Quantum 101 was an exciting opportunity for students, aged 12-15, to explore the weird and wonderful world of quantum physics. Students had the chance to work with researchers in the field of quantum physics and explore some of its real-world applications now and in the future.
Dr Kathryn Boast, Quantum Materials Outreach Officer, comments on why she got involved with the day.
The European Commission has announced the funding of a new Innovative Training Network, led by Oxford University, which will train PhD students in Machine Learning Skills to address Climate Change.
iMIRACLI (innovative MachIne leaRning to constrain Aerosol-cloud CLimate Impacts) brings together leading climate and machine learning scientists across Europe with non-academic partners, such as Amazon and the MetOffice, to educate a new generation of climate data scientists.
Alex Savin, a third year DPhil student in Prof Peter Norreys group in Atomic and Laser Physics, received the runner-up student presentation prize for his talk at the International Conference on High Energy Density science (ICHED 2019) conference in University College Oxford in April 2019. Alex's paper was entitled "Energy Absorption in the Laser-QED Regime" and described the interaction of multi-petawatt laser pulses with solid targets.
The way we understand the universe is influenced by many women both past and present, so during British Science Week we ran a “Women in Astronomy” study day for 57 girls aged 13-16 years, providing them with the opportunity to find out more about women in astronomy and their amazing work. Participants gained insight into how we study the cosmos and they had the opportunity to meet women astronomers working in Oxford. The event aimed to promote women into astronomy and allowed the girls to consider whether a career in astronomy might be for them!
To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Oxford Physics held its second annual girls-in-STEM event (science, technology, engineering and maths). ‘Marie Curious’ brings together 100 local girls aged 11-14 and 30 scientists for a day of interactive science including hands-on workshops, a panel discussion and a science show about light! You can see more photos from the day here.
The annual MPLS Impact Awards aim to foster and raise awareness of impact by rewarding it at a local level, and prepare the ground for the impact case studies that will be needed for REF 2021, and future similar exercises. This year’s awards were presented at the MPLS Winter Reception on the 19th February at Mansfield College, with the winners receiving a pay award of £1,000.
Congratulations to Oxford Physicist Dr Sam Henry who won the award for Public Engagement with Research Impact.
The Royal Astronomical Society has given the Galaxy Zoo team – including the volunteers who have made the project the success it is – their Group Achievement Award for 2019.
Citation for the 2019 RAS Group Achievement Award:
Members of the public were invited to the Department on Nov. 26, 2018 to join researchers from Oxford Physics, Imperial College, Bristol University, RAL Space and the UK Space Agency, who have worked on the Mars Insight mission, to celebrate its scheduled landing on Mars.
The Department was again well represented at the annual Oxfordshire Science Festival, this year re-branded as the IF Oxford, the Oxfordshire Science and Ideas Festival. We spoke to over 1,000 people about our research at events across the city.
How is physics research being used to change your life? We opened our doors as part of Oxford's science and ideas festival to showcase some of the ways research can become technology, and physics can move from the lab into your life.
