Physics Communicator
(aka Science Communicator)

Phil Dooley is the Science Communicator for the School of Physics. He did his honours and PhD at ANU in laser physics and UV spectroscopy, and then ran away
from academia into IT to escape long words and complex equations.

First he was the system administrator for a small bank on Rarotonga, Cook Islands, an eighteen month Australian Volunteers Abroad position. Returning to Australia, he got into IT training, eventually coming full circle back to Physics, this time not as a researcher but as a communicator.

After freelancing as a science communicator and musician (home.iprimus.com.au/ripple) - writing for magazines, radio, and the web, before joining the School of Physics in 2005. He is the 2006 chair of the Australian Science Communicators NSW branch (www.asc.asn.au), and the postgraduate coordinator for the NSW branch of the Australian Institute of Physics (www.aip.org.au).

He is inordinately proud of his wife, Rebecca Blackburn, B.A., B.Sc., Grad Dip Env Mgt, M.Env Sc., and her recently published book, Green is Good: Smart ways to live well and help the planet. You should definitely visit her website, and buy a copy from your local bookshop!

His opinions on science communication can be found at DrPhilsRants.blogspot.com , and he can occasionally seen playing theatre sports at The Clarence Hotel or Manning Bar. And one day he might get the band back together and release the follow up album to Drifting Away...

If you have any general questions regarding schools & community activities in the School of Physics, then you should speak to Phil. For enquiries regarding subjects, courses and studying at the School of Physics, please contact the School's Prospective Students Adviser, Eve Teran.

You can contact Phil on 02 9351 3201, or by email at