Recent Events

What's happened recently?

ISS 2009 - Genes to Galaxies

The 35th Professor Harry Messel International Science School ISS 2009 - Genes to Galaxies was held from 12 to 25 July. One hundred and forty Year 11 and 12 students from all corners of the world attended this outstanding science education program, including for the first time two students from Rivers College, in Harry Messel’s hometown of Rivers, Manitoba, Canada.

Two weeks of lectures and activities ranged from the miniature - exemplified by Professor Peter Waterhouse’s lectures on gene silencing, to the massive, such as Professor Geraint Lewis leading the students through the evolution of our galaxy. With the help of the Young Scientists of Australia there was a full social programme including a bush dance and the Harbour Cruise.

Onwards to ISS 2011!

Music & the Cosmos

Music & the Cosmos, a joint presentation of the School of Physics and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, was held in the Great Hall on 6 May 2009, as part of the International Year of Astronomy. The main event was also streamed live onto three large screens in the General Lecture Theatre in the Main Quadrangle to accommodate the overflow audience.

Robyn Williams, presenter of the ABC's Science Show on Radio National, was special guest compare for the evening, introducing the speakers and music and giving his own entertaining astronomy commentary.

Bryan Gaensler, Tim Bedding and Geraint Lewis each discussed a different aspect of astronomy in an entertaining and accessible way. The science was complemented by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble playing three suites from 'The Planets' by Gustav Holst, conducted by Scott Kinmont, lecturer of Trombone Studies at the Conservatorium. 'Four Suns', an original composition by Cliff Kerr, who is a PhD student in physics and has also completed study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, was performed by Cliff on piano and Vanessa Tammetta on violin.

IPOS Launch

The Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), the newest institute in the University of Sydney and the only one of its kind in Australia, was launched on 23 April 2009 with a one-day symposium 'The Photonic Universe - Faster, Further, Smarter'.

IPOS research spans all areas of optics and photonics from fundamental to applied, including the groundbreaking areas of meta-materials and cloaking, speeding up and greening the internet, structural health monitoring, as well as the pioneering fields of astrophotonics, medical and quantum photonics.

June 2008 Science Teachers' Workshop

The two-day Science Teachers' Workshop 'New Horizons' focussed on the NSW Physics syllabus, giving teachers a chance to improve their understanding of physics, share classroom tips and tricks and learn new ways to get your students excited. The STW included a lecture series covering physics concepts and ideas, plus hands-on sessions to provide practical ideas and classroom resources. The Workshop ran in Sydney on 12-13 June 2008, and also in Wagga Wagga on 22-23 July, Dubbo on 25 July and Armidale on 28-29 July.

Watch out for the next STW will be in mid-2010.