The Department Of Physics And Astronomy.
Newsletter Spring 2015.
It’s been a busy few months for us here in Sheffield. We wanted to fill you in on what’s been happening. In this newsletter you can find out about our new research group, meet one of our most groundbreaking professors and see what our students get up to in their spare time. There’s also information on the opposite page about our latest research and student satisfaction rankings. If there’s anything you need in the meantime, feel free to get in touch. You’ll find our contact details on the back. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Best wishes, Nigel Clarke Head of Department
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Physics and Astronomy Newsletter
Rankings REF 2014 RESULTS CONFIRM DEPARTMENT’S REPUTATION FOR WORLD CLASS RESEARCH Late last year, the Research Excellence Framework 2014 placed us in the top ten physics departments in the UK for research output. This is a process that takes place every few years, where every university in the country is ranked according to the quality and impact of its research. In total, 90% of our research was given one of the top two grades: world-leading or internationally excellent. This news came just after the National Student Survey results revealed that we’re the UK’s top physics department for student satisfaction, with a 99% rating.
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Physics and Astronomy Newsletter
Physoc STUDENTS GET TO SEE THE WORLD WITH UNDERGRADUATE SOCIETY Outside the labs and lecture theatres, our students can get involved in lots of activities through the undergraduate physics society, Physoc. The society organises regular nights out for students, including a welcome event during Intro Week and activities throughout the year such as skiing, ice skating, bowling and barbecues. There’s also an annual overseas trip where students learn first-hand about some of the world’s most exciting physics research. Last year students visited the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland, where Sheffield researchers were part of the team that discovered the Higgs boson. This year Physoc will be making a return trip the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor near Marseille in the south of France. BELOW: PHYSOC MEMBERS VISIT THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER AT CERN OPPOSITE: 1+2 – VISIT TO CERN / 3+4 – ITER TRIP
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Physics and Astronomy Newsletter
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Physics and Astronomy Newsletter
Biological physics NEW STAFF TO EXPAND OUR RANGE OF EXPERTISE The world of physics is constantly developing, so we’re setting up a new research group to help drive innovation in the biological applications of our subject. Soon we’ll be welcoming three new members of staff, who will join the Biological Physics research group. Their work will be all about using the tools and techniques of physics to understand the processes that control life. They will link up with our revolutionary microscopy project, Imagine: Imaging Life, and will build on our existing areas of research expertise in astronomy and astrophysics, inorganic semiconductors, soft matter physics and particle physics. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH GROUPS AT WWW.SHEFFIELD.AC.UK/PHYSICS/RESEARCH
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Physics and Astronomy Newsletter
Picture prize PROFESSOR’S PORTRAIT IS A SCIENTIFIC LANDMARK Emeritus Professor Gillian Gehring has had a groundbreaking career. She was only the second woman working in a UK physics department to become a professor and has now set a new precedent for female scientists. A portrait of Gillian is going to be hung in Firth Hall alongside paintings of other key figures in the history of the University of Sheffield. This is the first time that a portrait of a woman has been commissioned for the room, which sits at the heart of Sheffield’s historic Firth Court. The picture is part of the University’s Portrait of a Woman Prize. Inspirational women will have their portraits hung around the campus and this first one was painted by Frances Bell, pictured above with Gillian. Gillian is a distinguished international leader in magnetism and orbital ordering research. She has campaigned for gender equality in science throughout her career. We continue to follow Gillian’s lead and have recently received an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and the Institute of Physics’ Juno Practitioner status for our efforts to promote equality and diversity in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 7
Contact us The Department of Physics and Astronomy Hicks Building Hounsfield Road Sheffield S3 7RH United Kingdom T: 0114 222 4362 E: physics.ucas@sheffield.ac.uk W: www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics @UoSPHY