Recent events
Collision
Are you astounded by supersymmetry?
Excited by the Higgs boson?
Think neutrinos are supremo?
Express Media, COSMOS magazine, Blue Vapours and CoEPP (Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale) have joined together to create a home for artistic explorations and responses to all things particle physics. The Collision website, exhibition and accompanying zine (which will be launched in National Science Week 2012) are your opportunity to respond visually to these exciting scientific concepts.
You don’t have to be a comics-crazy art-hound or an Oscar-winning cinematographer to get involved. We think artwork, in any form, is sometimes the best way to express your love of particle physics.
Visit the Collision website and our Facebook page for some inspiration, and to take a peek at what other people are submitting. From the entries submitted to the website by July 13, a selection of thirteen comics will be picked by judges for inclusion in the Collision zine, a printed publication which will be distributed all over Australia—to schools, libraries and universities. Other favourites will be exhibited during National Science Week. There are three prizes up for grabs: a people’s choice, a multimedia prize for the best animation or film work, and a prize for best the best graphic entry, which may include publication in the literary science magazine COSMOS. COSMOS has a global following and reaches 400,000 people every month.
Some things to think about...
How DID we get here?
Is the Big Bang Theory just a TV show or is there something more to it?
Is dark matter something that happens when you switch the light off and why are particle physicists all raving about it? What’s this Higgs boson thingy all about? Come to think of it… what are fundamental particles?
And what do particle physicists DO exactly?
collision.org.au
This initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.
ATLAS Lego model display extended
Photo by Laura Vanags
See a LEGO model of one component of the Earth's biggest particle physics experiment.
Originally scheduled to be on display just until the end of the ICHEP2012 conference, where ATLAS scientists announced evidence of the Higgs Boson or 'God particle', it is now available to visit until July 31.
See just one component of the world’s largest particle physics experiment in small scale - using more than 9,000 LEGO bricks!
The model of the ATLAS detector, a major component of the Large Hadron Collider, was constructed with more than 9,000 LEGO bricks by members of ASD Aid, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in the benefits of LEGO play in families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.
For more details, visit the Scienceworks site here.
In August the model will be moved to a display at the University of Adelaide School of Physics for a year.
Photo by Laura Vanags
Higgs results Q&A at Monash meeting
The inaugural meeting of the Physics Club at the John Monash Science School will be this Friday, July 27, at 1.30pm.
It will take the form of a Q&A session on the recent Higgs results, led by A/Prof Csaba Balazs.
Big Science at the Frontier: Future facilities for answering big questions
Associate Professor Elisabetta Barberio: University of Melbourne
The understanding of our universe from the largest to the smallest has progressed significantly in recent decades. Large complex and expensive facilities have been essential in the pursuit of knowledge of the fundamental structure, constituents and forces in nature; and the demand to make observations, measurements and analyses has driven technological advancement.
Following a presentation on the facilities at each of the frontiers, specifically the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), a panel discussion was opened to take questions from the audience.
This lecture was free and open to the public.
Particle physics meets Cosmology
Prof Raymond Volkas: University of Melbourne, Node Director of CoEPP
Physics of the very small (high-energy particle physics) and the physics of the very large (cosmology) have come together to provide an amazingly unified view of the universe. Our understanding has evolved to an unprecedented level of precision, but also leaves major unanswered questions, such as the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
In this talk Ray Volkas discussed astrophysics and particle physics in combination and provides insight into astronomical observation and high-energy particle collider experiments.
This lecture was free and open to the public.
Understanding the Cosmos
Prof Jeremy Mould: Centre for Astrophysics & Supercomputing, Swinburne & Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne
In recent years, astronomical observations have provided a remarkable basis for our understanding of the large-scale structure of the universe.
In this lecture, Prof Mould discussed observations of dark matter, the expanding and accelerating universe and direct remnants of the big bang to give us an understanding of the cosmos.
This lecture was free and open to the public.
Conversation with Fabiola Gianotti: Leader of ATLAS - one of the world’s largest experiments
Tuesday July 10, 2012 8pm to 9.30pm
The Basement Theatre, The Spot Building (Business & Economics)
198 Berkeley Street, Carlton, VIC
ATLAS is a particle physics experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The ATLAS detector is searching for new discoveries in the head-on collisions of protons of extraordinarily high energy.
ATLAS is learning about the basic forces that have shaped our Universe since the beginning of time and that will determine its fate.
Fabiola Gianotti is the overall coordinator of the ATLAS Collaboration which consists of 3000 scientists from 38 countries.
In this lecture she discussed the challenges and goals of the Large Hadron Collider, the ATLAS experiment and its latest results, and the impact of particle physics on society.
See a slideshow here.
An evening with the world's leaders in high energy physics
Friday July 6, 2012 6pm to 7.30pm
The Basement Theatre, The Spot Building (Business & Economics)
198 Berkeley Street, Carlton, VIC
The world’s leaders in high energy physics met in Melbourne to unveil the latest results in particle physics. Where is the Higgs boson? Is supersymmetry dead? Do we need an even Larger Hadron Collider? What is dark energy and the new cosmology?
In this special Physics July Lecture, a panel of theoretical and experimental physicists discussed the most recent developments at the LHC, history of the search for the Higgs boson, and what it means for 'future physics'.
See a slideshow here.
ACAS-CERN High School Student Master Class
Friday July 6 2012 9am-9.15pm
Australian Synchrotron
CoEPP and the Australian Synchrotron extended a special invitation to high-achieving year 11 and 12 students studying physics to attend the Particle Physics Masterclass: Search for the building blocks of the Universe.
This is a satellite event of ICHEP2012, the International Conference for High Energy Physics, and students will be rubbing shoulders with some of the worlds leading Physicists, on the verge of a major discovery.
The Masterclass is based on currentresearch at the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest particle accelerator tasked with a mission to explore the fundamental building blocks of the universe. It will be taught by researchers working at the cutting-edge of science and will provide you with an overview of the physics involved in the LHC experiments.
This event is being hosted at the Australian Synchrotron, the home to Australia’s largest particle accelerator. Those taking part in the program will work with massive data sets, accessed live across the grid. They will be examining the conditions just moments after the Big Bang, engaged in the race to discover of the origin of mass and help resolve some longstanding mysteries of the universe.
The event concludes at the University of Melbourne with an international public lecture and dinner.
Registration has now closed.
See a slideshow here.
ACAS-CERN Teacher Workshop
Friday July 6 2012 11.15am-9.30pm
Melbourne Convention Centre
In July this year, Melbourne will host one of the most important conferences, ICHEP2012 (36th International Conference on High Energy Physics). With the expected announcements of results from the LHC experiments, this may well be a pivotal moment in the future of particle physics. Does the Higgs exist?
Coinciding with this event, there will be a High School Physics Teachers development day for frontier physics. Just imagine that you are part of the audience with some of the world’s top particle physicists.
By taking part in our program you will have an opportunity to meet leaders from major international laboratories—as well take part in specially targeted lectures—with a focus on engaging young scientists in frontier physics. This event runs alongside our Masterclass for Yr 11/12 students.
Come and brush shoulders with cutting-edge researchers who are on the verge of discovering the famed Higgs Boson, a new fundamental particle instrumental in the understanding of the Universe.
This event is aimed at bringing together high school physics teachers and researchers as a recognition of the vital role each plays in the education and professional development of students. Teachers are welcomed into the research community and participating in a satellite event at an international conference is an effective way for the two communities to meet and interact.
Registration has now closed.
See a slideshow here.
