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Tyndall Lecture - The Big Bang – is it true?

2012-02-06T12:00:00Z

IT Carlow
Monday, February 6, 2012, 12 – 1pm

The Big Bang is one of the best known theories of modern physics, a model of the origin of the universe that has important implications. But is it true?

The theory and evidence supporting the big bang model will be explored, along with its limitations, in an engaging, interactive presentation.

Event Title: Tyndall Lecture - The Big Bang – is it true?
Speaker(s): Cormac O’Raifeartaigh
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Loranne Vallely, Email: VALLELY@itcarlow.ie Tel: 059 9175549

Attosecond physics: The first decade

2012-02-06T16:00:00Z

Tyndall National Institute, UCC Cork
Monday, February 6, 2012, 4 – 5pm

Electrons in motion can emit light, or carry and process information in biological systems, thereby creating, destroying, or modifying molecules.

This subsequently affects biological function. Electrons are key players in physical, chemical, and life sciences.

We will discuss key tools used to watch and control these hitherto inaccessible electron dynamics.

Event Title: Attosecond physics: The first decade
Speaker(s): Prof. Ferenc Krausz
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Co-sponsored by: Tyndall National Institute
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Sile Nic Chormaic, Email: s.nicchormaic@ucc.ie

Tyndall Lecture - The Big Bang – is it true?

2012-02-07T12:00:00Z

IT Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Ireland
Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 12 – 1pm

The Big Bang is one of the best known theories of modern physics, a model of the origin of the universe that has important implications. But is it true?

The theory and evidence supporting the big bang model will be explored, along with its limitations, in an engaging, interactive presentation.

Event Title: Tyndall Lecture - The Big Bang – is it true?
Speaker(s): Cormac O’Raifeartaigh
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Gabriel Gallagher, Email: GGALLAGHER@wit.ie, Tel: 051 302645

Attosecond physics: The first decade

2012-02-07T16:00:00Z

Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 4 – 5pm

Electrons in motion can emit light, or carry and process information in biological systems, thereby creating, destroying, or modifying molecules.

This subsequently affects biological function. Electrons are key players in physical, chemical, and life sciences.

We will discuss key tools used to watch and control these hitherto inaccessible electron dynamics.

Event Title: Attosecond physics: The first decade
Speaker(s): Prof. Ferenc Krausz
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Co-sponsored by: Tyndall National Institute
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Eamonn Cunningham, Email: Eamonn.Cunningham@dcu.ie

Colliding galaxies and exploding stars

2012-02-07T18:30:00Z

Chadwick Lecture Theatre. University of Liverpool (building #207 on university plan), L69 3DR
Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 6:30pm

Speaker: Dr. Phil James - Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University

How much do stars 'know' about the galaxy in which they form and evolve?

Until recently, the answer seemed to be 'Surprisingly little': stars were thought to form with similar properties (particularly masses) in all environments that could be studied in detail.

Recent observations of the violent bursts of star formation that occur in the cores of colliding galaxies are challenging this view, however.

I will discuss new evidence on this question, based on the analysis of supernova explosions which mark the deaths of the most massive stars, and will explore the consequences of different modes of star formation for our understanding of stellar populations and galaxy evolution.

Event Title: Colliding galaxies and exploding stars
Speaker(s): Dr. Phil James - Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University
Organised by: IOP Merseyside Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Louise Butcher, Email: louise.butcher@iop.org

Looking for Gravitational Waves using Pulsars

2012-02-07T19:30:00Z

Large Lecture Theatre, Poynting Physics Building, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Birmingham, B15 2TT
Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Gravitational waves are at the forefront of research in fundamental physics.

This talk will show how we can use an array of pulsars which cover the sky, called a pulsar timing array (PTA), to directly detect gravitational waves from super massive black hole binaries in the centre of galaxy mergers.

Event Title: Looking for Gravitational Waves using Pulsars
Speaker(s): Chiara Mingarelli, University of Birmingham
Organised by: IOP Midland Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Lynne Long Email: l.long@bham.ac.uk
More info: www.birmingham.ac.uk…

Attosecond physics: The first decade

2012-02-08T16:00:00Z

Queens University Belfast, University Road Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 1NN
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 4 – 5pm

Electrons in motion can emit light, or carry and process information in biological systems, thereby creating, destroying, or modifying molecules.

This subsequently affects biological function. Electrons are key players in physical, chemical, and life sciences.

We will discuss key tools used to watch and control these hitherto inaccessible electron dynamics.

Event Title: Attosecond physics: The first decade
Speaker(s): Prof. Ferenc Krausz
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Co-sponsored by: Tyndall National Institute
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Ian Williams, Email: I.Williams@qub.ac.uk

Hydrogen for Fuel Cells

2012-02-08T18:00:00Z

Room MB51, Maudland Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 6 – 8pm

Hydrogen used in a fuel cell combines with oxygen to make water; not causing climate change by CO2 emissions.

It is also about 60% efficient compared with internal combustion engines with carbon fuels at about 30% efficiency.

The difficulty is manufacture and storage of hydrogen, particularly for mobile applications.

Event Title: Hydrogen for Fuel Cells
Speaker(s): Prof Keith Ross
Organised by: IOP Lancashire and Cumbria Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr J.M. Bradshaw Email: john.bradshaw@physics.org

What Happens Next?

2012-02-09T19:00:00Z

Rutherford Hall, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7 – 8pm

What happens next? - An interactive talk.

The North East Branch of the Institute of Physics would like to invite you to attend our next talk.

Committee member David Featonby will present a Pandora's box of experiments with discrepant outcomes to baffle and bemuse.

Tea and coffee will be available from 18:30, with the talk starting at 19:00.

Event Title: What Happens Next?
Speaker(s): David Featonby
Organised by: North East Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: David Featonby

Evolution of Biological Complexity

2012-02-09T19:00:00Z

Basil Reckitt lecture theatre, Ferens Building, Hull Campus, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX
Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7 – 9pm

Simple organisms like bacteria possess the ability to do all the functions of life while being but a single cell.

We, of course, have evolved to have many different types of cells specialised for various functions (nerves, muscle, eyes, etc.).

One of the most fascinating questions in evolutionary biology concerns what pressures led single cell organisms to evolve into multicellular ones, and to divide up life’s tasks among different cells.

This lecture will explain how concepts and experimental techniques from mathematics and physics can help us answer this question.

Event Title: Evolution of Biological Complexity
Speaker(s): Prof Ray Goldstein
Organised by: IOP Yorkshire Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr. Angela Dyson,, Department of Physics,, University of Hull,, Hull, HU6 7RX, Email: A.Dyson@hull.ac.uk

Astrophysics and the anthropic principle

2012-02-14T19:30:00Z

Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury. CT2 7NZ
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

Astronomers and other physicists are often asked questions such as ‘Why is the speed of light 299792458 ms-1 and not a little larger or smaller?’

One typical answer is ‘If it were different we would not exist in our current form to talk about the answer’.

Poster: www.iop.org…
(PDF, 200 KB)

Event Title: Astrophysics and the anthropic principle
Speaker(s): Dr Dirk Froebrich
Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch
Co-sponsored by: SEKAS
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr C. Isenberg Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk Tel: 01227 832768

The physics of superheroes

2012-02-14T19:30:00Z

Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

Everyone is familiar with at least one superhero. In this talk we shall discuss a wide variety of different superheroes and we shall show how their ‘unbelievable’ powers have a basis supported by the laws of physics.

The only concession that we shall make is that we shall assume that they have these powers, we shall not try to explain where they come from.

So, we’ll answer questions such as “how strong is the gravity on Krypton?”, “where does Magneto get his levitation from?”, “what is the secret of Wonder Woman’s amazonium?” etc.

To answer these questions we shall consider Newton’s law of gravitation, diamagnetism and some materials science. These are only three examples, most of your favourites will be there covering all areas of physics.

Free car parking near the lecture theatre.

Event Title: The physics of superheroes
Speaker(s): Professor Alan Davies
Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary)

The end of the world in 2012? The astronomer’s perspective

2012-02-15T18:00:00Z

Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6 – 9pm

What's all this about the end of the world in 2012?

In this talk Jocelyn Bell Burnell looks at the astronomical phenomena that reputedly will cause the end of the world in 2012, and reflects on what this has to say to us about science education and about the communication of science.

Tea/coffee from 18:00 and afterwards. Talk begins at 18:30.

Event Title: The end of the world in 2012? The astronomer’s perspective
Speaker(s): Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, DBE, FRS
Organised by: institute of Physics London and South East Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Branch secretary, Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org

The Future of Energy in Buildings

2012-02-15T19:00:00Z

Lecture Theatre 1, Richmond Building, University of Portsmouth, Portland Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3DE
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 7pm

Tony Day is professor of energy in the built environment at London South Bank University and Director of the Centre for Efficient and Renewable Energy in Buildings (CEREB), a research and teaching facility opened in June 2010.

Tony specialises in building energy analysis and the application of low and zero carbon technologies in the urban environment. He has done extensive work with the Greater London Authority and others to evaluate the impact of these technologies in London.

He works closely with industry, and has a number of active research and knowledge transfer projects. Tony is a Fellow of the Energy Institute, member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, and Chair of the UK Solar Energy Society.

The lecture will discuss the key policy drivers for building energy consumption and show how this is expected to change over the next two decades.

Examples of monitored performance of low and zero carbon systems will be shown in order to examine how well these projections might be best met in practice.

Event Title: The Future of Energy in Buildings
Speaker(s): Professor Tony Day, London South Bank University
Organised by: Portsmouth and District Physical Society
Sponsored by: IOP South Central Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: John Scott or Martyn Gardiner, Email: padps-owner@yahoogroups.com, Email: martyn.gardiner@port.ac.uk
More info: www.port.ac.uk…

Evolution of Biological Complexity

2012-02-16T18:30:00Z

Chadwick Lecture Theatre, University of Liverpool (building #207 on university plan), L69 3DR
Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30pm

Speaker: Prof. Raymond E Goldstein University of Cambridge

Simple organisms like bacteria possess the ability to do all the functions of life while being but a single cell. We, of course, have evolved to have many different types of cells specialised for various functions (nerves, muscle, eyes, etc.).

One of the most fascinating questions in evolutionary biology concerns what pressures led single cell organisms to evolve into multicellular ones, and to divide up life’s tasks among different cells.

This lecture will explain how concepts and experimental techniques from mathematics and physics can help us answer this question.

Event Title: Evolution of Biological Complexity
Speaker(s): Prof. Raymond E Goldstein University of Cambridge
Organised by: IOP Merseyside Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Louise Butcher, Email: Louise.butcher@iop.org

How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?

2012-02-20T16:00:00Z

University College Cork, College Road, Cork, Ireland
Monday, February 20, 2012, 4 – 6pm

High-resolution LC-based spatial light modulators (SLM) can advance the performance of light microscopes in many ways.

For example, used as a programmable Fourier-filter, the SLM can emulate classical techniques for contrast enhancement, such as dark-field microscopy, Zernike phase contrast, or spiral phase contrast.

We will discuss these and other advances.

Event Title: How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?
Speaker(s): Prof Monika Ritsch-Marte
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Sile Ni Chormaic, Email: s.nicchormaic@ucc.ie

Why string theory, and why not? Can we construct a theory of everything?

2012-02-21T19:00:00Z

The St John’s Suite at the White Hart, Salisbury, SP1 2SD
Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 7pm

Professor David Bailin from Sussex University will describe in non-technical terms the architecture of the current so-called Standard Model of Particle Physics, what's wrong with it, and why we are led to believe the fundamental building blocks of matter are not particles but strings, membranes and other higher-dimensional objects. The hope is that string theory will eventually lead to an elegant theory of all of the interactions of nature, truly a theory of everything! I will also discuss the allegation that string theory is "not science" and invite the views of the audience. Attendance is free and non-members are welcome.

Coffee and tea from 7.00pm
Talk starts at 7.30pm

Event Title: Why string theory, and why not? Can we construct a theory of everything?
Speaker(s): Professor David Bailin - Sussex University
Organised by: IOP South West Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Email: juliaabel99@yahoo.co.uk

Sounding the Sun and Stars

2012-02-21T19:30:00Z

Large Lecture Theatre, Poynting Physics Building, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Birmingham, B15 2TT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 7:30 – 8:30pm

It is an exciting time to be involved in the study of the Sun and stars, in particular given the recent launch of the NASA Kepler Mission.

The lecture will describe how "sunquakes" and "starquakes" give us remarkable insights on our own Sun, and on distant stars, and how Kepler - which is searching for planets around other stars - is providing unprecedented results on other stellar systems, i.e. extra-solarplanetsandtheir hoststars.

Event Title: Sounding the Sun and Stars
Speaker(s): Prof Bill Chaplin, University of Birmingham
Organised by: IOP Midland Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Lynne Long Email: l.long@bham.ac.uk
More info: www.birmingham.ac.uk…

The Power of Super Symmetry: exact results in field and string theories

2012-02-21T19:35:00Z

Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ
Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 7:35 – 9:05pm

He will take a tour through string theory and supersymmetric field theories and concentrate on quantities which can be calculated exactly.

The theories he explores are similar to the one describing subatomic particles (known as the standard model of particle physics), but not identical.

Though at a superficial level they look very complicated (in particular more complicated than the standard model), they have some hidden beauty.

This allows one to perform calculations, like the strength of the force
between charged particles exactly - at arbitrary distance and arbitrary strength of the coupling constant.

In fact, we have several very different ways of viewing these theories and where the same physical quantity is expressed as different questions, but we indeed find from them identical answers.

Event Title: The Power of Super Symmetry: exact results in field and string theories
Speaker(s): Dr. Nadav Drukker (Kings College London)
Organised by: IOP in Scotland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Robert Thomson, Email: R.R.Thomson@hw.ac.uk

How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?

2012-02-22T16:00:00Z

NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 4 – 6pm

High-resolution LC-based spatial light modulators (SLM) can advance the performance of light microscopes in many ways.

For example, used as a programmable Fourier-filter, the SLM can emulate classical techniques for contrast enhancement, such as dark-field microscopy, Zernike phase contrast, or spiral phase contrast.

We will discuss these and other advances.

Event Title: How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?
Speaker(s): Prof Monika Ritsch-Marte
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Nicholas Devaney Email: nicholas.devaney@nuigalway.ie

Young Persons Physics Lecture Competition

2012-02-22T18:30:00Z

John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6BH
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 6:30 – 8pm

The Institute of Physics Manchester Branch is holding a Young Persons Lecture Competition on Wednesday 22 February 2012 and is looking for speakers. The lecture should concern a topic relevant to Physics and be accessible to a general audience. It should be a maximum of 10 minutes long and will be followed by 2 minutes for questions from judges.

The aim of the competition is to provide an atmosphere of friendly competition to enable young people to seek to improve their presentation skills, as well as providing an event to entertain and educate those with an interest in Physics.

The competition will start at 6.30pm with sandwiches and drinks available from 6pm. We aim to finish by 8pm.

Competition details (PDF, 223 KB): www.iop.org…

Event Title: Young Persons Physics Lecture Competition
Organised by: IOP Manchester and District Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Dr Sarah Haigh, Email: ioplecturecomp@gmail.com

Do we owe everything to the stars?

2012-02-22T19:00:00Z

Lindop Building College Lane Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9AB
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7 – 9pm

The discovery of hundreds of extrasolar planets has raised the possibility of discovering life elsewhere in the next few decades, and yet the origin of life on Earth remains one of the key questions for science.

The talk will cover how stars play a key role, not only in producing the
elements for life, but also in providing the unique handedness in the building blocks of life.

Professor James Hough is former Director of the Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire. This event is free but places may need to be reserved.

Do we owe everything to the stars? (Poster) (PDF, 390 KB)

Event Title: Do we owe everything to the stars?
Speaker(s): Professor James Hough
Organised by: London and South East Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Dr Diane Crann Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk

Geophysics in Archaeology and Forensics

2012-02-22T19:00:00Z

University of Worcester. EE G089, Main Building, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7 – 9pm

Stratascan is a local company specialising in near-surface geophysics with applications in archaeological, engineering, forensic and environmental underground mapping.

Ms Graham will illustrate her talk with some examples from archaeology and forensics and describe the techniques used to detect and identify underground features and artifacts.

Event Title: Geophysics in Archaeology and Forensics
Speaker(s): Ms Claire Graham, BA. Stratascan, Upton-upon-Severn.
Organised by: Midland Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: J E Beale Tel: 07801-365 204, Email: john.beale@physics.org, Dr A C Smith Tel: 01684-569503, Email: alancsmith@physics.org

What would you do if you could be in two places at once?

2012-02-22T19:00:00Z

Lecture Theatre M, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7 – 8pm

We have put atoms trapped inside a silicon crystal into a state that is both oscillating and not oscillating at the same time.

This control is providing us with a new way of performing computing logic - just think how powerful you could be if you could do two things at once!

Atoms really can, and we all have to adjust our perceptions of reality to cope with these ideas.

This spooky property was made famous by Erwin Schrödinger with his thought experiment involving a cat in a box that is hooked up to a quantum system, which forces the cat to be both alive and dead at the same time.

It is only in the 21st century that electronic information technology is beginning to utilise this strange property.

Next to iron and ice, silicon is the most important inorganic crystalline solid to man.

This is because of its incredible electrical conductivity properties that can be controlled via chemical and electrical means.

Silicon devices – most notably the field-effect transistor – can be understood using an intuitive, classical, picture of electrons moving through the material like tiny balls: when the transistor is ‘on’ they move freely as though rolling downhill, and when it is ‘off’ it is though there is a hill blocking their path.

However, electrons are quantum entities and can be made to exist in superpositions of more than one state at once. This counterintuitive picture is not currently exploited in silicon information technologies.

The primary goal of our research programme is to develop completely new, single-atom-derived devices in silicon with functions based on quantum principles – namely those of long-lived quantum states and interactions between them and radiation fields.

We envisage devices where information can be transferred along chains of quantum entangled impurities in silicon, manipulated, and read out electrically.

We have recently demonstrated the control of quantum superpositions, and we have begun to make devices built from single atoms embedded in the silicon.

Event Title: What would you do if you could be in two places at once?
Speaker(s): Professor Benedict N Murdin
Organised by: Institute of Physics South Central Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Paul Stevenson Email: p.stevenson@surrey.ac.uk

Visit to Centronic Ltd

2012-02-23T10:00:00Z

King Henry’s Drive, New Addington, Croydon, CR9 0BG
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 10am – 4pm

10:15 - 10:45 Meet at Wimbledon Station, 10:45 - 11:30 Coach to Centronic followed by talk, lunch & tours.

Centronic Ltd started life as 20th Century Electronics Ltd. in 1945 making atomic radiation detectors. Gilbert Tomes became a single owner when the limited company was set up.

He had developed his own detector from the standard Geiger Muller tube. The company still supplies detectors for atomic piles etc and developed the BF3 neutron detector.

The cameras for use in high levels of radiation are still based on vacuum tubes but new types are coming along.

Costs £20. This meeting has been organised by George Freeman. This is a high security company because of its work and radioactive testing. No cameras please.

Event Title: Visit to Centronic Ltd
Speaker(s): Robert McKeag
Organised by: London and South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS)
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: John Belling Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com Tel: 07986 379935
More info: www.centronic.co.uk

Sailors, sea-dogs and storms: how old naval documents help us to understand climatic change

2012-02-23T18:00:00Z

Henry Charnock Lecture Theatre, National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Southampton, SO14 3ZH
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 6 – 7pm

The UK has a uniquely rich heritage of Royal Navy logbooks, many from as early as the late 17th century.

Over the past few years an international team of researchers has been abstracting the wealth of climate information that they contain.

This information is now being used to help scientists understand the nature of past climate change and to assist in producing better forecasts of what the future might hold.

Please note if you are driving to NOC, you go through the manned dock security (don't be put off by this, you aren't going the wrong way!) If you are planning to arrive by car before 18:00, please mention this in your registration email.

Event Title: Sailors, sea-dogs and storms
Speaker(s): Dr Dennis Wheeler
Organised by: Environmental Physics Group, South Central Branch and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at Southampton
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Sally Brown Email: sb20@soton.ac.uk
More info: www.soton.ac.uk…

CANCELED - Medicine & physics: case studies in cancer

2012-02-23T18:30:00Z

Thursday, February 23, 2012, 6:30pm

Event Title: CANCELLED - Medicine & physics: case studies in cancer
Speaker(s): Prof. Sir Michael Brady Joint meeting with Liverpool Medical Institution
Organised by: IOP Merseyside Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org

How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?

2012-02-24T14:00:00Z

Queens University Belfast, University Road Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland
Friday, February 24, 2012, 2 – 4pm

High-resolution LC-based spatial light modulators (SLM) can advance the performance of light microscopes in many ways.

For example, used as a programmable Fourier-filter, the SLM can emulate classical techniques for contrast enhancement, such as dark-field microscopy, Zernike phase contrast, or spiral phase contrast. We will discuss these and other advances.

Event Title: How can liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulators advance light microscopy?
Speaker(s): Prof Monika Ritsch-Marte
Organised by: IOP in Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Prof Robert Bowman Email: r.m.bowman@qub.ac.uk

The Genius of Faraday

2012-02-28T17:00:00Z

The Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sheffield University, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield, S3 7RH
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 5 – 7pm

Lord Rutherford said of Michael Faraday that he was one of the greatest experimenters ever; Albert Einstein believed that Faraday was responsible for the greatest change in the intellectual structure of physics since Newton.

There is little doubt that Faraday bequeathed a greater corpus of useful knowledge than any other physical scientist.

How did it come about that Faraday, a deeply religious man who left school at thirteen to become an errand boy and then an apprentice to a bookbinder (a young man who never attended high school or university and knew no mathematics), could reach such pinnacles?

In terms that are intelligible to non-scientist and interested lay persons, the speaker shall endeavour to answer the above and related questions.

The tale of Faraday's achievements and discoveries is one of the most romantic in the history of science; his character, intellect and commitment speak to us through the ages.

It is particularly important that following the International Year of Chemistry, we ponder on the genius of one of the greatest chemists who ever lived.

The speaker: Sir John once occupied the chair of chemistry created for Michael Faraday at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, of which he was Director (1986-1991).

Formerly he was head of Chemistry at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1969-1978), Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Cambridge (1978-1996) and Master of Peterhouse (1993-2002).

He is now Honorary Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Cambridge University. He was knighted in 1991 for his services to chemistry and the popularisation of science.

Event Title: The Genius of Faraday
Speaker(s): Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas, FRS, FREng
Organised by: University of Sheffield
Co-sponsored by: IOP Yorkshire Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: John Williams, Email: j.williams@sheffield.ac.uk

Graphene: sketching out a new world

2012-02-28T18:30:00Z

Chadwick Lecture Theatre. University of Liverpool (building #207 on university plan), L69 3DR
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 6:30pm

Speaker: Dr. David Horsell University of Exeter

Graphene is the thinnest material in nature, composed of only
a single layer of carbon atoms.

It has extraordinary physical, electrical and optical properties that scientists are only just beginning to reveal and understand.

In this talk you will be conducted through some of the recent discoveries made about graphene, and its wide-ranging potential applications from building next-generation computers to ultrasensitive medical detectors.

Event Title: Graphene: sketching out a new world
Speaker(s): Dr. David Horsell
Organised by: IOP Merseyside Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Louise Butcher, Email: louise.butcher@iop.org

Are we alone? Looking for planets and alien life

2012-02-28T18:30:00Z

Lecture in P/L002, Department of Physics, University of York, YO10 5DD
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 6:30 – 8pm

Over the past decade we have discovered hundreds of planets, and in late 2011 astronomers found the first planets smaller than the Earth.

An obvious question to ask is: do any of these planets have alien life on them?

I will talk about how we find planets, how we will be able to look for life on them, what that life might be like, and the possibility of intelligent alien civilisations out there.

Coffee and biscuits in Physics concourse from 18:00

Event Title: Are we alone? Looking for planets and alien life
Speaker(s): Dr. Simon Goodwin
Organised by: IOP Yorkshire Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: David Jenkins, Email: david.jenkins@york.ac.uk

Are quantum states the real thing?

2012-02-28T19:00:00Z

Chichester I, Lecture Theatre, University of Sussex
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7 – 8pm

What is the quantum state? There is no widely agreed answer to this question, despite the ubiquitous and crucial role this mathematical object plays in our lives.

Two broad schools of thought can be identified. The "ontic view" is that the quantum state describes (partially or completely) the real physical state of affairs.

The "epistemic view" is that it instead represents some agent's knowledge or information about the physical system in question.

The existence of entangled quantum states trivially implies, under the ontic view, that reality is drastically nonlocal.

To show reality is still necessarily nonlocal under the epistemic view, known as Bell's Theorem, is hard - it involves an argument regarding making multiple measurements on entangled systems and invoking an extra assumption of free will - and the complexity of this argument could be taken as indirect support for some sort of (nonlocal) epistemic view of quantum states.

Further support for the epistemic view comes from many other close analogies between quantum states and classical probability distributions, these latter being unarguably epistemic.

While the ontic view is severely nonlocal when dealing with entangled states, it is compatible with local realism if one applies it only to unentangled quantum states: preparations of independent quantum states at separated locations requires no nonlocal effects, even if the remotely prepared systems are subsequently brought together and measured.

What I will show here is the remarkable fact that the same is not true if the quantum state is epistemic. Specifically I will explain a new result, namely that local realism for product states is only compatible with the ontic view of quantum states.

This result will hopefully leave you as uncomfortable about the status of the quantum state as I am, and perhaps, like me, after the talk you will find yourself requiring some fortification before having the courage to step out into reality...

Free entry, no need to reserve a place. Everybody welcome, especially non-scientists!

Event Title: Are quantum states the real thing?
Speaker(s): Dr Terry Rudolph
Organised by: South Central Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr Simon JM Peeters Email: S.J.M.Peeters@sussex.ac.uk

What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue: medical imaging from roentgen to MRI

2012-02-28T19:30:00Z

Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, University of Kent, Canterbury. CT2 7NZ
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

The development of medical imaging over a century or so represents one of the most important of all fields of practical application of physics.

This talk will examine various physical principles exploited with particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Poster: www.iop.org… (PDF, 200 KB)

Event Title: What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue: medical imaging from roentgen to MRI
Speaker(s): Dr Peter Dawson
Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr C. Isenberg, Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk Tel: 01227 832768

Graphene: discovery, Nobel prize and uses!

2012-02-28T19:30:00Z

Physics Lecture Theatre (PLT), Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

Event Title: Graphene: discovery, Nobel prize and uses!
Speaker(s): Neil Wilson
Organised by: Midland Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Jonathan Duffy, Email: J.A.Duffy@warwick.ac.uk

The physics of superheroes

2012-02-29T18:30:00Z

Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, W1B 1NT
Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 6:30 – 9pm

Everyone is familiar with at least one superhero. In this talk we shall discuss a wide variety of different superheroes and we shall show how their ‘unbelievable’ powers have a basis supported by the laws of physics.

The only concession that we shall make is that we shall assume that they have these powers, we shall not try to explain where they come from.

So, we’ll answer questions such as “how strong is the gravity on Krypton?”, “where does Magneto get his levitation from?”, “what is the secret of Wonder Woman’s amazonium?” etc.

To answer these questions we shall consider Newton’s law of gravitation, diamagnetism and some materials science.

These are only three examples, most of your favourites will be there covering all areas of physics.

Tea/Coffee at 6pm and afterwards.

Event Title: The physics of superheroes
Speaker(s): Professor Alan Davies
Organised by: London and South East Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Branch Secretary, Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org

The 2012 IOP SW Branch Festival of Physics

2012-03-03T00:00:00Z

At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB
Saturday, March 3, 2012

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!
All talks and workshops are suitable for ages 11 and older, all children must be accompanied by an adult. The talks do not require booking.

TALK: The Magic of Bubbles - 10:30am
TALK: The Science of Star Wars - 11:45am
TALK: The Human Body is the Ultimate Physics Laboratory - 2:00pm
TALK: Physics for all - 3:15pm

WORKSHOP: Physics Demonstrations for STEM Volunteers - 10:30am
WORKSHOP: Physics Experiments for Everyone! - 11:45am
WORKSHOP: The Egg-cellent adventures of a Mars lander - 2pm & 3pm

Please book workshop attendance at the address below as there are limited spaces available. Spaces will be given on a first come first served basis.

Free Tickets to @Bristol
We have 50 children’s tickets for @Bristol to give away at the event to IOP members. Please email to request them. Max. 2 tickets per IOP membership number, a child’s ticket is for ages 3-15. All enquiries and bookings to secretary-sw@physics.org

Event Title: The 2012 IOP SW Branch Festival of Physics
Organised by: IOP South West Branch
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: Email: secretary-sw@physics.org, Leaflet: www.iop.org…, Poster: www.iop.org…
More info: www.at-bristol.org.uk…

Modern Cryptography

2012-03-05T19:30:00Z

William Penney Theatre, AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, RG7 4PR
Monday, March 5, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

Traditional symmetric or secret key cryptography has historically been the province of government, diplomatic and military users with a requirement for confidentiality.

More recently asymmetric or public key cryptography has been developed and taken up to meet the requirements of life in cyberspace.

Private individuals are now using it, often unknowingly, to achieve confidentiality and authentication.

In this talk we describe how some of these requirements are met, and in particular how to reduce the need for an elaborate infrastructure.

Car park near the William Penney theatre.

The theatre entrance can be found on the A340 Basingstoke to Newbury road, just before the Heath End Roundabout at Tadley.

Tea/Coffee and Biscuits will be served from 7pm. The lecture is open to all, including non-members.

Event Title: Modern Cryptography
Speaker(s): Dr Richard Pinch
Organised by: IOP London and South East Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: David Parkes Email: IOP.Lectures@awe.co.uk

Magnets large and small: compasses to fridges

2012-03-06T19:30:00Z

Large Lecture Theatre, Poynting Physics Building, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Birmingham, B15 2TT
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 7:30 – 8:30pm

People have been using magnetic materials for a long time, initially as compasses.

Nowadays, magnetic materials are designed for purpose, and appear in many devices, and have played a key role in memory storage.

In this lecture, I will talk discuss some new developments and effects that can be set up using magnets, for example refrigeration.

Event Title: Magnets large and small: compasses to fridges
Speaker(s): Dr Elizabeth Blackman, University of Birmingham
Organised by: IOP Midland Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Lynne Long, Email: l.long@bham.ac.uk
More info: www.birmingham.ac.uk…

The Aerodynamics and Flight Performance of Insects

2012-03-06T19:30:00Z

Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 7:30 – 9pm

Mankind has been airborne for over one hundred years and advances in aeronautics during that time have been immense.

Yet despite our wealth of knowledge in fundamental and applied
aerodynamics we are still unable to recreate the performance exhibited by flying animals.

Needless to say, they have had quite some head start over us. In the 350 million years since insects first took flight, Natural Selection has diversified a common ancestor that most resembled a modern day dragonfly into countless species and the rich assortment of shapes and sizes we see today - each one locally optimized and tuned for the tasks that define its ecological niche.

Familiar trade-offs between, say, stability and manoeuvrability can be found, but in this small-scale, unsteady world, aerodynamic mechanisms we deem unconventional are, in fact, commonplace and traditional aircraft design practices are often rejected.

The lecture will highlight some of the peculiarities found in insect flight, illustrating these examples with case studies and describing the experiments that we use to reveal the mechanisms.

Finally asking if we can learn anything that could be incorporated into the manned or unmanned air vehicles of the future.

Event Title: The Aerodynamics and Flight Performance of Insects
Speaker(s): Dr. Richard Bomphrey, University of Oxford
Organised by: IOP in Scotland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Robert Thomson, Email: R.R.Thomson@hw.ac.uk

Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging

2012-03-07T16:00:00Z

School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 4 – 5pm

Event Title: Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging
Speaker(s): Dr Elizabeth Parvin
Organised by: Institute of Physics Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr Nicholas Devaney, Email: nicholas.devaney@nuigalway.ie

Branch Meeting, Preston

2012-03-07T18:00:00Z

Room MB51, Maudland Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 6 – 8pm

Please note the change of date - now 7 March not 14 March as previously advertised.

Event Title: 100 years of X-ray diffraction
Speaker(s): Prof John Helliwell
Organised by: IOP Lancashire and Cumbria Branch
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr J.M. Bradshaw Email: john.bradshaw@physics.org

Dylunio’r BLOODHOUND SSC – Y car 1000 mya / Designing the BLOODHOUND SSC - The 1000mph car

2012-03-07T18:00:00Z

Main Lecture Theatre, School of Electronic Engineering, Bangor University, Dean Street, Bangor, LL57 1UT
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 6pm

The lecture forms part of the Learned Society of Wales ‘Frontiers’ series. The lecture will be delivered in Welsh but simultaneous translation into English will be available.

Event flyer: learnedsocietywales.ac.uk… (PDF, 748 KB)

Event Title: Dylunio’r BLOODHOUND SSC – Y car 1000 mya / Designing the BLOODHOUND SSC - The 1000mph car
Speaker(s): Professor Ken Morgan FREng FLSW, Swansea University
Organised by: The Learned Society of Wales / Cymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru
Co-sponsored by: Institute of Physics in Wales
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Professor K Alan Shore, Email: k.a.shore@bangor.ac.uk

Visit to the national air traffic control centre

2012-03-08T00:00:00Z

Sopwith Way, Swanwick, Southampton SO31 7AY
Thursday, March 8, 2012

Following the security checks the group will assemble in the 'Viewing Room', which enables a good overview of the main air traffic control units going through their normal control operations.

Since our first visit, the main control unit has been split into two separate units, one for ‘local’ traffic and the other for ‘long range’ traffic.

For operational safety reasons, the NATS have decided that only four visitors can be allowed in each of the operations rooms during the visit.

The whole group will be able to visit other parts of the facility which are not subject to these tight restrictions.

Identification: It will be necessary to have one’s passport or a new-style driving licence in order to gain entry.

Maximum party size: 12 Timings will be provided to those booked on the tour. This visit has been organised by Peter Murden. Cost £3 (lunch not provided).

Event Title: Visit to the national air traffic control centre
Organised by: London and South East Branch Retired Members Section (REMS)
Requires registration: Yes
Contact details: John Belling, Email: john.a.belling.secrems@gmail.com, Tel: 07986 379935

Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging

2012-03-08T17:00:00Z

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 5 – 6pm

Event Title: Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging
Speaker(s): Dr Elizabeth Parvin
Organised by: Institute of Physics Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr Kevin McGuigan, Email: kmcguigan@rcsi.ie

Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging

2012-03-09T15:00:00Z

Department of Experimental Physics, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Friday, March 9, 2012, 3 – 5pm

Event Title: Seminar: Radionuclide Imaging
Speaker(s): Dr Elizabeth Parvin
Organised by: Institute of Physics Ireland
Requires registration: No
Contact details: Dr Créidhe O'Sullivan, Email: creidhe.osullivan@nuim.ie