News

Triennial Review supports stability for research councils

17 April 2014

The Institute of Physics (IOP) welcomes the publication of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Triennial Review of the UK’s seven Research Councils.

Philips is to be first Patron Sponsor of International Year of Light

15 April 2014

Lighting solutions company Philips is to be the first Patron Sponsor of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015).

Volcanic eruptions open lecture series

14 April 2014

Scientists cannot predict exactly when and how a volcano will erupt, but they are getting closer to understanding the factors that drive eruptions, Prof. Heidy Mayer told a lecture audience at the IOP’s London centre on 10 April.

Millennium Technology Prize goes to Stuart Parkin

11 April 2014

The Millennium Technology Prize for 2014 has been awarded to IOP fellow Prof. Stuart Parkin. The 1m prize was given in recognition of his development of a device that has enabled a thousand-fold increase in the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives.

Drayson Foundation donation to tackle the girls in physics conundrum

11 April 2014

A pilot programme designed to counter the factors that turn many schoolgirls away from physics is due to run over the next three years thanks to a generous £201,000 donation from the Drayson Foundation.

3D printing cancer cells to mimic tumours

11 April 2014

A group of researchers in China and the US have successfully created a 3D model of a cancerous tumour using a 3D printer

“RoboClam” hits new depths as robotic digger

10 April 2014

A digging robot inspired by the unique mechanisms employed by the Atlantic razor clam has been created by a group of researchers in the US.

Dangers in A-level sciences grading reform highlighted

9 April 2014

As Ofqual announces the separation of marks for practical science from core A-level grades, a leading partnership of scientific societies, SCORE, which includes the Institute of Physics, has expressed its disappointment and concern.

Public lecture series erupts on to the science scene for 2014

7 April 2014

On Thursday 10 April, Professor Heidy M Mader from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol will begin the Institute of Physics’ (IOP) 2014 public lecture series, with a talk on the physics of volcanic eruptions

Researchers probe the next generation of 2D material

3 April 2014

As the properties and applications of graphene continue to be explored in laboratories all over the world, a growing number of researchers are looking beyond the one-atom-thick layer of carbon for alternative materials that exhibit similarly captivating properties

In April's Physics World: Should physicists work to the sound of silence?

1 April 2014

In this month’s issue of Physics World, Felicity Mellor, a senior lecturer in science communication at Imperial College London, questions whether the requirement of the modern physicist to collaborate and communicate is preventing the intellectual progress brought about by silence and solitude.

Stark warnings on spending made by STFC’s Science Board

31 March 2014

Serious warnings about the cumulative effects of flat cash funding settlements on UK research were issued in a report by the science board of the Science and Technology Funding Council (STFC), published last week.

IOP asks for volunteers to mentor teachers in Ghana

31 March 2014

The Madrinha Trust is a small charity which tries to make a difference to the lives of young people in the developing world through providing mentors to offer them support and advice in a long-term, though long-distance, relationship

Indian physicist takes new view of gravity on lecture tour

28 March 2014

Nobody understands why the cosmological constant is so tiny, but in an exchange lecture tour organised by the IOP and the Indian Physics Association, Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan has been discussing some new theoretical work that might shed light on the problem.

Stool samples provide marker for bowel disease

26 March 2014

Stool samples provide marker for bowel disease

Groups look at design features of the IOP’s new home in King’s Cross

27 March 2014

Groups look at design features of the IOP’s new home in King’s Cross

Science education experts warn against hasty A-level reform

26 March 2014

With the Ofqual Board due to confirm a selection of A level reforms today, Wednesday 26 March, SCORE, a partnership of leading scientific societies, has written to The Times to “implore” Ofqual not to separate practical marks from core A-level grades.

Science and Society charter launch uses IOP case study

26 March 2014

Science and Society charter launch uses IOP case study

Anti-counterfeit 'fingerprints' made from silver nanowires

21 March 2014

Unique patterns made from tiny, randomly scattered silver nanowires have been created by a group of researchers from South Korea in an attempt to authenticate goods and tackle the growing problem of counterfeiting.

Matthew Malek wins in Light Zone of I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here

21 March 2014

School students have chosen Matthew Malek as the winner in the Light Zone of the I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here competition today.

Scientists seize chance to quiz MPs on policy

20 March 2014

Early career researchers and school students had the chance to turn the tables on politicians when they grilled MPs at the Voice of the Future 2014 event in parliament yesterday.

Future heat waves pose threat to global food supply

20 March 2014

Heat waves could significantly reduce crop yields and threaten global food supply if climate change is not tackled and reversed.

Postdoc wins SET for Britain gold medal for physics

18 March 2014

Postdoc research fellow Tessa Baker has won a gold medal and £3,000 in the SET for Britain poster competition finals held at the House of Commons on 17 March.

Physics prize from the IOP is presented at Big Bang Fair

17 March 2014

Sixth-form student Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh has won the Institute of Physics Prize in the National Science and Engineering Competition.

Hundreds of early career researchers descend on Parliament

13 March 2014

For the largest national event of its kind, 210 early career scientists, engineers and mathematicians will arrive in Parliament on Monday 17 March to compete for the coveted Westminster Medal while exhibiting their groundbreaking research to politicians during SET for Britain 2014.

IOP welcomes £290 m investment in international science projects

11 March 2014

The government is set to invest nearly £290 m in three major science projects over the next seven years – a move that has been warmly welcomed by the IOP.

Perimeter Institute workshops to be used by the IOP’s Physics Teacher Network

10 March 2014

Ready-made workshops on modern physics from the Perimeter Institute in Canada are soon to be used by the IOP’s Physics Network Co-ordinators (PNCs) in schools.

Sea-level rise threatens UNESCO World Heritage sites

5 March 2014

Some of the world’s most recognisable and important landmarks could be lost to rising sea-levels if current global warming trends are maintained over the next two millennia.

Institute completes move into 80 Portland Place

3 March 2014

All of the IOP’s London staff have now moved into a wing of the Institute’s Portland Place building while the IOP prepares for relocation to King’s Cross in 2015.

In March's Physics World: Feynman's lecture brought to life in science doodle

28 February 2014

In this month’s edition of Physics World, professional “science doodler” Perrin Ireland gives her unique take on one of Richard Feynman’s famous lectures, 50 years after it was first delivered.

Congratulating businesses that innovate with physics

26 February 2014

The Institute of Physics (IOP)’s Innovation Awards 2014 are now open for entries.

IOP is vigilant on funding teaching costs in HE

20 February 2014

The IOP is keeping vigilant to ensure that the costs of teaching STEM students are fully met as universities wait to hear their individual funding allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). These are expected to be made public on 27 March.

Chinese delegation visits the IOP in London

20 February 2014

A delegation of 14 senior figures from scientific institutions in China visited the IOP’s London centre on 20 February.

Peter Higgs talks to Jim Al-Khalili on Radio 4

17 February 2014

Nobel-Prize winning physicist Prof. Peter Higgs is interviewed by IOP fellow Prof. Jim Al-Khalili on BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific this Tuesday, 18 February.

Cancer drugs hitch a ride on “smart” gold nanoshells

14 February 2014

Nanoparticles capable of delivering drugs to specifically targeted cancer cells have been created by a group of researchers from China.

Brain process takes paper shape

13 February 2014

A paper-based device that mimics the electrochemical signalling in the human brain has been created by a group of researchers from China.

Government places vote of confidence in science facilities

11 February 2014

As Research Councils UK noted the allocations of the science budget for 2015/16 on Monday 10 February, the Institute of Physics (IOP) was delighted to see that the Government has allocated additional funding for the running of our national science facilities and for the subscriptions of international facilities where the UK plays a part.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell to be first female president of the RSE

6 February 2014

The Institute's former president, Prof. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, is to be the first female president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). She will take over the role from Sir John Arbuthnott in October and serve for a three-year term.

Bruce McKellar is awarded highest Australian honour

4 February 2014

IOP fellow Prof. Bruce McKellar has been made a Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, which is the country’s highest civilian honour. The announcement was made in the Australia Day Honours on 26 January.

Philip Nelson to be EPSRC's new chief executive

4 February 2014

Prof. Philip Nelson is to be the next chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), taking over the role from Prof. David Delpy in April. He will also become its deputy chair.