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Music of the Sun and Stars

South West Branch Calendar In this talk Dr Chaplin will discuss the science of "solar-type" oscillations, including observations of our own Sun and also the programme of observations of thousands of solar-type stars being made by the NASA Kepler spacecraft. Stars make sound waves naturally in their interiors, and that trapped sound makes stars resonate like vast musical instruments. We may detect these "resonances" by measuring the resulting oscillations (or pulsations) of the stars. In this talk I will discuss the science of "solar-type" oscillations, including observations of our own Sun and also the programme of observations of thousands of solar-type stars being made by the NASA Kepler spacecraft (an international collaboration of 160 scientists that I lead). Coffee will be available from 19:00, and the talk will begin at 19:30. Event Title: Music of the Sun and Stars. Speaker(s): Dr William Chaplin. Organised by: South West branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Hilary Summerfield. Contact Details: Email: secretary-sw@physics.org. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_west/sw/calendar/info/file_44564.pdf. Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Room TC014, University of Gloucestershire, Park Campus, GL50 2RH.

Visit to the City of Oxford (Retired members)

London and South East Branch Calendar This walking tour takes in two parts of Oxford, which are not available to the casual tourist, the museum of the Oxford University Press and the Pocock sundial in Christ Church. We will see green men, other sundials, the former home of the OUP and end the tour at the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street with its collection of old scientific instruments including portable sundials and historic clocks. Further details about the walk: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44572.pdf The tour is limited to 15 people. The cost of the whole visit is £5 per person. Contacts on the day – Reinalt’s mobile 07785 058741. Event Title: Visit to the City of Oxford. Speaker(s): Dr Michael Maw. Organised by: LSE Retired Members. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Kate and David Crennell. Contact Details: Tel: (01235) 834357 Email: fortran@dpmail.co.uk. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44575.pdf. Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford.

Big Questions: Universe, the 20 biggest cosmic mysteries made simple

London and South East Branch Calendar The Big Questions series of books confronts the fundamental problems of science and philosophy that have perplexed enquiring minds throughout history. It provides and explains the answers of our greatest thinkers. Stuart tackles the 20 key questions of astronomy, cosmology and existence itself. The Big Questions series of books confronts the fundamental problems of science and philosophy that have perplexed enquiring minds throughout history. It provides and explains the answers of our greatest thinkers. Stuart tackles the 20 key questions of astronomy, cosmology and existence itself, including: • What is the Universe? • Where did life come from? • Can we travel through time? • Was Einstein right? and many more Stuart Clark is an author, science journalist, senior editor for space science for the European Space Agency and a Visiting Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire. Car parking near the venue. This event is free but places may need to be reserved. Event Title: Big Questions: Universe, the 20 biggest cosmic mysteries made simple. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Dr Diane Crann. Contact Details: Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk. Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Lindop Building, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB.

Novae – classical and recurrent

Lancashire and Cumbria Branch Calendar Ancient astronomers discovered stars that appeared suddenly and unexpectedly in the sky. These were often interpreted by astrologers as portents of war and famine. We now believe that most novae are thermonuclear eruptions on the surfaces of white dwarf stars. A brief history of nova discoveries will be presented, along with an overview of the phenomenon. Event Title: Novae – classical and recurrent. Speaker(s): Mark Rushton, UCLan. Organised by: Lancashire & Cumbria Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/lancashire/calendar/file_44557.pdf. Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Cavendish Colloquium Room, Faraday Building, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW.

Garden Gourmet & Physics in the Field

South West Branch Calendar Come and see the exciting physics demonstrations by the IOP at Belfast’s picturesque Botanic Gardens - the destination for gardeners and gastronomes alike for this exciting taste of Northern Ireland garden party. Organised by: Belfast Botanic Gardens and Palm House. Co-sponsored by: Institute of Physics. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Joanna Mason. Contact Details: Email: Joanna.Mason@ul.ie. Further Information: http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Garden-Gourmet-Belfast-P15427. Sunday, September 19, 2010, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Belfast Botanic Gardens and Palm House College Park Botanic Avenue Belfast Antrim BT7 1LP.

Nuclear Graphite Technology: Past, Present and Future

South West Branch Calendar Professor Barry Marsden will discuss the irradiation behaviour of nuclear graphite. Coffee will be available from 19:00, and the talk will begin 19:30. Graphite is an excellent, but not perfect, moderator material. It was the chosen moderator for the first Piles in Chicago, was used by the USA, Russia, France and the UK in the reactors built for the production of plutonium. Nuclear graphite was the moderator of choice in the early power producing Magnox, UNGG and Russian LWGMR and is the main moderator in the AGRs and RBMK reactors which will still be operating into the next decade. In addition to this the next Generation IV very high temperature reactors VHTR will employ graphite in reactor designs aimed at gas outlet temperatures of 1000oC. In reactor, during operation, the properties and dimensions of nuclear graphite components are significantly changed leading to component distortion and the generation on internal stresses. It is therefore important that these changes are taken into account in the… Event Title: Nuclear Graphite Technology: Past, Present and Future. Speaker(s): Professor Barry Marsden, University of Manchester. Organised by: SW Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Hilary Summerfield. Contact Details: Email: secretary-sw@physics.org. Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Room TC014, University of Gloucestershire, Park Campus, GL50 2RH.

Sir Isaac remembers...

South West Branch Calendar Sir Isaac Newton is sorting out his letters during the last year of his life. This dramatic reconstruction, lasting about one hour, is based entirely on authentic letters, contemporary reports and material. Sir Isaac offers thoughts on his science, his life, his lesser-known studies in alchemy and religion and the world in general. Tickets are required but are free of charge. Coffee will be available from 19:00, and the talk will begin at 19:30. Tickets are free and available via email from salisburyiop@physics.org. Event Title: Sir Isaac remembers... Speaker(s): Prof. Mike Edmunds (Cardiff University). Organised by: South West Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Philip Milsom. Contact Details: Email: salisburyiop@physics.org. Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 7:30 PM. St John’s suite, Mercure White Hart Hotel, 1 St John Street, Salisbury, SP1 2SD.

Jane Austen - Chawton and Winchester (Retired members)

London and South East Branch Calendar Jane Austen left us six great novels of the English literary canon which after 200 years still inspire interest as witnessed by a steady succession of costume dramas on film and television. Like those of Dickens, her characters and their worlds have become familiar to many who have never read her works. Jane spent her most productive years in the cottage at Chawton with her widowed mother, her sister Cassandra and their friend and helper Martha Lloyd. They kept house and she wrote. Their cottage is now Jane Austen’s House Museum and our first stop of the tour. Full details of the walk and lunch can be found here: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44573.pdf Cost: £12.50 per person covering the entry charge to the Museum and the Cathedral tour. Event Title: Jane Austen - Chawton and Winchester. Speaker(s): Tony Colclough. Organised by: LSE Retired Members. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Tony Colclough. Contact Details: Tel on the day only: 07801 698336 Email: tonycolclough@tiscali.co.uk. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44575.pdf. Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Jane Austen's House, Chawton Village.

The Physics of Life: Does Quantum Mechanics Play a Nontrivial Role?

Manchester and District Branch Calendar This lecture will explore the contribution that physics can make to the understanding of living things. Physicists can play an important part in establishing the essential characteristics of life as demonstrated by the influence that Schoedingers book "What is Life?" (1944) has had on generations of physicists. To begin with we live in a Universe that has properties that are finely tuned to allow the emergence of life. However that is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for life to arise and our Universe is also governed by thermodynamics, the second law of which maintains that overall the entropy of the Universe will increase. For living things the second law is a sentence of eventual decay, disorder and death and we know that ultimately that is the fate of any organism. However in the context of the second law one might be surprised by the extent to which, locally at least, we have witnessed increasing order and complexity as the Universe has evolved. While such a development is not of course for… Event Title: The Physics of Life. Speaker(s): Professor Peter Weightman, Physics Department, University of Liverpool. Organised by: Manchester & District Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 6:30 PM – Thursday, September 23, 2010, 6:30 PM. Room E005, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M15 6BH.

London Loop 13 Cockfosters to Enfield Lock (Retired members)

London and South East Branch Calendar From Cockfosters station you are immediately in Trent Park, once the home of the Sassoon family, whose mansion across the lake is now part of Middlesex University. Then you follow Salmon's Brook through the farmland of Enfield Chase. A stiff climb leads to a busy road (The Ridgeway) and a descent into the valley of Turkey Brook. You follow this most of the way to the end of the section, passing through Hilly Fields Park and the Forty Hall Estate. For further details of the walk and lunch visit: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44574.pdf. Event Title: London Loop 13 Cockfosters to Enfield Lock. Organised by: LSE Retired Members. Requires Registration: No. Contact: David and Gillian Pick. Contact Details: Tel: 07733555113. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/retired/file_44575.pdf. Saturday, September 25, 2010, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Cockfosters tube station, London, UK.

Teachers of Physics Annual Conference

Ireland Branch Calendar A day of lectures, demonstrations, and workshops for teachers of physics. Objectives: - To inform teachers of the exciting and innovative work at the frontiers of Physics that is being carried out in Ireland - To provide teachers with examples of simple and inexpensive physics demonstrations - To inform teachers of the latest developments and resources available in physics teaching. There will also be a tour of the National Science Museum which contains many items used by Rev Nicholas Callan. The assistance of the Second Level Support Service (SLSS) with this conference is greatly appreciated. Frontiers of Physics 2009: http://www.iopireland.org/activity/lectures/Frontiers%20in%20Physics%20teachers%20conference/news_31708.html. Event Title: Frontiers of Physics 2010. Organised by: Ireland Branch. Sponsored by: nstitute of Physics in Ireland Education Group Department of Experimental Physics, NUIM. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact Details: Local Organiser email: creidhe.osullivan@nuim.ie IOP Network Coordinator email: paulnugent@eircom.net. Further Information: http://physics.nuim.ie/Frontiers2010.shtml. Saturday, September 25, 2010, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Department of Experimental Physics, NUI Maynooth.

The Discovery of the W and Z Particles; unifying two of nature’s forces

London and South East Branch Calendar Electromagnetism underpins the generation of electricity, holds electrons in atoms, and can bind these into molecules. It is relatively strong, and infinite in range. In contrast the weak force, which causes radioactive beta decay, and the fusion process in our Sun, is very feeble, and only acts over distances much smaller than a proton. Theories developed in the 1960s and 1970s suggested that these two apparently fantastically difference forces were “unified”: they were aspects of the same interaction. The key prediction of the theories was that two particles, which had never been seen, should exist. Peter Kalmus participated in an experiment at CERN which discovered these particles. He has won prizes and an OBE for this discovery, and for his outreach work in bringing physics to schools and the public. Coffee/tea at 18.00 Lecture 18.30 Snacks at 19.45 BOOKING REQUIRED. Event Title: The Discovery of the W and Z Particles; unifying two of nature’s forces. Speaker(s): Professor Peter Kalmus OBE. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: London South East branch. Contact Details: Email: Londonsoutheast@physics.org. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/lse/file_41139.ppt. Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. IOP, 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT.

The Physics of Fusion

Yorkshire Branch Calendar The schools and colleges lecture has been delivered by a series of acclaimed physics communicators annually, throughout UK, since 1993. The free interactive lecture is designed to show school pupils, aged 14-16, contemporary developments in physics in a fun and lively way. Presenter:Dr Melanie Windridge recently completed a PhD in Fusion Energy at Imperial College London, spending much of her research time at the JET research facility at Culham. Whilst completing her PhD Melanie gained experience in science communication working on promotional material for Culham Science Centre and regularly attending science festivals. Melanie recently appeared on BBC1’s Bang Goes the Theory and has made many other TV and radio appearances. Audience: 14 – 16 year olds Curriculum links include: How science works - applications and implications of science, energy resources, radioactivity, stars and fusion. Event Title: Powering the Future: The Physics of Fusion. Speaker(s): Dr Melanie Windridge. Organised by: Institute of Physics. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Charlotte Cranfield. Contact Details: Email: c.cranfield@st-peters.york.sch.uk. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/education/calendar/info/file_44628.pdf. Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. St Peter's School,York, YO30 6AB.

Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture

Yorkshire Branch Calendar The schools and colleges lecture has been delivered by a series of acclaimed physics communicators annually, throughout UK, since 1993. The free interactive lecture is designed to show school pupils, aged 14-16, contemporary developments in physics in a fun and lively way. Presenter:Dr Melanie Windridge recently completed a PhD in Fusion Energy at Imperial College London, spending much of her research time at the JET research facility at Culham. Whilst completing her PhD Melanie gained experience in science communication working on promotional material for Culham Science Centre and regularly attending science festivals. Melanie recently appeared on BBC1’s Bang Goes the Theory and has made many other TV and radio appearances. Audience: 14 – 16 year olds Curriculum links include: How science works - applications and implications of science, energy resources, radioactivity, stars and fusion. Event Title: Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture. Speaker(s): Dr Melanie Windridge. Organised by: Institute of Physics. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Charlotte Cranfield. Contact Details: Email: c.cranfield@st-peters.york.sch.uk. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/education/calendar/info/file_44628.pdf. Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM. St Peter's School,York, YO30 6AB.

Civil and Structural Engineering - much success and some failures

London and South East Branch Calendar This illustrated lecture will examine some past and future projects. It includes buildings, bridges and storage structures. The darker side of failures will be considered. Lecture starts at 7.30pm. Frank Weare is a retired Civil Engineer from the University of Westminster. Speaker(s): Frank Weare. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Dr C. Isenberg. Contact Details: Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk Tel. 01227 823768. Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1, The University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ.

Radar: Theory, Practice, History, Future and Problems

London and South East Branch Calendar In this talk we look at the basic principles of radar, and see the development from the very first use of radio waves to detect aircraft through to the possibilities and problems related to the modern versions. Colin Wright has a PhD in Pure Mathematics and a fascination for elegant ideas cleverly applied. His work over the past 20 years with radar images has provided ample opportunity to use his training and indulge his interests. Car parking near the venue. This event is free but places may need to be reserved. Event Title: Radar: Theory, Practice, History, Future and Problems. Speaker(s): Colin Wright. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Dr Diane Crann. Contact Details: Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk. Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Lindop Building, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB.

Bubbles: tricks and treats

London and South East Branch Calendar Dr Gianluca Memoli Higher Research Scientist in Acoustics, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK With their ubiquitous presence, both in natural phenomena and modern technology (not to mention our childhood), bubbles have intrigued scientists throughout human history. Some of the questions which puzzled Leonardo da Vinci in the Italian Renaissance, have only very recently been solved... and there are many others still to be solved. This interactive talk will be a tour through the "bubble world" paced by demonstrations and stories, with the ambitious goal of demonstrating that bubbles are everywhere! On the way, selected by the audience as in a book with multiple endings, the speaker might pass from innovative techniques to cure cancer to sonoluminescence (and the quest for clean energy), from the International Space Station to the sea's abyss, from coke and chocolate to the New York Fashion week, from the Vomit Comet to inside a faulty washing machine. Lectures begin at 7.30pm. There is pa… Event Title: Bubbles: tricks and treats. Speaker(s): Dr Gianluca Memoli, Higher Research Scientist in Acoustics, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact Details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk, or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary). Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.

Technical history of glassmaking in St Helens

Lancashire and Cumbria Branch Calendar Pilkington has for the last 50 years been the world’s foremost glass manufacturer, a reputation that has been built on a solid foundation of technical achievement and business acumen. This talk will offer an explicitly biased view of that company’s history, recognising the importance of key people involved with its inception and growth, as well as celebrating the role of technology in the development and fortunes of a world-class glass manufacturer. Event Title: Technical history of glassmaking in St Helens. Speaker(s): Dr David Martlew. Organised by: Lancashire & Cumbria Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/lancashire/calendar/file_44556.pdf. Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. MB 49, Maudland Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE.

The forces of nature

Manchester and District Branch Calendar Everything we understand in science is based on no more than four fundamental forces. Gravity and electromagnetism are well known forces, and are sufficient for all chemical and biological phenomena. Physics, astrophysics and cosmology are greedier. Two additional forces were discovered in the first half of the twentieth century; the strong force which binds the atomic nucleus, and the weak force which allows the Sun to shine. In 1983 an experiment which collided matter with antimatter showed that the weak force and electromagnetism were actually aspects of the same force. Peter Kalmus is Emeritus Professor of Physics at Queen Mary, University of London, UK. He has carried out research in particle physics at accelerators in the UK, USA, Germany and CERN, and is an author of 230 research publications. He was awarded the Rutherford Medal for his contribution to the discovery of the W and Z particles which showed that electromagnetism and the weak interaction were aspects of the same force. He received… Event Title: The forces of nature. Organised by: Manchester & District Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Rm 0.05, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6BH.

Relaxing in the Sun: solar-coronal heating and solar flares

Merseyside Branch Calendar A long-standing puzzle in astrophysics is to explain why the temperature of the solar corona is over a million degrees (compared with a surface temperature of about 6000 degrees). It is now well established that the mechanism for coronal heating must involve the magnetic field but the details remain controversial. This talk will outline the basic properties of the solar corona and the coronal-heating problem, including advances from recent space telescopes. A strong candidate for dissipating magnetic energy is a process known as magnetic reconnection, which will be explained, as well as the close relationship between solar flares and coronal heating. Recent theoretical results concerning energy dissipation by magnetic reconnection as coronal-loop magnetic fields relax to a new minimum-energy state will be presented. Directions: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/merseyside/calendar/file_44563.pdf. Event Title: Relaxing in the Sun. Speaker(s): Prof. Philippa Browning, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester. Organised by: Merseyside Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Thursday, October 14, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX.

Physics and Medicine: A Historical Perspective

London and South East Branch Calendar Medical physics developed during the twentieth century alongside increasing use of ionising radiations and imaging in medicine. However this picture conceals a much older and richer relationship, encompassing ancient Egyptian surgery, Leonardo, and seventeenth century mechanistic philosophy. This historical perspective helps us to appreciate the breadth of the current, and potential future, role of physics in medicine. Lecture begins 7.30pm. Dr Stephen Keevil is from King’s College London. Event Title: Physics and Medicine: A Historical Perspective. Speaker(s): Dr Stephen Keevil. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Dr C. Isenberg. Contact Details: Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk Tel: 01227 823768. Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1 University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NZ.

Plutonium: asset or waste?

South West Branch Calendar Plutonium is a radioactive, fissile material arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Should plutonium be stored for the long term, disposed, or recycled into new reactor fuel? This presentation will deal with a number of issues associated with plutonium management; and it will be emphasised that no matter which approach is adopted, technical challenges are inevitable. The UK’s civil plutonium stockpile – around 100 tonnes – is currently considered to be a zero-value asset, although the energy potential of this material is thought to be equivalent to around two billion barrels of oil. A case for recycling will be made; and operations of the Sellafield Mixed Oxide (MOX) Plant – in which overseas-owned plutonium is manufactured into new reactor fuel – will be described, as will some of the science of MOX fuel. Tickets are free and available via email from salisburyiop@physics.org. Coffee will be available from 19:00, and the talk will begin at 19:30. Event Title: Plutonium: asset or waste? Speaker(s): Jason Farrell (Sellafield Ltd). Organised by: South West Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Philip Milsom. Contact Details: Email: salisburyiop@physics.org. Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM. St John’s suite, Mercure White Hart Hotel, 1 St John Street, Salisbury, SP1 2SD.

Physics at the Interface: from liquid crystal displays to vision and movement

Manchester and District Branch Calendar Research in science and engineering is increasingly providing an insight into important problems in biology, building on perhaps the most famous example of this synergy when Crick and Watson used experimental physics to work out the structure of DNA. This talk takes examples from the area of liquid crystals, best known for flat panel television sets and mobile phone displays, and shows how nature applies this technology to living systems. In particular, it will explain how (and why) some animals see using polarized light. It will also show how we can move technology towards producing artificial muscles. We will finally consider how systems in nature could influence the next technological advance. Directions: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/manchester/calendar/file_44559.pdf. Event Title: Physics at the Interface. Speaker(s): Professor Helen Gleeson, Physics Department, The University of Manchester. Organised by: Manchester & District Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6BH.

Seniors Group Lunchtime Rendezvous Aberdeen

Scotland Branch Calendar The Aberdeen Lunchtime Rendezvous consists of coffee, a lecture and lunch, followed by a visit to the MRI unit at Foresterhill Hospital. The morning lecture will be titled "Is there any conflict between science and religion?" by Emeritus Professor Henry Irving Ellington, Former Head of Educational Development Unit, Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen. Event Title: Seniors Group Lunchtime Rendezvous Aberdeen. Organised by: Scotland Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Dr J Higinbotham CPhys FInstP FAIP. Contact Details: Seniors Group Coordinator of the Institute of Physics in Scotland, Dr J Higinbotham CPhys FInstP FAIP, 12 (1F2) Bruntsfield Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH10 4EA Tel: +44 (0) 131 229 7725 Email: john.higinbotham@physics.org. Further Information: http://www.iopscotland.org/Calendar/event-info/page_41497.html. Friday, October 29, 2010, 10:50 AM – 5:20 PM. Education Room (first floor) Aberdeen Maritime Museum Shiprow Aberdeen AB11 5BY.

"Dafty" and Electromagnetism: What a revolution

London and South East Branch Calendar James Clerk Maxwell had to endure considerable verbal humour at his expense, and was nicknamed ‘Dafty’. His school and College contemporaries found him somewhat of an oddball with strange interests in mechanisms and natural phenomena . Today he would be called a ‘nerd’. His insight and contributions to theoretical physics were vast. Einstein had Maxwell’s portrait on his office wall and said of him, ‘He was the Newton of Electricity’. Maxwell not only established the electromagnetic theory of light, which subsequently brought about the huge electromagnetic and electronic revolutions of the 20th century onwards, but triggered off Einstein to establish Special Relativity - a most significant break with Classical Physics. He established the basis for colour photography and the nature of Saturn‘s rings. The electrical advances of the nineteenth century in experimental and theoretical physics , it might well be argued, are the last great revolutions in classical physics which, in effect, led to those… Event Title: "Dafty" and Electromagnetism: What a revolution. Speaker(s): Dr Ken Smith. Organised by: Dr Ken Smith. Co-sponsored by: SEKAS. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Dr C. Isenberg. Contact Details: Email: C.Isenberg@kent.ac.uk Tel. 01227 823768. Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1 University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NZ.

The physics of superheroes

London and South East Branch Calendar Everyone is familiar with at least one superhero. In this talk we shall discuss a wide variety of different superheroes and we shall show how their ‘unbelievable’ powers have a basis supported by the laws of physics. The only concession that we shall make is that we shall assume that they have these powers, we shall not try to explain where they come from. So, we’ll answer questions such as “how strong is the gravity on Krypton?” “where does Magneto get his levitation from?” “how can some of them walk through walls?” etc. To answer these questions we shall consider Newton’s law of gravitation, quantum mechanics and diamagnetism. These are only three examples, most of your favourites will be there covering all areas of physics. The event is free but please register. Car parking near the venue. Event Title: The physics of superheroes. Speaker(s): Prof. Alan Davies. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Dr Diane Crann. Contact Details: Email: d.crann@herts.ac.uk. Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Lindop Building, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB.

On the shoulders of eastern giants: the forgotten contribution of the medieval physicists

Merseyside Branch Calendar We learn at school that Isaac Newton is the father of modern optics, that Copernicus heralded the birth of astronomy, and that it is Snell’s law of refraction. But what is the debt that these men owe to the physicists and astronomers of the medieval Islamic empire? Men such as Ibn al-Haytham, the greatest physicist in the 2000-year span between Archimedes and Newton, and whose Book of Optics was just as influential as Newton’s seven centuries later; or Avicenna and Biruni the Persian polymaths who argued over such topics as why ice floats and whether parallel universes exist; or Ibn Sahl who came up with the correct law of refraction many centuries before Snell; or the astronomers Al-Tusi and Ibn al-Shatir, without whom Copernicus would not have been able to formulate his heliocentric model of the solar system. In this lecture Jim Al-Khalili will recount these characters and more from his new book on the subject. Additional directions at http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/merseyside/calendar/f… Event Title: On the shoulders of eastern giants: the forgotten contribution of the medieval physicists. Speaker(s): Prof. Jim Al-Khalili, University of Surrey. Organised by: Merseyside Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Chadwick Lecture Theatre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX.

Tangling with long molecules

London and South East Branch Calendar It is hard to imagine a world without synthetic polymers for packaging, clothing, transport, sport – the list is endless. Some of their chemical names have become household terms – polythene, polystyrene. They are all around us, yet rarely is the question addressed in this lecture asked “Why so ubiquitous, what is so special?” Polymers can stretch or bounce, they are usually electrical or thermal insulators (though electrically active ones are ‘hot’ developments), they are tough and they are light. In this lecture, we will explore the consequences of the “poly” prefix, which tells us they are enormously long molecules and which give them this package of highly desirable properties. We shall look at one or two examples of experimental observation that help us understand how the properties are related to the molecular size and shape. Finally we will consider, too, how to handle such potentially intractable beasts and thus fabricate objects from them. Tea/coffee from 18:00, and also after the lecture. Event Title: Tangling with long molecules. Speaker(s): Professor Dame Julia Higgins FRS. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Branch Secretary. Contact Details: Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org. Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT.

Information-Safe? Personal & Corporate Privacy in the Online World

London and South East Branch Calendar Seminar: Welcome - Professor Graham Galbraith (Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire) Chairman - David Smith (Deputy Information Commissioner and Director of Data Protection) Speakers: Professor Ross Anderson FRS FREng(Professor of Security Engineering, University of Cambridge) 'Personal privacy' Lars Davies (CEO, Kalypton Limited) 'Corporate privacy' Professor M. Angela Sasse (Head of Information Security Research, University College London) 'Managing the Human Element in Information Security' Open forum: Questions and answers Vote of thanks: Sir William Francis CBE LLD FREng (Past President of Institution of Civil Engineers, UK) -------------------------------------- Parking near venue, pre lecture buffet usually good. Lectures suitable for 6th formers. Attendance free, advanced registration essential. Event Title: Information-Safe? Personal & Corporate Privacy in the Online World. Speaker(s): Prof R Anderson: Lars Davies: Prof A Sasse. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact Details: Tel: 0845 601 1000 Email: email bookevents@businesslinkeast.org.uk. Further Information: http://www.eeesta.org.uk/seminars.php. Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 6:45 PM – 9:45 PM. Weston Auditorium, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, UK.

London & SE Branch Dinner

London and South East Branch Calendar The 2010 Branch dinner will be held at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday 10 November 2010 after the usual Wednesday evening talk. Member's Guests Welcome. Booking form and further details see attachment. The cost of the dinner (including wine) will be £32.00 / per head. Tickets will not be issued so please include your e-mail address or a self-addressed prepaid envelope so that your booking can be confirmed. Dinner attendees will be automatically added to the list of potential attendees for the evening lecture. Bookings (and cancellations) can be made up to midday on Wednesday 3 November 2010. Since numbers are limited, late bookers should enquire about availability. Event Title: London & SE Branch Dinner. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Dr Mark Telling (Treasurer, L&SE Branch). Contact Details: ISIS Facility, Rm 1-49, Chilton, OXON, OX11 0QX E-mail: mark.telling@stfc.ac.uk. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/south_east/file_44138.pdf. Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT.

How to find a dead body: an insight into forensic geophysics

Merseyside Branch Calendar This lecture will cover important applications of forensic geophysics. Successful detection of clandestine graves of murder victims is relatively poor in the UK for a variety of factors. This can include large survey areas, poor intelligence and a lack of knowledge of search teams on optimal technologies to utilise. The talk will present current research efforts to better understand physical properties of both the search area and the potential target(s) to aid search investigators. The main operating equipment types will be discussed, with some detail about how they work. Key findings from geophysical research on both simulated clandestine burials and case-studies will be shown. Directions: http://www.iop.org/activity/branches/north_west/merseyside/calendar/file_44563.pdf. Event Title: How to find a dead body: an insight into forensic geophysics. Speaker(s): Dr Jamie Pringle, School of Physical Sciences and Geography, Keele University. Organised by: Merseyside Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Louise Butcher. Contact Details: Email: louise.butcher@iop.org. Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Surface Science Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX.

Celebrating 21 years of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): applying physics to medicine.

London and South East Branch Calendar The treatment of cancer by radiation requires as large a dose as possible to the cancer while sparing the healthy tissue. A key technique for this `conformal radiation therapy' is intensity-modulated radiation therapy, IMRT. IMRT has become a major treatment for cancers where adjacent organs are at risk from radiation damage. This talk will describe the development since 1988 of IMRT as a key part of medical physics and will explain the clinical rationale. As IMRT becomes widespread, it continues to develop and is now meeting the challenge of taking care of the fact that organs can move. This leads to 4D medical imaging with IMRT, so-called image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). There is parking near the lecture theatre. Event Title: Celebrating 21 years of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): applying physics to medicine. Speaker(s): Steve Webb, Head of Joint Department of Physics, Institute of Cancer Research (University of London) and Royal Marsden Hospital. Organised by: London and South East Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact Details: Email: r.mackintosh@open.ac.uk, or t.a.bartlett@open.ac.uk (secretary). Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Berrill Lecture Theatre, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.

Keeping time with a single ion

South West Branch Calendar The past few years have seen enormous advances in the development of new types of atomic clock based on optical atomic transitions. Because such clocks operate at much higher frequency than the current generation of microwave atomic clocks, they divide time into smaller slices, and therefore offer the prospect of significantly better stability and accuracy. At NPL we are developing optical atomic clocks based on extremely narrow transitions in single trapped ions. In this talk I will describe how we observe a single ion, how we make a laser stable enough to probe the narrow clock transition and how we measure a frequency that is too high to count directly. The potential applications of optical atomic clocks, ranging from improved satellite navigation systems to experimental tests of general relativity, will also be discussed. Tickets are required but are free of charge. Coffee will be available from 19:00, and the talk will begin at 19:30. Event Title: Keeping time with a single ion. Speaker(s): Dr Helen Margolis. Organised by: Institute of Physics lectures in Salisbury. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Philip Milsom. Contact Details: Email: salisburyiop@physics.org. Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. The St John’s Suite at the White Hart, Salisbury, SP1 2SD.

How to be a successful physicist

London and South East Branch Calendar The Institute of Physics strongly encourages continuous personal and professional development of its members. Hence the London and South East Branch together with Manchester and District Branch are organising a one day conference which will take place at the Manchester Metropolitan University on the 24th November 2010. The target audience are young scientists and final year PhD students. The aim of the conference is to give advice via presentations by prominent physicists who would share their visions and useful tips on victorious strategies in science. As a practical exercise, the participants will work in teams at the workshop to practice writing an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant application. Event Title: How to be a successful physicist. Organised by: the IOP London and South East Branch and the Manchester and District Branch. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Claire Garland. Contact Details: Tel: +44 (0)20 7470 4800 E-mail: claire.garland@iop.org. Further Information: http://www.iop.org/events/scientific/conferences/y/10/physicist/. Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Lecture Theatre All Saints Building Oxford Road Manchester M15 6BH UK.

Challenges towards effective ultrasonic inspection of critical welds in nuclear plants

London and South East Branch Calendar Ultrasonic inspection of several critical welds in a nuclear power plant is complicated by the microstructure of the weld alloy after solidification. As a new generation of nuclear power plants are on the design board for the UK, a renewed effort to address these significant challenges is underway. Tea/Coffee 6pm, lecture 6.30pm, Tea/coffee afterwards. Event Title: Challenges towards effective ultrasonic inspection of critical welds in nuclear plants. Speaker(s): Channa Nageswaran. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Co-sponsored by: Welding & Joining Society. Requires Registration: Yes. Contact: Branch Secretary londonsoutheast@physics.org. Contact Details: Email: londonsoutheast@physics.org. Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. IOP 76, Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT.

Christmas Science Lectures at the University of Kent

London and South East Branch Calendar Spectacular giant bubbles, bubble surfaces, magic colours and vibrational waves produced by soap films will be demonstrated, examined and explained. Applications to solving communication and roadway problems will be demonstrated. Tickets £1 per person. Suitable for all ages. Event Title: The Magic of Bubbles. Speaker(s): Dr C Isenberg. Organised by: L&SE Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Booking office. Contact Details: Tel: 01227 769075. Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, Canterbury Kent, CT2 7NB.

Christmas Science Lectures at the University of Kent

London and South East Branch Calendar Spectacular giant bubbles, bubble surfaces, magic colours and vibrational waves produced by soap films will be demonstrated, examined and explained. Applications to solving communication and roadway problems will be demonstrated. Tickets £1 per person. Suitable for all ages. Event Title: The Magic of Bubbles. Speaker(s): Dr C Isenberg. Organised by: L&SE Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Booking office. Contact Details: Tel: 01227 769075. Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, Canterbury Kent, CT2 7NB.

Christmas Science Lectures at the University of Kent

London and South East Branch Calendar This spectacular lecture-demonstration is a mixture of historical information, practical demonstrations of high voltage electricity, and historical X-ray equipment. Dr Field will be assisted by Paul Allum and colleagues from the medical physics department at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Tickets: £1 Suitable for all ages. Event Title: Electricity and X-Rays. Speaker(s): Dr Stuart Field. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Co-sponsored by: University of Kent. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Booking office. Contact Details: Tel: 01227 769075. Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, Canterbury Kent, CT2 7NB.

Christmas Science Lectures at the University of Kent

London and South East Branch Calendar This spectacular lecture-demonstration is a mixture of historical information, practical demonstrations of high voltage electricity, and historical X-ray equipment. Dr Field will be assisted by Paul Allum and colleagues from the medical physics department at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Tickets: £1 Suitable for all ages. Event Title: Electricity and X-Rays. Speaker(s): Dr Stuart Field. Organised by: London & SE Branch. Co-sponsored by: University of Kent. Requires Registration: No. Contact: Booking office. Contact Details: Tel: 01227 769075. Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Gulbenkian Theatre, University of Kent, Canterbury Kent, CT2 7NB.

Radium use by Chadwick

Merseyside Branch Calendar In this talk Dr Todd will give an outline of the history of the Radium Committee of the Royal Society, and give an account of the use to which its radium was put over the first half of the20th century, with some focus of local interest at Liverpool. Founded in 1903, the status of the committee was enhanced in 1904 when a donation of £1000 was made to establish a radium research fund. Two years later the fund was used to purchase 500 kg of pitchblende residues from the Austrian government. The French chemist Armet de Lisle was contracted to carry out the first stage of extraction, resulting in the delivery of 412 g of barium–radium chloride to the society in late 1906. The process of purification by fractional crystallisation was carried out at the Government Laboratory during 1907 by the government analyst T E Thorpe, with an estimated yield of 70 mg of… Event Title: The Radium Committee of the Royal Society and the possible usage of its radium at Liverpool by Chadwick from 1935 to 1949. Speaker(s): Dr Neil Todd. Organised by: Merseyside Branch. Requires Registration: No. Contact Details: Email: p.rowlands@liverpool.ac.uk. Thursday, December 2, 2010, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Surface Science Research Centre, University of Liverpool, L69 3DR.