Frontiers of Physics 2012
Programme
Pre-conference Marsh’s Library tour and dinner, Friday 21st Sept Main Event
Saturday, 22nd September, 2012
The School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin
Time Speaker Title Location
9:00 Registration and Exhibition SNIAM Committee
Room 9:30 Prof. James Lunney- TCD
Dr Siobhán Daly -IOPI
Words of Welcome Schrodinger LT 9:45 Dr Peter Gallagher-TCD Tuning in the Radio Sun Schrodinger LT 10:15 Dr Karen Bultitude -University
College London
Gender Aware Teaching Practice
Schrodinger LT 11:00 Prof. Jonathan Coleman –
CRANN,TCD
Tiny but mighty: How today's nano-materials
Schrodinger LT
11:30 Tea/Coffee/Exhibitions
12:00 Dr Matthias Möbius-TCD Granular Flows Schrodinger LT 12:30 Dr Steve Myers-CERN CERN, the LHC and the
Higg’s boson
Schrodinger LT
13:15 Lunch
14:30 Dr Martyn Wheeler-Leicester Grammar School UK
WiiMote Physics SNIAM LT
Tours (Walton/Monck Observatory ) TCD
16:00 Conference Close SNIAM LT
16:15 David Keenahan, IoPI-
Teacher Network Coordinator
Review and discussion of Leaving Cert 2012 exam papers
SNIAM LT
Eve-of-Frontiers-Conference special event: Friday Sept 21st 2012
Rare science books at Marsh's Library followed by dinner at the Millstone Restaurant
As a further attraction for those attending the Frontiers of Physics conference on Sat 22 Sept 2012,
a special event has been arranged for those who will be in Dublin the night before.
On Fri 21 Sept at 1830 Marsh's library will be opened specially for a pre-conference Tour of the
"Marvels of Science" exhibition. The Institute of Physics is very grateful to the Keeper, Dr.
Jason McElligott for facilitating this visit.
Marsh's Library was built in 1701 and was the first public library in Ireland.
It houses almost 30,000 rare books, in a beautiful building , virtually unchanged in 3 centuries.
On display in this exhibition are original works by Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Huygens, Francis Bacon, DesCartes, Robert Boyle, as well as a third edition of Newton's Principia.
There is no cost for this visit, but booking is essential.
Many of the visiting speakers at Frontiers will gather for dinner after this tour at The Millstone Restaurant, 39 Dame St. Dublin 2.
Anyone attending the Tour or the conference is welcome to attend, provided they book in advance.
The Millstone is offering a set menu ---- 2 courses for €18 or 3 courses for €23.
The Menu offers a wide choice and should appeal to most tastes.
Bookings for the Exhibition: "Marvels of Science" and / or for the Dinner are through the IOP website and should not be made to the venues directly.
As spaces are limited, please book early, to avoid disappointment.
Marsh's Library St. Patrick's Close Dublin 8
http://www.marshlibrary.ie/
Dr. Peter T. Gallagher
Physics & Astrophysics Course Director, TCD Title: Tuning in the Radio Sun
Dr. Gallagher is the head of the Solar Physics Group at Trinity College Dublin. His research is primarily concerned with understanding the fundamental physics of solar storms and their impacts on Earth. He has a long association with ESA and NASA and leads the Irish LOFAR radio telescope project. His group also works with a number of companies including Skytek Ltd., Lockheed-Martin, and Eirgrid.
Dr. Gallagher received a BSc (HONS) in physics and mathematics from University College Dublin in 1995, followed by an MSc (Distinction) in optoelectronics and image processing and a PhD in solar physics from Queen's University Belfast. He then spent six years in the US, firstly as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Big Bear Solar Observatory in California and then as a Scientist and Senior Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Gallagher is a Member of the Institute of Physics (MInstP), a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), a Member of the American Astronomical Society and Vice-Chair of the Royal Irish Academy's Astronomy and Space Research Committee. He is an elected member of ESA's Solar System Working Group, which is responsible for European Space Agency mission evaluation for 2015-2025.
Dr Karen Bultitude
University College London
Title: Gender Aware Teaching Practice
Summary:
“It’s not about making physics girly, but to make girls like it:” Advice from students and staff on best practice in gender-aware teaching
There is a vast range of educational research looking at how to overcome the perceived gender split in attitudes towards the physical sciences (especially physics and
engineering). This practical and interactive session will introduce delegates to key findings from recent work, and offer practical advice on how to encourage the
development of gender aware teaching practice to help girls – and boys – become more engaged with physics.
Biography:
Karen is a part-time lecturer in Science Communication and Director of Research in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London. She combines practical delivery expertise with robust academic research, especially in the areas of live (face-to-face) and digital environments. Karen was part of a small research team working on the Institute of Physics Girls into Physics Action Research programme, a UK-wide study which gauged the success of various interventions in schools to
encourage better take up of physics.
Prof Jonathan Coleman
School of Physics & CRANN, TCD
Title: Tiny but mighty: How today's nano-materials will lead to tomorrow's technologies.
Summary:
This talk will introduce nanoscience and nanomaterials for a lay audience. This will lead into a description of some of the research on-going in Prof Coleman’s group with an emphasis on the practical applications of this work. Finally, collaborations with industry will be discussed and the possibility of commercialising such research explored.
Biography
Jonathan Coleman is the Professor of Chemical Physics in the School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin. He received both his BA in physics and his PhD from Trinity College. The focus of his research is liquid exfoliation of van der Waals bonded nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and inorganic layered compounds. Exfoliation of these materials allows them to be processed into functional materials. Coleman’s group works extensively in the areas of solution processed thin films for transparent conducting applications and high strength nanostructured composites. He has published approximately 150 papers in international journals and was recently listed by Thomson Reuters among the world’s top 100 materials scientists of the last decade. He was named as SFI researcher of the year in 2011.
Prof. Coleman can be reached at the School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland;
tel. +353 1 8963859; and email: [email protected].
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Dr. Stephen Myers
Director of Accelerators and Technology
CERN (European Laboratory for Particle Physics) Title CERN, the LHC and the Higg’s boson
Summary
The Particle accelerators and detectors of today are among the most complicated and expensive scientific instruments ever built by
mankind and they exploit almost every aspect of today’s cutting edge technologies. In many cases accelerator needs have been the driving force behind the development of these new technologies.
I will outline the mission of CERN, including the educational aspects of our research. I will present some of the technological challenges of the Large Hadron Collider and how these challenges are met.
I will also point out some of the technological spin-offs which have resulted from the R&D at CERN.
I will give a brief account of the events leading up to the discovery of the Higg’s boson which was announced on July 4, 2012.
I will also describe some of the future plans for upgrading the LHC.
Biography
Stephen Myers was born in Belfast, N. Ireland and educated at the Queen’s University, where he received a First Class Honours Degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering.
He then completed his Ph.D. at Queen’s.
He started CERN as Engineer-in-Charge for the operation of the Intersecting Storage Rings Collider (ISR) before moving on to the Large Electron Positron (LEP). He took responsibility for the commissioning of LEP, was in charge of the preparation for physics in the 1990s, and was nominated Project Leader of the upgrade (LEP2) from 1996 until 2000.
In September 2008, he was nominated Director of Accelerators and Technology,
"responsible for the operation and exploitation of the whole CERN accelerator complex, with particular emphasis on the LHC and for the development of new projects (CLIC etc.) and technologies.
He has been honoured with several awards, including honorary doctorates from the University of Geneva and the Queen’s University of Belfast. He was the recipient of the IOP Duddell Medal in 2003, and was awarded the 2010 International Particle Accelerator Achievement prize for a lifetime of outstanding work in the field.
Dr Martyn D. Wheeler
Leicester Grammar School Title: WiiMote Physics
Summary:
An introduction to using Nintendo Wii controllers for teaching Physics. The workshop introduces the Physics behind the Wii controller and how it is applied to computer gaming.
It will then go on to demonstrate how to use a WiiMote for simple data-logging activities including SHM, Circular Motion, and Air Track Collisions
Biography
Martyn Wheeler was an undergraduate and postgraduate student at the University of Bristol. Following his PhD he spent eight years doing research into developing ultrasensitive laser spectroscopy techniques for probing transient molecules at University of Pennsylvania and University of Leicester. He entered teaching seven years ago and has been working as a Physics teacher at Leicester Grammar School for the past four years. His interests lie in using computers and computer games to aid the teaching of Physics.