School of Physics, University of Sydney

05/04/2017

Nowadays, there are 10 billion mobile devices connected to the wireless network and all require bandwidth and capacity - PhD Student Yang Liu.
..this technology will be crucial not only to safeguard our defence capabilities, it will also help foster the so-called wireless revolution - where more and more devices are connected to the wireless network. This includes the internet of things, fifth generation (5G) communications, and smart home and smart cities - Professor Eggleton.

Researchers from the ARC Centre for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS) in the University of Sydney's Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology have made a breakthrough achieving radio frequency signal control at sub-nanosecond time scales on a chip-scale optical…

20/05/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- Catch up with our AINST Flagship Research Program Leaders as they answer Reddit's questions on nanoscale science, how it can change society and how you can become involved in nanoscale science and research in today's Science AMA Series.

- What does it mean to achieve equity in academia? Maryanne Large outlines the challenges women face and some of the steps required to address equity issues in an interview with Honi Soit.

- Keep an eye out for Vanessa Moss and Luke Barnes as they participate in the Vivid Sydney Event "The Story of Light: Deciphering the Data Encoded in the Cosmic Light" at the Powerhouse Museum on May 29!

- NASA's discovery of 1300 new planets outside our solar system kept us busy, as Tim Bedding, Simon Murphy and Daniel Huber spoke to ABC News (Melbourne), Today Tonight (Adelaide) and Fairfax Media respectively.

- We've opened the Parenting Room! Facilities such as changing tables and a nursing chair continue the equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives taken by the School of Physics to support all staff, students and visitors.

Links:
AINST Flagship Program Leaders AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4k49mm/science_ama_series_we_are_university_of_sydney/
Maryanne Large in Honi Soit: https://issuu.com/srcpubs/docs/honi_soit_2016__semester_1_-_week_1_15100b9d31e987
The Story of Light Vivid Sydney Event: http://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/story-light-deciphering-data-encoded-cosmic-light
Simon Murphy on Today Tonight (Adelaide): http://www.todaytonightadelaide.com.au/stories/kepler-discovery
Daniel Huber in The Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/discovered-the-greatest-ever-stash-of-alien-orbs-20160511-gosq2o.html

Photo Credits:
Michael, Ben and David answering Reddit AMA questions: University of Sydney
Parenting Room: Nathan Apps
Extraterrestrial Planets: W. Stenzel/NASA

19/05/2016

Want to know how nanoscale science works? Ask our Flagship Program Leaders on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4k49mm/science_ama_series_we_are_university_of_sydney/

Hi Reddit! We (Professor David Reilly, Professor Benjamin Eggleton, Associate Professor Michael Biercuk) have just moved into a $150 million...

06/05/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- How do we find exoplanets? Join Natalie Batalha, NASA Mission Scientist for the Kepler Mission at the Professor Walter Stibbs Lecture for 2016 on the Sydney Ideas SoundCloud.

- "I think he does a fantastic job and it's really great to see a politician have some knowledge of the field." - David Reily on Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's explanation of quantum computing

- Why study Physics? Watch astrophysicist Vanessa Moss as she outlines how Physics got her and colleagues where they are!

- What does Nanophotonics mean for you? Ben Eggleton enlightens us all on the immense possibilities for nanophotonics.

Links:
Natalie Batalha on exoplanets: https://soundcloud.com/sydney-ideas/professor-walter-stibbs-lecture-2016-dr-natalie-batalha-nasa-ames-research-center
Vanessa Moss on studying physics (courtesy of Caastro in the Classroom): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KQiUwzsvN0
David Reily on Justin Trudeau:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/05/03/justin-trudeau-quantum-computing-dave-reilly_n_9835088.html
Ben Eggleton on Nanophotonics:
https://theconversation.com/small-and-bright-what-nanophotonics-means-for-you-58747

Picture Credits:
Natalie Batalha: Dan Huber at on Twitter
Vanessa Moss: CAASTRO
David Reily: Video Still - Tom Compagnoni
Nanophotonics: CUDOS

29/04/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- Where can a degree in Physics take you? University of Sydney Physics students have the chance to meet Dr Michelle Deaker, Rebecca Lodin and Sandra Tavener at the first Physics Career Symposium for 2016 on Tuesday 24 May 2016 as they tell us how they broke into their respective fields!

- Why should you study Physics? Our friends over in Caastro in the Classroom have a special livestream for school students on Tuesday 3 May, where Vanessa Moss will share her perspective on where Physics has taken her and her colleagues!

- Join Warwick Holmes, former ESA Avionics System Engineer, at his Sydney Ideas talk on Tuesday 10 May as he talks about the Rosetta Project and how exactly do you build a satellite to land on Comet-67P.

- Catch up with Ben Eggleton on ABC News 24 as he follows up on the launch of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology on nanotechnology, photonics and quantum computing.

- What planet does Miley Cyrus have on her arm? John O'Byrne clarifies the situation for The Washington Post.

Links and Registration Details:
Physics Career Symposium: Tuesday 24 May 2016 at 1.00pm – 2:00pm, Physics Lecture Theatre 2, Level 4 Physics Building A28; register through vaiju.deb at the sydney.edu.au email domain

CAASTRO in the Classroom: http://www.caastro.org/registration-for-live-streaming-event

Warwick Holmes on the Rosetta Project: http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-warwick-holmes

Ben Eggleton on Weekend Breakfast, ABC News 24: http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=e58958d6-8cd3-4a09-8bc9-11389f586d51

Miley Cyrus's New Tattoo: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/28/miley-cyrus-jupiter-tattoo-looks-suspiciously-like-a-different-planet/

Photo Credits:
Michelle Deaker, Rebecca Lodin and Sandra Tavener: University of Sydney
Vanessa Moss: CAASTRO
Warwick Holmes: Sydney Ideas
Ben Eggleton on ABC Weekend Breakfast: Screencap from ABC
Miley Cyrus: Instagram

22/04/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- Over the last 3 days, we've had the official launch of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, beginning with Joanna Aizenberg's talk on Slippery Surfaces, and continuing with the Scientific Meeting which outlined the exciting science at the nanoscale! To follow the launch, look up on Twitter and check out the news articles on the launch of AINST on the web and below.

- Catch David Reily on ABC 730 combining his passions of music and quantum physics in a feature on the quantum computing arms race.

- Don't forget to register for the Professor Walter Stibbs Lecture 2016 on 28 April, featuring Natalie Batalha, NASA Mission Scientist for the Kepler Mission on the search for exoplanets using the Kepler Space Telescope!

- Crowdfunding science? Geraint Lewis gives us the history of the Wow! signal as efforts are in motion to determine what the Wow! signal is using crowdfunding sources.

- The School celebrated the birthday of Ian Falconer at the fortnightly morning tea. Congratulations Ian and thank you for all your contributions to the School of Physics!

Links and Registration:
The launch of AINST: http://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2016/04/20/australia_s-first-facility-built-for-nanoscience-launched.html

Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SydneyNano&src=typd

AINST: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-20/nanoscience-centre-helps-microsoft-enter-computer-arms-race/7341318

AINST: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/sydney-university-vicechancellor-rails-against-stupid-thinking-on-innovation-20160420-goan9c.html

AINST Director Thomas Maschmeyer on Innovation: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/thomas-maschmeyer-on-innovation-20160419-go9w3a.html

David Reily and Norman Whitaker: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4447258.htm

Natalie Batalha's talk: http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-natalie-batalha

Wow! Signal Crowdfunding: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-15/crowdfunding-could-help-solve-wow!-signal-mystery/7331156

Photo credits:
AINST Launch: Shiva Ford
Natalie Batalha: NASA
Wow! Signal: ABC News
Ian's Birthday: Sam Toefy

20/04/2016

At the launch of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology!

19/04/2016

Joanna Aizenberg brings a full crowd into the Messel Lecture Theatre for her talk on Slippery Surfaces as part of Sydney Ideas and the launch of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology!

15/04/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- Congratulations to all our School of Physics students who graduated yesterday! We applaud your hard work and dedication over many years and wish you all the best!

- The Official Launch of the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology (AINST) is happening next week! It all starts on Tuesday 19 April with Professor Joanna Aizenberg giving a public Sydney Ideas talk on 'Slippery Surfaces'; followed by the Scientific Meeting on Wednesday 20 - Thursday 21 April featuring the latest in Nanoscale science; from photonics to materials science to biology and more! See below for links and registration details.

- What do you do when Moore's Law is reaching its limit? David Reilly outlines the options in an article in the April 9 edition of The Weekend Australian.

- Geraint Lewis Skyped into the Stage 3 classroom at St Mel's Catholic Primary School, Campsie to answer questions all about space, including black holes!

- In a look back at the history of the School of Physics, Professor Jennifer Clarke from the University of New England goes through the archives to write about the enduring efforts of Emeritus Professor Harry Messel to educate girls and women about science and physics during his tenure as the Head of School.

Links, registration and more information:
Sydney Ideas with Professor Joanna Aizenberg: http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-professor-joanna-aizenberg
AINST Scientific Meeting: https://events.sydney.edu.au/office2/getdemo.ei?id=20608&s=_6300TKIC5
David Reilly in The Australian (subscription required) - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/artificial-intelligence-a-super-power-on-the-rise-in-the-cloud/news-story/ebd96246052c4bef3d3845613877085b
Harry Messel and Girls in Science (Page 18-22):http://sydney.edu.au/arms/archives/Record%202014_SydUni_web.pdf

Picture Credits:
Joanna Aizenberg: Sydney Ideas
David Reilly: Britta Campion
Summer School Students in 1962: Science Foundation for Physics

12/04/2016

We would like to bring to your attention two upcoming Sydney Ideas presentations:

- The Sydney Institute of Astronomy will co-host the Professor Walter Stibbs Lecture, where Dr Natalie Batalha will enlighten us on the serach for planets using the Kepler space observatory
http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-natalie-batalha

- Sydney SpaceNet will co-host Warwick Holmes, who will give us an insider view, as a former ESA Avionics System Engineer, on the Rosetta Project, the first interplanetary mission to orbit and land a spacecraft on a Comet amongst numerous other firsts
http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/sydney-ideas-warwick-holmes

We hope to see you there on both nights, so make sure to click on the links to register for these fascinating, out-of-this-world presentations!

08/04/2016

The School of Physics Friday Feed:
- The Autumn 2016 Physics News is dedicated to the women of the School of Physics. We tell their stories and recognise the immense contribution women have made to the School of Physics since its inception and continue our efforts to fulfil our pledge for parity:
http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/pdfs/alumni/Physics-Newsletter-autumn-2016-web.pdf

- Catch up with Mike Biercuk on the Innovation, Collaboration & NBN edition of Q&A, first aired on March 28: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s4415856.htm

- How does the Moon affect the Easter dates? Geraint Lewis spoke to 702 Sydney ABC over the Easter break about how the vernal equinox affects the date of Easter.

- Researchers in CUDOS received Chinese news coverage on their paper 'Active temporal multiplexing of indistinguishable heralded single photons' published in Nature Communications on 21 March:
China Daily: http://cnews.chinadaily.com.cn/2016-03/24/content_24076539.htm
ACB News: http://www.acbnewsonline.com.au/html/2016/azjujiao_0323/16237.html
Science Home: http://www.kexuehome.com/articles/201604052693.html

24/03/2016

Another great set of feature articles on the Sydney Nanoscience Hub, this time coming from The Australian!

On the Cusp of the Nanorevolution (subscription required):
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/on-the-cusp-of-the-nano-revolution/news-story/e78e7624ea5cafea76c3dda50db50396

Sydney Nanoscience Hub: From Little Things, Big Things Grow (subscription required):
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/sydney-nanoscience-hub-from-little-things-big-things-grow/news-story/8a6a7f3d92744bc27e1b6b8db4717429

Quantum Leap into World of Photons (subscription required):
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/quantum-leap-into-world-of-photons/news-story/f4d1a789edf9439545fa02b4d4562ebb

The heritage-listed Physics Building is a charming 1920s brick construction that seems more like a stately hotel than a centre of learning at the University of Sydney. Yet in recent years its surrounds have changed. Gone are the old utilities blocks that nestled right next door. In their place is a…