A summary of the 2025 Marie Curie lectures.
Pictured from left to right: Dr Danielle Holmes, Dr Sol H Jacobsen, A/Prof Karen Livesey, and Prof Susanna Guatelli at the awards presentation in Wollongong.
Dr Danielle Holmes (UNSW Sydney) and Dr Sol H Jacobsen (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) presented a hugely successful Marie Curie lecture series, giving ten public lectures and visiting many schools in all states and territories except the NT.
Danni spoke on the quantum century, detailing some surprising history in the development of quantum science and computing, including the hidden contributions by women.
Sol focused on the role of “spintronics” to modernise our computing and energy needs, with discussion of geopolitical consequences.
“This was as close as I have come to feeling like a physics celebrity!” Danni said about the tour. “The whirlwind of events, with public lectures, high school visits, radio interviews and podcasts, gave me an incredible platform to deliver my love for quantum physics far beyond the laboratory. The response from curious audiences was incredible and I got asked countless questions, with the most intellectual being from young school children!”
“What a privilege it was to embark on this whirlwind tour, meeting and discussing with so many quantum-curious people of all ages and backgrounds!” said Sol. “In every arena, from schools to podcasts, radio to lectures, in plenary and in private, it became clear that people are yearning for a broad and full and frank discussion of the implications of quantum developments and their future role in them. The AIP is a global leader in highlighting the contribution of women in physics, and connecting those physicists to the public, and I’m honoured to have been a small part of their ambitious project.”
You can hear Drs Jacobsen and Holmes speak about the tour on Radio National.
Attendance at public lectures increased this year, with Melbourne’s lecture attracting over 450 people.
At the public lecture in Wollongong, Danni and Sol joined forces to deliver their lectures and received the AIP’s Women in Physics medal.
The medals and certificates were awarded by Professor Susanna Guatelli, a former Women in Physics medalist (2021) and current Head of School of Physics at University of Wollongong (UOW). The event was hosted by Senior Professor Michael Lerch, Associate Dean of Research at UOW and former NSW AIP Chair.
In 2025, the Women in Physics lecture tour was rebranded as the Marie Curie lectures, to build a larger and more general audience.
It has run nationally since 1997 and is aimed at promoting the excellent research performed by women.
The AIP is pleased to announce the 2026 lecturer, Dr Karelle Siellez (University of Tasmania). A feature on Karelle will appear in the October AIP newsletter.
