Public talk - Pocket Nanotech: The 2007 Nobel Prize for Physics

Research into Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) won the Nobel Prize in 2008, research which has already changed the world and found its way into your pocket before you knew it. GMR is the principle that allows a hard-drive to read the tiny bits of magnetic data from disk; without it, iPods and computers could not have advanced to today’s level.

2007’s was not the average Nobel Prize, as the theoretical physicists are still struggling to explain the amazing experiments of the winners Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg. Learn about the science and the intrigue in this fully illustrated talk, complete with live experiments.

Professor David R. McKenzie holds the Chair in Materials Physics. His research interests are in the development of novel materials, the improvement of the properties of existing materials by plasma processing and in the application of physics in medicine and in energy conversion. He is well known internationally for the discovery of a new form of carbon known as tetrahedral amorphous carbon, with applications as a protective layer for magnetic memory devices such as hard disc devices and for developing evacuated tubular solar collectors.

Date: Thursday August 14th, 2008

Time: 6.30 – 7.30 PM (light refreshments from 6pm)

Venue: Slade Lecture Theatre, ground floor, School of Physics

RSVP: To reserve your seat, ring Hyacinth on 9351 3037.