Physics Talented Student Program

For students who want a little more

If you have a high UAI (or equivalent) then there is a special physics program for you! The School of Physics Talented Student Program (TSP) is part of the Faculty of Science Talented Student Program. The program is offered by invitation of the Dean of Science on the basis of UAI score for first year students, and examination performance for students in subsequent years (see the Faculty information for details). In special circumstances, Physics may allow a small additional number of high-achieving students to participate in Physics TSP activities.

This program extends the physics course by special seminars and project work, together with a major excursion in the second semester break to locations of interest. The seminar program often has a theme each year. In recent years the themes have been `communications', `the quantum world', `the arrow of time' and `self organised systems'. In 2005 we focussed on the International Year of Physics which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Einstein's miracle year. In 2007 and again in 2008 we introduce you to research highlights in the School of Physics, with presentations by staff, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students.

The special project work in the July semester introduces students directly to research activities in the School and to other staff members and postdocs. The aim is to broaden your knowledge of physics and give you an insight into how physicists think and how a real research project is tackled. There is also an emphasis on cross disciplinary subjects and the relationship of physics to the community as a whole. Check out below the diverse range of topics covered in the TSP projects in previous years. All the oral presentations were made in PowerPoint, and you can download selected presentations by clicking on the title pages. You can also download selected project reports.

Why do a program that involves extra work? Students in the program are the top students of their year. You will get special tuition and attention. As well, you will enjoy the company of other talented students working on special projects.

The TSP coordinator is . Contact him for more information.

2007 TSP Excursion

The TSP excursion in 2007 took 13 students on a 3-day tour to observatories in the west and north of NSW, staying over at motels in Parkes and Narrabri. On the first day we visited the Parkes Observatory and were given a tour of the telescope by staff scientist, John Sarkissian. The following day we drove north to Coonabarabran and were given a tour of the Anglo-Australian Observatory by the astronomer-in-charge and well known media personality, Fred Watson. We were also shown around the UK Schmidt telescope by technical officer, Paul Cass. On the final day we visited the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at Narrabri and got to climb up to the Cassegrain focus and even stand on one of the 22-m dishes. Our guides were John Smith (who had driven up from Parkes the day before), Officer-in-Charge, Phil Edwards, and Operations Manager, Robin Wark. After a visit to the ATCA control room we drove 3km to the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI) where we were given a tour by one of its designers, Prof John Davis.

TSP Research seminars 2008: LT 5, Thursdays 1pm