The AIP is offering a limited number of  AIP Student Travel Awards to attend the 2026 AIP Congress in Sydney, 7-11 December. To apply, you must have been a financial student member of the AIP for at least six months prior to the deadline and be giving a presentation (oral or poster) as part of the scientific program.

Applications close 31 October 2026.

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Please note that (free) Student Associates are not eligible for travel support.

Join or upgrade to full membership now to ensure that you are eligible for support to attend future events. In addition to discounted registration to AIP events, financial members of the AIP can also receive physical copies of Australian Physics magazine, voting rights and many other member benefits.

Daniel O’Keeffe of the VicPhysics Teachers’ Network Inc. has been awarded the 2026 AIP Education Medal for his longstanding contribution to physics teaching, teachers and students in Victoria.

Dan receives the Award for outstanding service to the Physics teaching community, through the provision of excellent resources and services for teachers and students and through the continuous maintenance of and reporting on statistics on student participation in physics.

Dan has supported the physics teaching community for almost five decades, beginning with service on Physics Standing Committees in 1977. He later served on the AIP Victorian Branch Education Sub-committee and is currently Honorary Secretary of the VicPhysics Teachers’ Network Inc.

His contribution has ranged from helping develop the Extended Practical Investigation for the Victorian physics curriculum to organising Physics Teacher Conferences and professional development for beginning and returning physics teachers.

Since 2002, Dan has published a free online newsletter for secondary teachers, now reaching more than 1,500 subscribers, and established the VicPhysics Teachers’ Network website as a repository of teaching and learning resources.

He has also helped expand the Girls in Physics breakfasts from a single Melbourne event to an annual program encompassing Melbourne and regional Victoria, connecting female secondary students with women studying and working in physics-related fields.

Since 1976, Dan has maintained and analysed statistics on participation in secondary school science, providing a valuable long-term picture of physics participation and student pathways.

Dan is one of 11 members recognised with 2026 AIP Awards for outstanding accomplishments in research, leadership, education and communication. Read more about the 2026 AIP Award recipients.

The 2026 AIP Awards will be presented at AIP Congress 2026 in Sydney this December.

Professor Andrew Dzurak of UNSW Sydney has been awarded the 2026 AIP Walter Boas Medal for Excellence in Research for pioneering advances in silicon-based quantum computing,  demonstrating new methods to control, scale, and manufacture high-fidelity spin qubits in semiconductor devices compatible with conventional chip-fabrication technology 

Professor Dzurak’s research focuses on building quantum computers using the same semiconductor technologies that produce today’s microchips, potentially enabling millions of quantum bits, or qubits, to be integrated onto a single silicon chip.

In recent years, his team has addressed several major barriers to making this technology practical.

In 2024, Professor Dzurak’s team reported in Nature that silicon qubits could operate reliably above 1 kelvin, potentially reducing the cryogenic cooling required for large-scale quantum computers.

His team has also tackled the challenge of controlling millions of qubits. Research published in Nature in 2025 demonstrated that classical electronics operating at cryogenic temperatures could control silicon qubits without compromising their performance, offering a pathway towards scalable control systems.

In further research published in Nature in 2025, the team demonstrated that silicon qubits manufactured using standard semiconductor foundry tooling could operate with fidelities above 99 per cent, an important threshold for quantum error correction.

Together, these advances are helping move silicon quantum computing from laboratory research towards practical, scalable machines.

Andrew is one of 11 members recognised with 2026 AIP Awards for outstanding accomplishments in research, leadership, education and communication. Read more about the 2026 AIP Award recipients.

The 2026 AIP Awards will be presented at AIP Congress 2026 in Sydney this December.

Dr Kathryn Ross of Curtin University has been awarded the 2026 Australian Institute of Physics Physics Communication Award for helping reshape perceptions of scientists and highlighting the contributions of women and collaboration in science.

Dr Ross was recognised for shifting the perception of scientists away from the traditional “lone male genius” narrative towards a more accurate, relatable, gender-diverse and engaging picture of how science happens.

Through her science communication, she highlights the work of women in science while showing that scientific progress is rarely the work of one individual, but is built through collaboration, diverse perspectives and teams working together.

The AIP Physics Communication Award recognises and encourages outstanding communication of physics to the Australian public. It celebrates physicists who make physics accessible and engaging and help strengthen public understanding of the field.

Congratulations to Dr Ross on this recognition and her contribution to changing how Australians see scientists and science.

Dr Ross is one of 11 members recognised with 2026 AIP Awards for outstanding accomplishments in research, leadership, education and communication. Read more about the 2026 AIP Award recipients.

The 2026 AIP Awards will be presented at AIP Congress 2026 in Sydney this December.

Congratulations to the following members who have been recognised with AIP Awards for outstanding accomplishments in research, leadership, education and communication.

Professor Andrew Dzurak (University of New South Wales Sydney / Diraq) has been awarded the Walter Boas Medal for Excellence in Research, recognising “pioneering research advancing silicon-based quantum computing, demonstrating new methods to control, scale, and manufacture high-fidelity spin qubits in semiconductor devices compatible with conventional chip-fabrication technology.” Read more.

Distinguished Professor Susan M. Scott (Australian National University) has been awarded the Harrie Massey Medal and Prize, recognising “groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of general relativity, cosmology and gravitational wave science, and for her leading role in Australia’s participation in the first detection of gravitational waves.” Read more.

Professor Maria Parappilly (Flinders University) has been awarded the Women in Leadership Medal, recognising her “exceptional leadership in advancing gender equity and inclusion, increasing participation among girls and underrepresented cohorts in physics by building their confidence to pursue physics at both school and university levels, and upskilling physics teachers to prepare students for a physics-driven STEM workforce.” Read more.

Professor Kirrily Rule (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) has been awarded the Women in Leadership Medal, recognising her “internationally recognised leadership in condensed matter physics and exceptional service to the field, mentorship of early career researchers, and true advocacy to make Australian physics communities more equitable.” Read more.

Dr Sophie Zhao (Australian National University) will be touring Australia in 2027 as the Women in Physics Lecturer, sharing her research enabling quantum technologies using correlated light. Read more.

Dr Kathryn Ross (Curtin University) has been awarded the Physics Communication Award, recognising her work “shifting the perception of scientists away from a ‘long-male-genius’ narrative and towards a more accurate, relatable, gender diverse, and engaging narrative, highlighting the work of women in science and the importance of collaboration.” Read more.

Mr Daniel O’Keeffe (VicPhysics Teachers' Network Inc.) has been awarded the Education Medal, recognising his “outstanding service to the Physics teaching community, through the provision of excellent resources and services for teachers and students and through the continuous maintenance of and reporting on statistics on student participation in physics.” Read more.

Dr Theresa Fruth (University of Sydney) has been awarded the Ruby Payne-Scott Award for Excellence in Early-Career Research, recognising “outstanding contributions to experimental dark matter searches and leadership ensuring Australia’s position in the next generation of global dark matter experiments.”

Dr Maria Luisa Buzzo (Swinburne University) has been awarded the Bragg Gold Medal for Excellence in Physics, recognising the most outstanding PhD thesis in physics or its applications by a student from an Australian University, for the thesis titled: “The Origins of Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies.” Read more.

Mr George Sanamyan (University of Adelaide) has been awarded the Thomas H Laby Medal, recognising the most outstanding Honours or Masters thesis in physics by a student from an Australian University, for the thesis titled: “Dark Matter in Randall-Sundrum Model.” Read more.

Mr James Monro (Australian National University) has been awarded the Thomas H Laby Medal, recognising the most outstanding Honours or Masters thesis in physics by a student from an Australian University, for the thesis titled: “Searching for Axion-Like Particles with Perturbed Alkali-Noble Comagnetometers.” Read more.

These awards will be presented at the AIP Congress in December.

The Editors of Australian Physics magazine are seeking a new member of the editorial team to assist with content planning, production, and responding to queries.

Please send expressions of interest to editors@aip.org.au.

A team from UNSW, USYD, ANU, and Flinders University is running a study of how and why people approach teaching later year Electromagnetism for Physics majors. 

They invite anyone involved in teaching 2nd or later year university electromagnetism classes in the past 5 year. Literature on how EM is taught to physics majors is relatively light, and especially for the Australian context. If interested, please fill in this form and the team will reach out to you. In addition to the form, they only request around 1 hour of your time for a semi-structured interview. 

Alternatively, you can scan the below QR code

A reminder to anyone interested in physics and STEM education that The Australian Conference of Science and Mathematics Education is running at UNSW from Tuesday 1st - Thursday 3rd September. While conference registration has closed, Discipline Day is free to attend on Tuesday the 1st. 

The program can be found here, and there will be a focus session for physics exploring AI use in Physics Education. 

The Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) is proud to announce that Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship, the Institute's highest honour, in recognition of his outstanding service to physics and his exceptional contributions to scientific research, leadership and the physics community.

Honorary Fellowships are awarded to distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions to physics and whose service has had a lasting impact on the field.

Professor Jagadish is an Emeritus Professor of Physics and Electronic Materials Engineering at the Australian National University and is internationally recognised as one of Australia's most distinguished physicists. His pioneering research in semiconductor physics, optoelectronics and nanotechnology has enabled advances in electronic and photonic technologies over several decades.

Throughout his career, Professor Jagadish has published more than 790 peer-reviewed journal papers and has played a significant leadership role in advancing physics worldwide through editorial positions, international collaborations and service to the scientific community. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Physics Reviews and is a Fellow or Foreign Fellow of 16 science and engineering academies across Australia, Europe, Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

His contributions have been recognised through numerous Australian and international honours, including the UNESCO Medal for contributions to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnologies, the IEEE Nanotechnology Pioneer Award, the Australian Institute of Physics Boas Medal, the Australian Academy of Science Lyle Medal, and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award presented by the President of India.

Professor Jagadish served as President of the Australian Academy of Science from 2022 to 2026 and has been a tireless advocate for science, research excellence and international collaboration.

AIP President Dr Stuart Midgley said Professor Jagadish's achievements have had a tremendous impact on physics in Australia and have enhanced our nation's global reputation for research.

"Professor Jagadish's career has combined scientific excellence with outstanding leadership and service to the physics community that has raised the profile of physics around the world. The AIP is delighted to recognise his contributions through the award of Honorary Fellowship."

Professor Jagadish will formally receive the award at the AIP Congress 2026, to be held at the University of Sydney from 7–11 December.

Media Contact: Gabrielle Green 0407 431 747, events@aip.org.au.

Prof Chennupati Jagadish joins this esteemed list of current Honorary Fellows:

Fellow and the year of their Award.

Prof David Booth, 2003          

Prof Robert Delbourgo, 2005  

Prof Brian Schmidt AC, 2012

Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM, 2020

Prof Bruce McKellar AC, 2022

Prof Tanya Monro AC, 2025 

Prof Michelle Simmons AO, 2025       

Prof Anthony Thomas AC, 2025

Prof Chennupati Jagadish AC, 2026    

The Australian Institute of Physics welcomes the final report from the Australian Research Council on the revised National Competitive Grants Program. The 15 current schemes will be consolidated to 7 new ones, with the grant guidelines and assessment processes still open for consultation.

One particular choice stands out. Dedicated salaried fellowships for senior and mid-career researchers will no longer be available, with the funds allocated instead to project-based funding (and a continuation of ECR fellowships). This will support project participation for up to 20% more researchers at all career stages, and is part of a broader effort to prioritise ECRs. This is a welcome attempt to address the precarious position of junior researchers. However, it will squeeze further personnel funding from a university system which – under the Job-ready Graduates package - has already lost $4 billion since 2021. It may even impede ECR career trajectories, which are often opened by backfill positions for senior fellowships. We will therefore need to closely monitor the impact on physics departments.

The other headline change relates to infrastructure funding, which will eventually be removed from the National Competitive Grants Program entirely. Until a long-term solution is worked out, a temporary version of the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme will apparently operate. ARC and NHMRC funding has decreased by 19% in real terms over the past 12 years, and we have to hope that this long-term infrastructure solution will supplement project funding rather than competing for it.

Elsewhere, there is much welcome material on simplifying the administrative burden of applications, in order to reduce the turnaround time from application to award. This will hopefully avoid recent issues such as a Discovery Project processing time of 435 days.

There are multiple references in the report to further engagement with the research sector. We have therefore written to the ARC to request an ongoing dialogue, and strongly encourage members to share their thoughts by emailing our policy committee: spo@aip.org.au.