The Astronomical Society of South Australia has invited AIP members to a special General Meeting:
The Astronomical Society of South Australia is hosting a special General Meeting starting at 8pm Wednesday 3rd of March 2021 featuring an in-person presentation by Prof. Lisa Kewley discussing galaxy formation research as well as equity & diversity initiatives. The ASSA will also be launching a new initiative to engage more women into the science of Astronomy through our Society.
The AIP-QLD is looking for nominations of Physics teachers that have made a positive impact to teaching Physics to students at the high school level by anyone of the following criteria.
Promote student interest in physics by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and learning.
Use, develop or write innovative instructional materials and new technologies and approaches to the teaching of physics.
Be a positive role model or mentor for other teachers of physics.
Participate in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and continuous development as an effective science educator, with a focus on physics.
If you have a colleague, a former teacher of your own, or have heard of an inspiring teacher in your circle of friends, please consider nominating them for this years award by filling out the nomination form and sending this nomination (or any inquiries) by email to: aip_branchsecretary_qld@aip.org.au
The award consists of a cash prize, plaque and certificate.
6:30 pm, Tuesday February 16th 2021 The Braggs lecture theatre, Braggs building, University of Adelaide (North Terrace campus)
“Penrose, Singularities and Black Holes: The Nobel Prize in Physics 2020”
Professor Susan Scott Australian National University
Professor Susan Scott
Abstract:
In this talk we explore the 20th century story of black holes. Originally black holes were thought to be an undesirable artefact of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, but Penrose’s powerful singularity theorem of the 1960s turned that way of thinking on its head. As a result, we now believe our Universe to be full of black holes. As one of the greatest achievements in theoretical physics, Penrose’s breakthrough led to his receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2020. We will see how this Nobel Prize intimately connects with the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for the first direct detection of gravitational waves
The Bronze Bragg medals and merit certificates will be presented at the lecture.
The medals are awarded for highest achievement in Physics in 2020 in the SACE Stage 2 assessments and IB Higher Level Physics, with certificates being for students who achieved a merit or a grade of 7.
The AIP WA Branch held its AGM on the 26th November 2020 and elected a new Committee as follows:
Chair: Stuart Midgley Vice-Chair: Pourandokht Naseri Treasurer: Almantas Pivrikas Secretary: Stephanie Black Committee Members: Andrea Biondo, John Chapman, John Ferreirinho, Rick Hughes, Gerd Schroeder-Turk, Geoff Swan, Diana Tomazos, Kathryn Hunter, Justin Freeman, Benjamin McAllister, Benjamin Arrow, Bruce Gardiner
We’d like to use this opportunity to thank the outgoing Office Bearers, especially Justin Freeman (Past Chair), Drew Parsons (Past Treasurer) and Benjamin Arrow (Past Secretary).
The 2021 AIP WA Branch Committee held its first meeting on Friday 22th January and have already begun to plan some events for 2021, including 3 Sundowners, the Women in Physics Lecture, the Student Conference and a social event.
We highly value our WA physics community and are most keen to hear of any ideas you may have. We would welcome any contribution that promote and/or strengthen physics in WA.
Wishing you a happy 2021 and hope to see you at one or more of the events during the year. Kind regards,
The AIP WA Branch Committee Stuart Midgley(Chair) Stephanie Black (Secretary)
AIP WA social get together farewelling our past Treasurer Drew Parsons, who is leaving WA for Italy.
The AIP QLD branch would like to congratulate Shane McDonald, from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School who was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Prize for 2020 . Shane was awarded the 2020 prize, due to the range and depth of work he has displayed across all the criteria the award is assessed upon. This criteria includes:
promoting student interest in physics by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and learning,
using, developing or writing innovative instructional materials and new technologies and approaches to the teaching of Physics,
be a positive role model or mentor for other teachers of physics
participate in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and continued development as an effective science educator, with a focus on physics.
Shane McDonald receives the Queensland Excellence in Teaching Prize for 2020
Congratulations Shane!
Do you know a deserving Physics teacher in Queensland you would like to nominate for this award in 2021?
In other news, the 2019 winner Richard Walding was acknowledged for receipt of his Excellence in Physics Teaching Award in a ceremony earlier in 2020. Moreton Bay College has kindly shared this ceremony and the presentation of the award. The ceremony can be viewed at the AIP YouTube channel or below.
Members of the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Institute of Physics are invited to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
The AGM will be held on the 25 November, 5pm – 5.30pm, via Zoom: https://utas.zoom.us/j/87885892491 (please contact Krzysztof Bolejko if you wish to attend in person)
Order of Proceedings:
5.00pm: Opening and declaration of a quorum
Minutes of 2019 AGM
Annual Report – Chair
Treasurer’s Report
Election of the 2020 Committee. Please send your nominations to the Secretary (krzysztof.bolejko@utas.edu.au). Current nominations are:
Chair: Krzysztof Bolejko
Vice-Chair: Nicola Ramm
Treasurer: Elizabeth Chelkowska
Committee: Andrew Cole, Jason Dicker, Stanislav Shabala
Science Teachers Workshop
Other business
Public Talk:
6.00pm: Free Public Lecture by Professor Neil Holbrook ”Heatwaves in the ocean – really?”
AGM Dinner:
7:30pm at local restaurant. RSVP to krzysztof.bolejko@utas.edu.au by 5.00 pm Friday 20 November. Members and partners welcome.
The Queensland Branch of the Australian Institute of Physics calls for nominations from Queensland schools for 2020 AIP Certificates for Excellence in Physics.
This certificate is awarded to students with a confirmed raw result for internal assessment of 27/30 (90%) (or IB level 7) as of the beginning of Term 4. The committee’s aim is to make these certificates of achievement available to schools for presentation at the school’s final year 12 assembly or speech night late in term four.
Send your completed spreadsheet, as an email attachment, to Scott.Adamson@ahs.qld.edu.auno later than 3 p.m. on Friday 16 October 2020in order to have certificates to you in time for your school’s presentation. Please submit your nominations any time from now. Submissions after the date may not be able to be provided prior to any award ceremony.
Correct use of the spread sheet makes this process quick and simple. Remember, the committee loves to hear your good news stories about the impact these certificates have on your students!
Dr Jeanette Epps Obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She completed a master’s degree in science in 1994 and a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. While earning her doctorate, Epps was a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project fellow, authoring several journal and conference articles on her research. After completing graduate school, she worked in a research laboratory for more than two years, co-authoring several patents, before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited her. She spent seven years as a CIA technical intelligence officer before her selection as a member of the 2009 astronaut class.
NASA Experience: Dr. Epps was selected in July 2009 as one of 9 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training included Russian Language training, spacewalk training (EVA), robotics, T‐38 jet training, geology and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) training. After graduating Dr. Epps continued training by participating in NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation), geologic studies in Hawaii, and language immersion in Moscow as well as continued training in EVA, robotics and T‐38.
NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.
Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition planned for a launch in 2021 to the orbiting space laboratory. The flight will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts.
Questions
How did you go from being a CIA agent to an Astronaut?
Do you think Space Tourism will be possible?
Do you think the Artemis program will fulfil its goal of sending humans back to the Moon by 2024?
I would like to know about the rigour and nature of the preparations for the travel to the moon in 2024 and the aims and expected duration of the mission; what is her current involvement in this?
Do you think feasible beyond the moon travel, will the SpaceX Mars program fulfill its goal of a manned flight to Mars in 2024?
Did she have an inspiration or a role model that she looked up to become an astronaut?
How on earth do you go from CIA to Astronaut?
What has been your biggest challenge in as an astronaut?
Are there any specific challenges for females in the industry that you work in?
Hypothetical: if you had contact with an off world species, is there a protocol for that and what is it… or is that not something that is considered.
What is the likelihood of being hit by a small piece of space debris on a space walk?
Besides during your T-38 training, how often do you get to fly in the T-38?
What physical/survival training is required to be an astronaut?
in the South 1 Lecture Theatre off Anchor Court, South Ridge (near car parks 7, 8 and 9) Flinders University
Biography: Jeanette J. Epps (Ph.D.) was selected as an astronaut in 2009. She completed astronaut candidate training which included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalk training, robotics, T-38 flight training and wilderness survival training. The New York native was a NASA Fellow during graduate school and authored several journal and conference articles. Dr. Epps worked for Ford Motor Company where she received both a provisional patent and a U.S. patent. After leaving Ford, she joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a Technical Intelligence Officer before becoming an astronaut.
NASA Experience: Dr. Epps was selected in July 2009 as one of 9 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. Her Astronaut Candidate Training included Russian Language training, spacewalk training (EVA), robotics, T-38 jet training, geology and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) training. After graduating Dr. Epps continued training by participating in NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation), geologic studies in Hawaii, and language immersion in Moscow as well as continued training in EVA, robotics and T-38. Dr. Epps served as a representative to the Generic Joint Operation Panel working on crew efficiency on the space station as well as other topics, served as a Crew Support Astronaut for two expeditions, and served as lead CAPCOM in mission control.
The Claire Corani Memorial prizes, available for award to the top second-year female Physics student at each AIP-accredited SA university in 2019, will be presented at the lecture.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, if you plan attending in person please register with the AIP secretary: aip_branchsecretary_sa@aip.org.au
Promoting the role of Physics in research, education, industry and the community
