News

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.

Science community gears up for the International Year of Light

31 January 2014

Figures from across the science community and beyond came together at the Institute on 30 January to express their commitment to making 2015’s International Year of Light (IYL2015) a success.

Research looks at how scientists look at art

28 January 2014

Scientists and non-scientists respond to visual art in broadly similar ways, but men and women seem to value slightly different aspects of artworks. These are the conclusions of a research project commissioned by the global company Bayer and conducted by the University of Reading.

IOP takes a stand at national education event

17 January 2014

The IOP ran a popular stand and put on eight workshops at the Association for Science Education’s (ASE’s) annual conference last week.

Two more university departments become champions of equality

17 January 2014

The IOP has named two new Champions in its Project Juno initiative to foster gender equality – the Schools of Physics and Astronomy at the universities of Nottingham and Edinburgh.

Carbon nanotube sponge shows improved water clean-up

17 January 2014

A carbon nanotube sponge capable of soaking up water contaminants, such as fertilisers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals, more than three times more efficiently than previous efforts has been presented in a new study published today.

Study highlights growing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia

16 January 2014

The intensity of tropical cyclones hitting East Asia has significantly increased over the past 30 years, according to a new study published today.

Story of human regeneration wins international physics journalism prize

14 January 2014

This year’s IOP-STFC Physics Journalism Prize has been awarded to Cynthia Graber for her feature Electric Shock: Could electricity be the key to unlocking human regeneration?, published at MATTER.

Zarnecki and Frenk are awarded Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medals

10 January 2014

Two IOP fellows are to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) for 2014 – the highest honour that the RAS awards. The medals are given annually for extraordinary lifetime achievement, one each in astronomy and in geophysics.

IOP report on gender sparks high-level debate

6 January 2014

A new IOP report that sheds light on gender stereotyping and A-level choices was praised by education minister Elizabeth Truss and received wide media coverage when it was launched on 9 December.

IOP fellow Lesley Yellowlees is awarded a CBE

2 January 2014

IOP fellow Prof. Lesley Yellowlees has been awarded a CBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours. Prof. Yellowlees is the first female president of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is vice-principal and head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. She received the award “for services to chemistry”.