
News
The latest news, statements and responses from the Institute of Physics.

IOP welcomes ‘truly disruptive’ new science research agency
19 February 2021
The establishment of an Advanced Research and Invention Agency is a step towards the UK’s R&D targets in the next decade, says the IOP.

Call for views from the physics community on the vision for higher education on the island of Ireland
11 February 2021
The IOP is seeking the views of the physics community to help inform a consultation on the future direction of higher education on the island of Ireland.

“Pinnacle of scientific achievement” sees physics students raise the bar
13 January 2021
IOP recognises young duo for kinetic energy work at online BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition awards, while the Lightning Show turned physics into rock and roll.

Invest in teachers to secure long-term prosperity, says Institute of Physics
16 December 2020
The IOP today calls on policy-makers across the UK to level up student learning outcomes by backing a new subject-specific programme of support for teachers.

IOP launches teacher training scholarships for 2021
9 December 2020
In partnership with the Department for Education, we are awarding 200 scholarships worth £26,000 to talented individuals.

UK on track for science superpower status, says Institute of Physics
25 November 2020
Responding to the publication of the one-year Spending Review, IOP chief executive Professor Paul Hardaker comments on the government’s commitment to invest £14.6bn over 2021 and 2022 into research and development.

IOP comments on government’s plan for ‘green industrial revolution’
18 November 2020
Number 10's ambition and clarity of vision hailed but IOP urges adequate investment.

Big Bounce 2020 turns East Glasgow’s iconic ballroom into science lab
6 November 2020
The festival, with its mix of talks, demos, workshops and comedy, has been hailed a great success.

IOP launches new Limit Less campaign
21 October 2020
There are no limits to what can be achieved with physics. Our campaign will ensure that there are no limits on who can take part.

MBE awarded to IOP’s Helen Pollard
15 October 2020
Teacher-coach receives the accolade in the 2020 Queen’s birthday honours list, for services to physics education.

Survey of IOP members published
15 October 2020
The IOP has published the full results of the latest snapshot survey of its membership.

IOP salutes Nobel Prize in Physics winners
8 October 2020
The IOP congratulates this year's trio of winners announced this week.

New IOP Council members announced at 2020 AGM
11 September 2020
The IOP revealed the new members at its first-ever online annual general meeting.

IOP switches over to updated website
18 August 2020
As of today the site you are now using, and which has been in BETA for some time, is now our main website. IOP’s ‘old’ website is being decommissioned and the content archived.

Widening participation in higher education physics
14 August 2020
Thanks to a generous donation from Dr Tony Hill, the IOP is launching an exciting initiative to help widen participation on university physics courses.

IOP launches new physics careers resource for young people
6 August 2020
IOP has launched a new online careers resource, Your Future with Physics, to support young people who are considering their subject choices and looking to their future career.

IOP and Diversity and Inclusion
10 July 2020
Over the past week or so we have received some questions and challenges about IOP’s approach to diversity and inclusion, our ambitions and our actions so far in this area. We wanted to share these together with our thoughts and reflections on the questions raised, and in particular to respond to points that were passed on to us by the publication Research Fortnight.

Physics-based businesses at the cutting edge of the UK and Ireland’s scientific research and development recognised at Institute of Physics Business Awards 2020
9 July 2020
The winning companies at this year’s Institute of Physics Business Awards have applied and employed physics and physicists to make world-leading technological achievements.

Innovative fund supports tomorrow’s researchers with new scholarships programme
7 July 2020
Four female physics research students are the first to benefit from an innovative fund set up by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics.

Diversity and inclusion: a collective enterprise
3 July 2020
Ahead of announcing the first awardees of the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund, Paul Hardaker and Rachel Youngman write about how we must work together to achieve greater inclusiveness and diversity within physics.

Institute of Physics' response to the Government’s Research and Development Roadmap
In response to the publication of the Government’s R&D roadmap, Professor Paul Hardaker, CEO of the Institute of Physics has issued a statement.

IOP welcomes six new Honorary Fellows
24 June 2020
The Institute of Physics welcomes six new Honorary Fellows in 2020, and this year we recognise two outstanding technical professionals for the first time, reflecting the crucial role played by technicians in the advancement and application of physics and highlighting the growing number of pathways into a successful and rewarding physics career.

Report on Equity in STEM education calls for more diversity in England’s STEM curriculum
23 June 2020
A report released today by the APPG on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM is urging more diversity in England’s STEM curriculum, along with five other key recommendations.

Black Lives Matter and why change is needed now - IOP statement
9 June 2020
Sustainable and systemic change is needed, says IOP - and it will take the whole physics community working together.

UKRI appoints Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser as new CEO
26 May 2020
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE FRS will join UK Research and Innovation as its new Chief Executive in June. In a letter warmly welcoming Professor Leyser to her new role, Institute of Physics CEO Professor Paul Hardaker, offered her the support of the IOP as she takes up her new role.

Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy first in Wales to be awarded Juno Champion status
20 May 2020
Cardiff University’s School of Physics & Astronomy has been awarded the status of Juno Champion by the Institute of Physics (IOP), for its work and dedication in addressing gender equality in physics.

Phil Evans reflects on his first three months as IOP Director of Physics Programmes
15 May 2020
After 32 years with the Met Office, Phil Evans says it’s the IOP that is making the weather when it comes to ensuring the societal benefits of physics.

Urgent call for engineering volunteers to support front-line NHS staff tackling the COVID-19 pandemic
15 April 2020
Following the call for engineering volunteers in London, Manchester and Birmingham the NHS is now asking for engineering volunteers from across the UK to come forward and stand alongside NHS staff.

IOP welcomes budget 2020 science pledge
11 March 2020
Professor Paul Hardaker, CEO of the Institute of Physics, comments on Budget 2020.

A myriad of Girl Guides at the NEC
26 February 2020
The NEC conference centre in Birmingham was the venue for Girlguiding Midlands’ Celebrate 2020 event, and this year Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers were all experimenting with physics as part of the day’s raft of activities.

A focus on health and medical physics at technical careers fair
13 February 2020
On 11 February 2020, the IOP, Institute of Physics in Engineering and Medicine (IPEM), and British Institute of Radiology (BIR) hosted a technical careers fair focusing on health and medical physics.

Stories from physics – the value of storytelling in teaching and learning
11 February 2020
Last Tuesday (4 February), during national storytelling week, Ben Rogers and Richard Brock took to the stage of the IOP’s state of the art theatre and delivered a Jackanory style evening compelling enough to rival the popular teatime storytelling television show - and its lunchtime radio forerunner.

IOP hosts launch of Islington Council’s pioneering world of work initiative for schoolchildren
31 January 2020
The Institute of Physics hosted the launch of a new and pioneering programme from Islington Council that will ensure that every child in the borough has 100 hours’ experience of the world of work by the time they are 16.

Welsh Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, visits Monmouth Improving Gender Balance School
31 January 2020
Welsh Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, visited Monmouth Comprehensive School on 23 January to see for herself how the school, which is a participant in the Institute of Physics Improving Gender Balance (IGB) programme in Wales, is working to ensure gender balance equality at the school.

IOP response to new Global Talent visa scheme announcement
28 January 2020
IOP comments on today’s (27.01.2020) announcement by the UK Government that a global fast-track visa scheme aimed at attracting the world’s top scientists, researchers and mathematicians will be introduced on 20 February.

IOP hosts subject CPD summit chaired by Professor Sir John Holman
23 January 2020
Wednesday 22 January saw the Institute of Physics hosting a workshop and roundtable event focusing on subject specific continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers.

MBE for IOP Teaching & Learning Coach in Wales
23 January 2020
Cerian Angharad, the Institute of Physics (IOP) Teaching & Learning Coach in Wales, received an MBE in the 2020 Queen’s New Year Honours List ‘for services to science promotion and engagement with young people’.

The Institute of Physics and IOP Publishing appoint Professor Qi-Kun Xue as chief scientific advisor for China
21 January 2020
The Institute of Physics (IOP) and IOP Publishing (IOPP) are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Qi-Kun Xue as chief scientific advisor for China.

Cosmic rays and LEGO at the IOP
15 January 2019
School students from City & Islington College, the first school pupils to construct a cosmic ray detector in London, took their research experience to the next level by presenting their award winning project – Does air pollution affect cosmic rays? – to other Islington A-Level students, at the Institute of Physics’ state of the art headquarters on Caledonian Road yesterday (January 14).