Simon White

University of Technology Sydney

For his thesis entitled: “Efficient Tomography of Quantum Dots in Photonic Chips”

2020 TH Laby Medal

Matthew Goh

Australian National University

For his thesis entitled: “Feedback Control of atomic Fermi Gases”

We congratulate these award winners on their achievements.  

Fifteen DECRA applications and 17 Future Fellowship applications were ruled ineligible in this round because they cited preprints such as arXiv papers.

“If you rip [money] out of physics, that’s bad to begin with. But doing it at the point where we have early career researchers establishing themselves is the worst thing you can do. That’s what we live on, bringing good new people into the system,” said Sven Rogge in an article by The Times Higher Education:
Toll of ARC’s preprints rule revealed. Fears for physics pipeline, as 32 researchers relinquish up to $22m for citing preprints.

On behalf of the Australian physics, astronomy, chemistry and mathematics communities, the AIP, ASA, RACI and AustMS coordinated a letter to the Australian Research Council to protest the ruling.

It’s also been picked up by various media outlets including The Guardian.

A letter to the Australian Research Council regarding the eligibility of grant proposals that reference preprints has been coordinated by the AIP, ASA, RACI and AustMS, on behalf on the Australian Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics communities.  It is available here:  http://aip.org.au/Advocacy.  The letter has been co-signed by leaders in these disciplines at universities across Australia. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Thanks also to those who reached out to the AIP to let us know their stories.

We are aware that a significant number of DECRA and Future Fellowship applications were ruled ineligible in this round because they cited preprints such as arXiv papers. We consider this to be completely at odds with the way modern science operates, especially in the field of Physics where arXiv papers are used routinely. The AIP is currently working on a more formal response on this issue, in coordination with other stakeholders. Please reach out to the AIP (aip@aip.org.au) urgently if you have any input on this topic.

The Australian Institute of Physics would like to congratulate all recipients of the recently announced ARC Future Fellowships and Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards, and express commiserations to those who were unsuccessful in this round. It was great to see 7 Future Fellowships and 11 DECRAs awarded in Physical Sciences this year. These projects are vital to the continued development of Australia’s outstanding physics community and provide excellent career opportunities for those selected. We are excited to see where these projects take Physics in Australia.

Equity and diversity issues must be taken seriously, says the ANU School of Physics.

In a statement, the school says its staff and students “aim to create a culture where our staff and students can work and study in an inclusive environment regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion.”

More details here.

Time is running out to take part in a survey to forge policy futures for quantum technology in Australia.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems wants to hear from Australia-based quantum researchers, industry stakeholders and associated professionals about the ethical and policy challenges posed by quantum technologies. Have your say by completing a short set of questions here.

Deadline for taking part is August 20.

More information about the project is available on the UQ SMP website.

Unlocking the secrets of rock physics through seismic surveys has earned Curtin University scientist Boris Gurevich a major award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).

Distinguished Professor Gurevich was presented with the Reginald Fessenden Award, for individuals who have made major contributions to exploration geophysics, such as an invention or a theoretical or conceptual advancement.

The award recognised his work over several decades, which has helped usher in advancements in the exploration and monitoring of underground oil, gas and groundwater resources, and the geological storage of CO₂.

National Science Week runs from August 14 to 22 and, as always, physics is well represented around the nation.

Astrophysicists Professor Alan Duffy and Dr Rebecca Allen, for instance, will be giving guided tours of the universe courtesy of a virtual reality phone app.

Scientist and entertainer Rachel Rayner Science Explainer is gearing up to amuse, inform and entertain with a thrilling exploration of photons and quantum weirdness.

And actor Lauren Gunderson is preparing a stunning bio-play about Eighteenth Century physicist Emilie du Châtelet.

For a full rundown of physics fun head to the National Science Week website here . Make sure you double-check details, though. Lockdown conditions may move some events online.

We’re on the hunt for a beautiful graph or eye-catching laboratory photo to place on the banner of the AIP website through 2022. If you think your work or workplace captures an attractive physics aesthetic, send your image to us at aip@aip.org.au!