Australian Institute of Physics

Tasmanian Branch

(ABN: 81 004 566 509)

AIP Tasmanian Branch Annual Report 2005

Last year the outgoing Chair, Prof Bob Delbourgo reported that 2004 had been the busiest year for the AIP Branch he could recall other than the 1996, when we organized the AIP Congress. This year, with celebrations of the Einstein International Year of Physics, we surpassed the efforts of 2004 and perhaps even that momentous year of 1996. We have had seven speakers delivering 11 public lectures including venues in Launceston and Devonport. In addition these speakers have also presented 6 talks to high schools across the states. The feedback regarding the four Einstein International Year of Physics public lectures being held over a short time period was very positive and the Branch will consider a similar format for future years. We have again hosted the Annual Year 11/12 Physics Quiz and will be jointly hosting a two-day professional development seminar for high school and matriculation science teachers with the RACI in early December. The book “History of Physics in Tasmania 1792-1982” by Geoff Fenton was published earlier in the year and we are the major sponsor of the “Quantum Field Theory and Its Ramifications” international conference in honour of Bob Delbourgo’s scientific contribution on the occasion of his 65^th birthday which will be held from 30^th Nov to 2^nd December at the University of Tasmania. The AIP, through the Branch, also subsidized Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt to attend the Science meets Parliament annual event in Canberra early in the year. This forum gives scientists the opportunity to meet with politicians and discuss the role and importance of science to society as well as promoting their own specialist fields.

Public Lectures for 2005

• Prof Helen Quinn: 14/02/05 (Hobart), “The Mystery of the Missing Anti-Matter” (Women in Physics Lecture)
• Prof John Dickey: 04/05/05 (Hobart), “The Big Unanswered Questions in Physics 2005” (McAulay Winter Lecture Series)
• Prof Bob Delbourgo: 22/06/05 (Hobart), 5/12/05 (Launceston) “The Big Questions in Physics: Some Answers?” (McAulay Winter Lecture Series)
• Prof David Jamieson: 13/07/05 (Hobart), 14/07/05 (Launceston) “Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity: Light, Time and Space” (AIP Einstein International Year of Physics Lecture)
• Prof Bruce McKellar: 28/07/05 (Hobart), “How the Mass Movement of Trillions of Atoms Changed the World” (AIP Einstein International Year of Physics Lecture)
• Prof Ray Volkas: 3/08/05 (Launceston), 4/08/05 (Hobart) “The Light Quantum: From the Humble Photoelectric Effect to the Strange World of Modern Physics” (AIP Einstein International Year of Physics Lecture)
• Dr Elisabetta Barberio: 10/08/05 (Devonport), 11/08/05 (Hobart) “E=mc²: Matter and Energy Intertwined” (AIP Einstein International Year of Physics Lecture)

School talks for 2005

· Prof David Jamieson: 14/07/05 (Launceston)

· Prof Ray Volkas: 3/08/05 (Devonport), 4/08/05 (Launceston and Hobart)

· Dr Elisabetta Barberio: 10/08/05 (Burnie), 11/08/05 (Launceston)

Drs John Humble and Andrew Klekociuk have assisted me in reporting summaries of events in the Australian Physics and I wish to thank them for this. Drs Ian Newman and John Humble have maintained our Tasmanian Branch web page and made sure that the notices are up-to-date so we owe them our gratitude for doing that.

Prizes and Sponsorship

Every year we offer the branch AIP prize to the best third year Physics student and supplement other University physics prizes. We also continue to support the Tasmanian Science Talent Search.

Annual Physics Quiz

The 13^th Annual Physics Quiz was held at Launceston College on 2^nd October. We regularly receive generous sponsorship and it is appropriate that the Branch recognizes their contribution. The sponsors this year are: the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, COMALCO (Bell Bay), Apple Computers and the School of Mathematics and Physics. The 2005 winners were a composite team from Launceston Grammar and Scotch-Oakburn College. Second was a team from Scotch-Oakburn College and third a team from Launceston College. Thanks are due to Judy Whelan (AAD) for professional assistance in preparing for the Quiz.

Other Matters

Branch members actively participated in promoting Physics during National Science Week and on University Open Days.

Our branch membership number currently stands at 49, a slight increase over last year. I would like all members to actively encourage their colleagues who are not members to join.

Acknowledgements

As Secretary, Dr Elizabeth Chelkowska has worked tirelessly in keeping our meetings and activities organized and the Branch and committee owe her a debt of gratitude. I wish to thank our Stephen Newbery, our outgoing Treasurer, for looking after our accounts. Stephen has had increasing pressure of work and it has been a credit to him that we have been able to cope with such a busy year when his time was so limited. Stephen will remain on the committee and help the incoming Treasurer settle in to the role and we thank him for this and his service over several years. Finally, I would like to thank Dr Ian Newman for his efforts over many years in organizing the Teacher’s Seminars and being our link with the secondary school science community. Ian is standing down in the Teacher’s Seminar role but will continue on the committee and we are most grateful for his work over many years.

Marc Duldig, November 2005