News

Scientists and politicians meet in Belfast to discuss the impact of Brexit

12 October 2018

Scientists, policymakers and stakeholders took part in the Science and Stormont event on 8 October to examine the impact of Brexit on STEM and industry in Northern Ireland (NI), with our Chief Executive, Professor Paul Hardaker, chairing one of the panel discussions

IOP CEO Paul Hardaker speaks out on gender inequality in science

9 October 2018

It’s very disappointing to see the reported comments of Professor Strumia still talking about long discredited ideas.

Physics World celebrates 30th anniversary with special issue

5 October 2018

We’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of Physics World this week, with IOP Publishing releasing a special anniversary issue to mark the magazine’s launch by the Institute of Physics in 1988.

IOP applauds Nobel Prize for laser physicists and hails third female laureate

2 October 2018

The IOP congratulates this year’s winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics – who include only the third female laureate in physics in the history of the prize

IOP launches rejuvenated grant scheme to back public engagement projects

28 September 2018

Individuals or organisations hoping to run physics-based events and activities can now apply for an IOP grant of up to £3,000 – a higher figure than previously – and the latest round of the scheme opens on 1 October

IOP opens new round of Teacher Training Scholarships worth £28,000

27 September 2018

IOP opened a new round of Teacher Training Scholarships to applications today as the Department for Education (DfE) announced that it will fund the programme for the eighth consecutive year

New Trustees are to join IOP Council

26 September 2018

Three new Trustees are to take up their places on our Council on 1 October

Marina Galand receives Fernand Holweck Medal and Prize at a ceremony in France

21 September 2018

The Fernand Holweck Medal and Prize, an award of the IOP and the French Physical Society, was presented to Dr Marina Galand in Grenoble, France on 28 August

Daniel Monzani highlights energy security and decarbonisation at Whitehall Industry Group meeting

17 September 2018

The IOP was delighted to host the Whitehall Industry Group meeting at Portland Place on Tuesday 12 September, where Director for Energy Security, Networks and Markets, Daniel Monzani, shared his thoughts on energy security and decarbonisation, how the system works as a whole and transformations happening within the industry

Giuseppe Occhialini Medal and Prize goes to Professor Elena Pian

17 September 2018

Professor Elena Pian, a Senior Astronomer at the INAF–Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory, is to receive the 2018 Giuseppe Occhialini Medal and Prize, it was announced at a ceremony in Italy today (17 September)

IOP delivers science business training in Tanzania

12 September 2018

The Future STEM Business Leaders programme encourages students in Tanzanian secondary schools to apply their scientific training to solve local challenges through the creation of science-based businesses

Bell Burnell’s Special Breakthrough Prize money to be donated for new studentships

6 September 2018

World-renowned astrophysicist and former President of the Institute of Physics (IOP), Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell will donate winnings from her Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics to the IOP for the running of graduate studentships for people from under-represented groups

Around 19,000 students achieve new top grade in GCSE physics

24 August 2018

The IOP is pleased to see that around 19,000 students in England have achieved grade 9 – the new highest GCSE grade – in GCSE physics and more than 11,000 have achieved the new top grade in each of physics, chemistry and biology

Physics A-level numbers and proportion of female entries in physics go up in 2018

16 August 2018

The IOP is pleased to see that entries to physics A-level rose again this year, despite an overall decline in the number of students taking A-levels

IOP names three new Honorary Fellows

14 August 2018

Three IOP Fellows – professors Sheila Rowan and Roy Sambles and Sir Peter Williams – have been made Honorary Fellows of the IOP, the highest honour that the Institute can confer, it was announced today (14 August)

Scottish audience hears about IOP and the physics of beer

15 June 2018

The physics of beer and what produces and sustains its characteristic head of foam were explored in an IOP event in Glasgow organised for our affiliates and guests in Scotland

LGBT+ physicists celebrated at IOP Pride of Physics event

13 August 2018

LGBT+ physicists and allies came together to celebrate their contributions to the physics community at the IOP Physics Communicators Group’s Pride of Physics event at Imperial College London on 3 August

Phillips Awards for service to the IOP go to Stuart Palmer and Nicola Wilkin

20 July 2018

Professor Stuart Palmer and Professor Nicola Wilkin are both to receive the IOP’s Phillips Award, given for distinguished service to the Institute, it was announced today

Royal Society awards go to four IOP Members and Fellows

19 July 2018

Four IOP Members and Fellows are to receive awards from the Royal Society (RS), given for “outstanding contributions to science”, the society announced today

IOP awards for 2018 include Isaac Newton Medal and Prize for Paul Corkum

11 July 2018

Canadian physicist Professor Paul Corkum has been awarded the IOP’s Isaac Newton Medal and Prize – its highest accolade and one of 22 IOP awards to physicists announced today.

Postdoc wins Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal and Prize

10 July 2018

A postdoc at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge has won the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal and Prize – an IOP award for female physicists in very early career

Scientists and politicians meet at Westminster for Parliamentary Links Day

29 June 2018

Easing immigration rules for scientists hoping to work in the UK and having more ambitious targets for spending on R&D were major themes at this year’s Parliamentary Links Day on 26 June

IOP engages with the public at the Cally Festival near our future London home

21 June 2018

Making mobiles, exploring forces and talking on a tin-can telephone were some of the activities on offer when IOP engaged visitors to the Cally Festival on 17 June near our new London home in King’s Cross

Minister launches roll out in Scotland of gender balance programme piloted by IOP

12 June 2018

Minister in the Scottish Government Shirley-Anne Somerville announced on 7 June that a pilot programme to improve gender balance in STEM learning managed by IOP is to be rolled out across Scotland

Five IOP members receive Queen’s Birthday Honours

11 June 2018

Dr Frances Saunders, an IOP Honorary Fellow who was our President in 2013–15, has been made a Dame in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to science and engineering

IOP President-Elect champions quantum technologies to committee of MPs

8 June 2018

Quantum science is a “uniquely broad endeavour” with potentially huge implications for products and markets, our President-Elect Jonathan Flint told a parliamentary select committee investigating quantum technologies on 5 June

Our Chief Executive presents Rosse Medal at Ireland Spring Meeting

1 June 2018

PhD student Eileen Courtney won the competition for postgraduate physics communication and was awarded the Rosse Medal at the annual IOP Ireland Spring Meeting held in Limerick on 12 May

Photonics can transform the UK, says IOP report launched on global day of light

31 May 2018

The photonics industry already contributes £13bn to the UK economy and employs 65,000 people, and it has huge potential to revolutionise diverse sectors from satellite communications to healthcare, according to a report launched by IOP with an event on the first International Day of Light

PhD student wins Three Minute Wonder contest with talk on printing jelly

25 May 2018

PhD student Kate Oliver won the grand final of our Three Minute Wonder (3MW) science communication challenge on 22 May with a talk on 3D printing of jelly

IOP welcomes Government’s proposal for pact to maintain deep scientific partnership with the EU

24 May 2018

IOP has welcomed the UK Government’s proposal for a science and innovation pact with the EU, published yesterday (23 May)

IOP joins with Royal Opera House to explore the art and science of singing

22 May 2018

The physics of how opera singers make themselves heard above an orchestra and how the length of your vocal tract affects your voice were explored in an evening on The Art and Science of Singing held at the Royal Opera House (ROH) in partnership with IOP on 9 May

IOP and partners address mental health issues in the research community

21 May 2018

Levels of stress and burn-out among academics are as high as for people working in healthcare and social services but only a small percentage actually declare that they have a mental health condition, according to a speaker at a workshop on 11 May supported by IOP and other learned societies

Hope for change held out at summit on tackling gender imbalance

18 May 2018

There is still a “shocking” imbalance between girls and boys in take-up of A-level physics but there are reasons for hope and IOP is taking a leading role in bringing about change, speakers at a major summit to launch our report, Why Not Physics? – A Snapshot of Girls’ Uptake at A-level, said yesterday

IOP report and summit tackle gender equity in the classroom

17 May 2018

IOP and the National Grid today brought together high-profile speakers and policymakers at a major summit to launch the Institute’s new report, Why Not Physics? – A Snapshot of Girls’ Uptake at A-level

Seven IOP members become Fellows of the Royal Society

9 May 2018

Six of our Fellows – plus CERN Director-General Dr Fabiola Gianotti, who is an IOP Honorary Fellow – have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society (RS), it was announced today

Welsh Government renews funding for IOP’s Stimulating Physics Network

1 May 2018

IOP is delighted to announce the renewal of Welsh Government funding for its Stimulating Physics Network (SPN) project, providing professional development to teachers of physics across Wales

IOP asks you to act to stay in touch as new data law comes closer

23 April 2018

In May, new legislation about how organisations use your personal information comes into force. This means we need your support to allow us to keep in touch with you

Early-career physicists gain a new voice with launch of IOP group

12 April 2018

IOP’s new Early Career Members Group (ECM Group) was launched with a reception on 5 April, with founding members pledging to make it a voice for early-career physicists and a focus for networking, collaboration and mentoring