Stories from July 2009
IOP announces 2009 award winners
Successful business applications such as drug screening technologies, flat-panel displays and solar-cell designs are amongst the achievements in physics recognised by the Institute of Physics’ (IOP) 2009 awards, announced today (Wednesday, 1 July), along with leading research in a wide range of fields from astronomy to optical physics, and excellence in engaging the general public with physics
“We need to increase status, prestige and esteem of teaching”, says Shadow Children’s Minister
Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children’s, Schools and Families, today, 2 July, 2009, visited the Institute of Physics (IOP) to address concerns about the state of secondary school physics education in the UK, stating that much of the problem for physics in the UK is down to a lack of specialist physics knowledge among science teachers and a need to raise the status of the teaching profession
Q is for quantum and "Q-life"
As the world celebrates Charles Darwin, who was born 200 years ago, physicists can be forgiven a certain jealousy at the spotlight being placed on his profound legacy. But physicists have in fact had a huge impact on biology – no more so than in helping to discover the structure of DNA and in developing medical-imaging techniques like MRI. The July issue of Physics World marks those achievements and examines some of the ways in which current ideas in physics are still changing biology
Researchers unite to distribute quantum keys
Researchers from across Europe have united to build the largest quantum key distribution network ever built. The efforts of 41 research and industrial organisations were realised as secure, quantum encrypted information was sent over an eight node, mesh network
Quantum goes massive
An astrophysics experiment in America has demonstrated how fundamental research in one subject area can have a profound effect on work in another as the instruments used for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) pave the way for quantum experiments on a macroscopic scale
Physicists needed for Renewable Energy Strategy to work
The Institute of Physics (IOP)’s Chief Executive has today, Thursday, July 16, written to editors in response to news of The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)’s publication of the UK Renewable Energy Strategy, to say “in a nutshell, if you want to save the world, do physics!”
Fund should focus on physics
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has today submitted its response to the Rowlands Growth Capital Review, which is being undertaken for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The review will examine how the proposed government-administered Venture Capital fund, designed to stimulate the UK economy during the ongoing recession, should be operated
Geo-engineering: the promise and its limits
Four expert speakers attended an event organised by the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Academy of Engineering on 15 July, at the House of Commons, to address an audience curious about geo-engineering the planet to combat the effects of global warming; the solutions it offers and the concerns it raises
Report deserves attention
The Institute of Physics has welcomed the report published today by the House of Commons Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills, “Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy”
Brochure highlights importance of science funding
The Institute of Physics (IOP) welcomes yesterday’s launch of the Science and Technology Facilities Council vision ‘A New Vision for New Times’
CERN Courier celebrates 50th anniversary
CERN Courier, the international magazine on high energy physics published by CERN, the world’s leading laboratory for particle physics, is commemorating its 50th anniversary with the publication of a special issue celebrating the past 50 years
From graphene to graphane, NOW the possibilities are endless
In August’s Physics World, Kostya Novoselov - a condensed-matter physicist from the Manchester University group that discovered graphene -- explains how their discovery of graphane, an insulating equivalent of graphene, may prove more versatile still
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