The recent downsizing of physics departments at universities and national labs is a concerning trend with some universities reducing or removing physics education entirely.

We want to hear your ideas at the Summer Meeting on how physics may be recognised for its critical importance to Australia today and into the future.

Students, schoolteachers, academics, and industry partners are encouraged to engage in this conversation. The ‘Future of Australian Physics’ forum will be hosted by Prof Martin White, University of Adelaide, on 2 December at the Summer Meeting. Read more.

Josh Green was presented the 2025 Thomas H Laby award for his thesis addressing the challenge of encoding information in the amplitudes of quantum systems.

He explored how tensor networks and machine learning can help prepare these quantum states efficiently.

Josh received his prize from Ben Travaglione, WA Branch Chair, at a recent Centre for Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms (QUISA) meeting before moving to the UK for a Masters in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence at the University of Cambridge.

Josh was a research associate at QUISA.

The other AIP 2025 awards will be presented at the Summer Meeting in Wollongong on 3 December.

The QUISA meeting where Josh Green was presented his Thomas H Laby award.

Registration is now open for the 48th Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Meeting (CMM), co-hosted with the 6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Condensed Matter Physics (AC2MP). The meeting will be held from 9–13 February 2026 at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW.

This year’s joint meeting will bring together Australia’s condensed matter and materials physics community with colleagues from across the Asia-Pacific region for five days of science, networking, and collaboration — in true Wagga style!

Key Updates:

• Abstract submission deadline extended to 15 November 2025
• Registration now open

Submit your abstract and register here: www.aip.org.au/CMM-Conference  

Applications for the 2026 Propel program are currently open  Propel will award 3,000 two-year undergraduate scholarships, providing students with access to education and career opportunities associated with AUKUS.

Propel provides:  

• Financial support to study tertiary studies in priority STEM subjects
• Connections and engagement with students, the Australian Submarine Agency, and the Nuclear Powered Submarine enterprise
• Awareness of ASA and Defence entry-level workforce programs

Applicants are required to meet three eligibility criteria:  

• Be enrolled as a domestic student at an Australian university. 
• Be studying one or more STEM bachelor (undergraduate) degrees, as listed in the application guidelines.
• Have at least 2 years of full-time or equivalent study remaining in their degree.

Applications close at 11:59am (AEDT) Monday 10 November 2025.

More information

The AMSI Female Specialist Maths Scholarships for 2026/7 are now open to current year 10 female students Australia-wide, who intend to study Specialist Maths in year 11 in 2026 and year 12 in 2027.

This program aims to address the persistently low participation rates of female students in specialist mathematics by providing these scholars with vital resources and mentoring support. Scholarships are for two-years (valued at $3000 per year).

Closing at midnight, Friday 14 November 2025.

The AIP is offering a limited number of travel awards for students presenting papers at the Summer Meeting in Wollongong in December. Read more and apply by 31 October.

The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) are also sponsoring flights for students to attend the meeting. Apply by 9 October.

The presentation types have now been allocated and the early bird registration has been extended to 9 October to accommodate this.

Applications are now open for the 2026 CSIRO Alumni Scholarship in Physics.

The $6,000 travel scholarship aims to connect the brightest young physicists or mathematicians to a leading research centre overseas or in Australia.

Research in physics and mathematics is fundamental for Australia’s future. The founders of this scholarship know that early experience in leading overseas laboratories greatly benefits the graduate embarking on a research career and Australian science.

Applications close: Friday 28 November 2025

Apply Now

Read about our former winners

Registration opens 20 October 2025 for the 48th Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Meeting (CMM), co-hosted with the 6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Condensed Matter Physics (AC2MP). The meeting will be held 9–13 February 2026 at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Known as “Wagga,” this flagship meeting brings together the condensed matter and materials physics community — and in 2026 will also welcome colleagues from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Dates

• Abstract submissions close: 1 November 2025

• Registration opens: 20 October 2025

• Registration closes: 8 December 2025

Expect an exciting scientific program plus socials in true Wagga style, including wine tasting, a trivia night, and a site visit to Halocell Energy.

Details, abstract submission, and registration: www.aip.org.au/CMM-Conference