Professor Jocelyn Bell-Burnell delivered public lectures on "Atoms from space: you are made from star stuff!" at well-attended talks in both Hobart (10th May) and Launceston (12th May). She also spoke at the University and at Friends' school. Her visit was financially supported by the National AIP under the "Women in Physics" series. Support from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery allowed the presentation of a WiP talk in Launceston for the second year. It is pleasing to be able to present such talks in Launceston and I hope this can be continued. I specifically thank Elizabeth Chelkowska for her considerable efforts that ensured the success of Professor Bell-Burnell's visit.
Three nights of "Tasmanian Physics" were held. These each involved two nominally-half-hour talks by AIP members with the joint aims of demonstrating the wide range of Physics-based employment in Tasmania and, by providing coffee, tea and sandwiches after the meeting, facilitating discussion with interested members of the public and among branch members. The talks delivered were:
"More Auroras are coming" by Gary Burns and "Blue Skies, and a Green Laser on Ice" by Andrew Klekociuk, on the16th of April.
"A Physicist's view of Nuclear Medicine" by Michael Groth and "Computerised Advance in Radiation Therapy" by Bob Chappell, on the 2nd of July.
"Health Physics" by Stephen Newbery and "Severe Weather in Tasmania" by Paul Fox-Hughes.
I note my appreciation of the Physics group at the University for the support of these functions with provision of their excellent facilities, and specifically note the support of Ian Newman and Bob Delbourgo in allowing us to access these facilities.
We co-sponsored the public talk by Jonathan Nally entitled "Mars: Planet of Mystery", presented on 28th October.
At the AGM we will hear from Professor John Pilbrow, AIP National President, on the topic of "Physics in Australia: Past successes, future opportunities". This year has seen the government green paper on higher education and research training. The AIP national committee has responded to this government discussion paper and Prof Pilbrow's talk will include coverage of this issue.
We continue to make specific efforts to promote Physics within the schools. All southern colleges are notified by mail-out about our Public Talks. I was pleased that my talk on auroras, resulted in a school-time presentation on the subject to Taroona High school. I believe there is scope for those of us who have the time and interest to promote our subject in this manner.
The 7th Annual Physics Quiz for year 11 and 12 students was held this year at Hutchins School on the 28th August. Fourteen teams of three or four students from around the state competed for medals and prizes. We received sponsorship from Comalco, Computerland, the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO Marine Science, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and the Bureau of Meteorology for this promotion. There is a lot of work involved in staging the Quiz and I am grateful to all who enthusiastically assisted. I specifically thank Stephen Newbery for his persistent efforts in organising this years' Quiz. Hutchins School provided an excellent venue for the Quiz and Peter Crofts assisted considerably in arranging for the venue, and on the day.
The annual AIP/RACI professional development seminar for Tasmanian year 11/12 physics and chemistry teachers was held in Hobart on the 7th and 8th December, 1998. These seminars provide Physics and Chemistry teachers with interesting talks on some local research topics, and provide a forum for discussion of issues of concern and for sharing strategies that have worked in the classroom. Ian Newman continues to facilitate the Branch's association with this excellent annual meeting and I thank him for his efforts. This year’s seminar will be held in Launceston, in early December.
I thank Marc Duldig for his on-going efforts in ensuring that our Branch activities are reported in "The Physicist" and Ian Newman for maintaining the Branch web site.
The web site contains information on upcoming talks, reports on branch activities and policy details.
Early in the year we made a minor revision to our policy on assistance to Graduate student Members travelling to conferences. The amount of support available is nominal, considering our geographic isolation. We provide up to $200 assistance over four years for each Graduate Member undertaking post-graduate study to attend conferences to present research papers. Details of our policy are available on the Branch Web site. We have additionally reconfirmed that funding, derived from the small profit we made running the National Congress in Hobart, is available specifically to support a student presenting a paper at the biennial AIP Congresses.
We have provided some financial support for Duncan Galloway to attend an American Astronomical Society meeting in Charleston, USA, for the Tasmanian Science Talent Quest, for the Dover District High School Aurora Photography competition and for the Physics third year prize. We also supported "Switched on Science" and continue to support Tasmanian participation in the Science Olympiads via the Royal Society of Tasmania.
John Humble has arranged for $5000 of branch funds to be placed in term deposit, as suggested at the 1998 AGM. An audit of past year’s accounts has not yet been conducted, but all the paperwork is prepared and an auditor selected. The committee meeting minutes have been arranged this year so as to consolidate the listing of approvals of expenditure and income received near the top of the minutes.
There is a considerable amount of volunteer work associated with our activities and I thank all committee members for their generous assistance. Members and non-members have additionally provided assistance with our activities. I thank them. I specifically thank Stephen Newbery for the assistance he has provided as Secretary, and all members who volunteered talks for our "Tasmanian Physics" nights.
I thank Jo Jacka, who is not seeking re-election to the committee, for his contributions over the years. I particularly note his significant contribution to the staging of the AIP Congress in Tasmania. Not many abstract editors have welcomed contributions via "whatever software package you prefer". He has lectured on a research interest at the Teachers seminar, contributed to the Quiz and expanded the viewpoint of our committee with his succinct contributions. Thank you Jo.
We fortunately have a wide array of active post-graduate, physics-related, research groups in Tasmania. "Physicists" in Tasmania have found employment in an even wider array of fields, although research positions are now rarely tenured. I think this, unfortunately, is in part a societal change. Undergraduate training in Physics at the University of Tasmania is under considerable pressure due to reducing resources, and secondary teaching in the physical sciences needs encouragement and support. Our local difficulties have national analogs and I look forward to further insights into the national situation at tonight's talk. These are the issues we face, and I seek to support those who actively wish to tackle them.
Gary Burns
Chair, AIP Tasmanian Branch. 11 November 1999