Adapted from the Office for the Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science.

Seventy years ago, Australia’s first nuclear science research facility opened at Lucas Heights.

It was a landmark moment for our scientific community and the Australian public.

Since 18 April 1953, Lucas Heights has hosted some of the most sophisticated public research work ever conducted on our shores.

It has made possible life-changing advances in the diagnoses and treatment of cancer and other diseases.

It has helped our scientists confront environmental challenges and support industry and advanced manufacturing, including when it used its own technology to find a missing radioactive capsule in mid-west Western Australia a few months ago.

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) stewardship has led it to become one of Australia’s most recognised and respected scientific research bodies.

“ANSTO and its nuclear facilities have made an incredible contribution to Australian life,” says Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science.

“It’s estimated every Australian will have an average of two procedures using nuclear medicine throughout their lives.

“In particular, countless cancer patients have had their lives extended with radiotherapy treatments made available through ANSTO.

“For seven decades our publicly funded nuclear research has also supported our industrial growth and helped confront environmental challenges.”

The Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) welcomes the recommendations of the ARC Review report , which reflect the major issues we highlighted in our submission to the ARC Review consultation process.

Our advocacy efforts to lobby for a modernised ARC are summarised in a recent COSMOS article. 

The AIP hopes to see the implementation of these recommendations as soon as possible.

The Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) is excited to announce our agreement with The Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for their 2023 Mentoring Program. This opportunity is available to AIP Early Career Research (ECR) members who are looking to gain unique knowledge, insights, and advice from industry experts while developing their career paths.

We are thrilled to offer up to 10 AIP ECRs the chance to participate in this program. The AIP will cover half of the cost ($150), while the member taking part will pay the remaining half ($150).

The RACI Mentoring Program offers students and early career researchers the chance to receive regular guidance and support, career advice, and support throughout the process of finding a job. It also provides networking opportunities through facilitated networking events where mentors can introduce mentees to contacts.

The program is open to all early career AIP members and student members, including undergraduate or postgraduate students, postdocs, and ECR staff.

AIP members can apply by contacting us at aip@aip.org.au . The application deadline is 23 April, so interested parties should act quickly.

Mentoring is a two-way process, and the ideal mentee will be energetic, enthusiastic, and willing to actively participate in the mentoring process, which typically requires approximately 2-3 hours per month, as well as occasional networking events. This program is particularly well-suited for students who will be completing their studies in 2023 and are looking to get a head start on their career path.

The RACI Mentoring Program has been highly successful, with 80% of students finding a job within one month of graduation. We believe that this program can help AIP members achieve similar success and reach their full potential. Please email us to express your interest in the program, and we will provide you with all the necessary information to apply.

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you take the next step in your career.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Australian Academy of Science’s (AAS) 2023 honorific awards.

Among them we find physicists working on gravitational waves, atomic structures of glass and the ‘world’s thinnest lens’.

From an interest sparked while watching the moon landing on television to detecting gravitational waves from the hearts of neutron stars: Prof Susan Scott, from The Australian National University, has been awarded the 2023 AAS Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal for outstanding achievements in maths and physics.

Using physics to understanding the structure of disordered solids like different types of glass: congratulations to Dr Amelia Liu, from Monash University, who was awarded the 2023 AAS John Booker Medal in Engineering Science.

"Nanotechnology allows us to do big things from a tiny world": congratulations to Prof Yuerui Lu, from ANU, who is winner of the AAS Pawsey Medal 2023 for outstanding research in physics.

See ‘Australia’s stars of science’ on the AAS website.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 honorific awards. Nominations close 1 May 2023.

The AUKUS agreement about Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is “the single biggest investment in our defence capability in our history and represents a transformational moment for our nation, our Defence Force and our economy,” according to a joint release in March from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Defence Richard Marles.

AIP President Prof Nicole Bell responded to the announcement to highlight Australia’s need to build nuclear physics skills to support the program.

“Australia has a critical  skills shortage in nuclear physics. We have an urgent need to develop our capabilities to support the development of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program,” says Prof Bell.

“Our universities have very few personnel with the expertise to deliver the training programs that will be required. Funding for new positions in nuclear physics is urgently needed,” says Prof Bell.

“These skills are also needed for many other applications including medicine, such as radiotherapy treatment, and in the space industry, such as developing satellites that can withstand radiation in space.”

In December, the AIP called for urgent action to train a nuclear savvy generation.

A government statement has said that as part of the Agreement, the Albanese Government and South Australia have pledged to work together to realise, “An increase in Commonwealth Supported Places to South Australia Universities over the next four years, focused on STEM disciplines in professional engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical), computer science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, psychology and management.

“The Commonwealth will allocate an additional 800 places to South Australia Universities over the next four years, with the first 200 places commencing in 2024.” Read the full statement.

If you’re a great organiser and would like to increase your visibility and build your network in physics, consider taking on the role of Honorary Secretary for the AIP.

The Honorary Secretary is supported by our Operations Manager who oversees much of the membership enquiries and daily tasks of the AIP.

The Honorary National Secretary is a company Director of the AIP, contributing to strategic decisions and helping to coordinate the day-to-day activities of the institute.

Tasks include responding to emails, organising executive and branch chair meetings including the annual Council meeting and AGM, governance reporting, and liaising with stakeholders such as cognate societies, STA, AAS, IUPAP and AAPPS.

After six years of dedicated service, our current Honorary National Secretary, Associate Professor Kirrily Rule, is stepping down. So, we are looking for someone to step into this organisational and communication role within the AIP.

“This role is extremely rewarding and a fantastic way to grow your network of physicists from across the country and around the world,” says Kirrily. 

“It gives high visibility to the person undertaking these activities and the Secretary has their finger on the pulse of physics within Australia.”

Whilst the Secretary role does not have a constitutionally limited tenure, it is expected that most secretaries will perform this role for around 2-3 years.

If you’re interested in finding out more, contact Kirrily at aip_secretary@aip.org.au today.

Over the past 60 years, the AIP, through its Council, Executive, committees, groups and branches, has been a staunch advocate of physics in Australia, including responding to governmental issues or other pressing national concerns.

Recent examples include efforts to pivot to ethical banking and drafting a new diversity and inclusion statement.

It continues to seek the provision of world-standard national research facilities and funding, and learning, such as the recent review the Australian Research Council Act, comments on changes to the school science syllabus, and advocating for the independence of the ARC at a Senate inquiry.

The AIP was established on 21 February 1963, evolving from the Australian Branch of the Institute of Physics (IOP) in the UK.

Almost 500 members of the IOP had their membership moved to the AIP, providing the new Institute with a solid foundation for establishing itself as a separate entity; with the assets of the Australian Branch of the IOP transferred to the AIP. Today, nine of those original members are still active members of AIP.

The Australian Physics magazine began in 1964, and continues to be a forum for the AIP and its members to explore advances in physics and connect with the physics community.

The AIP commenced its own congresses in 1974 – these have been held biennially ever since, except for two interruptions: industrial issues in the aviation industry and the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view the program and abstracts from 1974 and also see our most recent program from 2022 online.

The inaugural AIP Council was:

• Professor Leonard Huxley (President) – later Sir
• Mr Frederick Lehany (Vice-President) 
• Mr George Bell (Hon. Treasurer)
• Dr John Dryden (Hon. Registrar)
• Mr Arthur Harper (Hon. Secretary) – became Honorary Fellow
• Professor John Jaeger (Chair, ACT Branch)
• Dr Guy White (Chair, NSW Branch)
• Dr Ralph Parsons (Chair, Queensland Branch)
• Dr Francis Wood (Chair, SA Branch)
• Dr Brian Spicer (Chair Victorian Branch) – became Honorary Fellow
• Mr RW Stanford (Chair WA Branch)

The Tasmanian branch was formed subsequently.

In 2023, the AIP’s award nomination due dates are moving earlier in the year.

We encourage everyone who is considering nominating themselves or others for an award, to start thinking and preparing now for their applications. The due dates and awards available for 2023 are:

• The TH Laby Medal – due by 1 April
• Bragg Gold Medal for Excellence – due by 1 May
• Walter Boas Medal – due by 1 April.

See the AIP website for nomination details for each medal.

For the TH Laby and Bragg Gold medals, we encourage you to get in touch with your local branch, as the award is submitted to local branches first. The branches may have specific details for submission. You can find the contacts for each branch on the AIP website. 

The only award nomination date not changing is the Women in Physics Lecture Tour for 2024, which is due 1 June.

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about the awards or application process. Just email the Awards Officer at  aip_awards@aip.org.au.

CN Yang Awards

The CN Yang Award is an international award that the AIP Groups are eligible to nominate a candidate for. 

The Award has been established to honour young researchers with prominent research achievements and to promote the development of leaders in physics in the Asia Pacific region. 

The award does not have a closing date on its website for 2023 yet, however, we have been advised the closing date will be a little later in the year this year. The AIP encourages each group to determine, earlier rather than later, if a suitable candidate is available for nomination. 

As this award is not administered by the AIP, the submissions will not be sent directly AIP’s Awards Officer. You can find out more about the award from the main website, and the AIP’s website. 

• Applications close 10 Feb

  Science and Technology Australia (STA) is calling for nominations to attend Science Meets Parliament 2023. As a STA member organisation, the AIP is sponsoring two selected delegates to attend the program.

  We encourage early career researchers to apply as well as those more senior.
  
  Science Meets Parliament offers science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals a program of bespoke training to help forge deeper connections between federal Parliamentarians and the STEM community.

  This year, STA will deliver the program in two parts:

1. Online: Over three days (7,8,9 March), Science & Technology Australia will deliver Science Meets Parliament training, professional development and inspiring speakers online.
2. On ‘the hill’: Following the online training, delegates are invited for an in-person event in Parliament House in Canberra (Wednesday 22 March) to meet with Members of Parliament, attend the National Press Club address and the Welcome Reception and National Gala Dinner. 
   
   See more info about the program, and the special additional day event – 'Building the SABRE Biosecurity Alliance'.

• A CV, no longer than one page;
• A statement, no longer than one page, indicating why you would like to attend and what you hope to gain from the experience.

The AIP will cover your registration for the event. 

Please send your expressions of interest to aip_secretary@aip.org.au by 10 Feb.

The executive team will assess each application, taking into account gender balance, research area balance and geographic coverage.

Travel scholarships are currently available via STA https://sta.eventsair.com/science-meets-parliament-2023/registration, also closing on 10 Feb.

More information about this year’s Science Meets Parliament can be found at https://sta.eventsair.com/science-meets-parliament-2023.

The 2022 AIP Congress secured some high quality and high impact media coverage, with over 300 news articles around the world mentioning the Congress and/or its speakers.

Highlights of the coverage included:

• Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland talking for twenty minutes on Radio National’s Drive program, and also on 5AA’s breakfast show

• A call to boost nuclear science education with AJ Mitchell on RN Breakfast, ABC Melbourne Drive, and in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

• Andrew Stuchbery and Ken Baldwin talking ‘everywhere’ about the US fusion announcement, including RN Breakfast, ABC News, ABC News Breakfast and The Australian amongst 280 stories around the world, with the help of the AusSMC who picked up and recirculated their comments, referencing the Congress.

• Cathy Foley with an opinion piece about investment in Australia’s quantum sector.

More story highlights from the Congress included:

• Giant machines for giant questions: SKA, gravitational waves, ESO
• An unlucky star. A new comb.
• Diamonds in your phone. Mining for dark matter
• Quantum composer. Navigation without GPS. War disrupts physics
• Nobel lasers, before the Big Bang, are we winning the quantum race, and more.

See the Congress speakers in the news media, including:

Ken Baldwin on ABC News Breakfast talking about fusion energy

Andrew Stuchbery on RN Breakfast commenting on the US fusion breakthrough

AJ Mitchell on RN Breakfast and ABC Melbourne with a call to boost nuclear science education

Ken Baldwin in The Australian on the fusion breakthrough

Expert comments on fusion breakthrough via AusSMC

Cathy Foley with her opinion piece about investment in Australia’s quantum sector.