Women Advance but Not Enough

Home , Colin Humphreys, Gillian Gehring, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Physics World, The Naked Scientists

The newspaper of the physics community April 2006

CONTENTS 2 News Women advance but not enough ● Maxwell Year Astronomical Schools Lecture ● 10-year Heather Pinnell reports on recent efforts to improve the position of women in science. study tracks graduates The progress of women in physics was 4 Reflections the focus of several events to mark The challenges of becoming a International Women’s Day on physics teacher ● Physics 8 March. The UK Resource Centre for outreach – how can we help? Women in SET (UKRC) held its second annual conference, where it launched 5 People a photographic exhibition celebrating Jules Hoult on the physics of six inspiring women scientists (right). skydiving The Institute’s own Women in Physics Group held a welcome event for women physics students, which was addressed by speakers represent- ing careers in industry, academia, journalism and government. The group recently extended free membership to all 2200 female undergrad- 6 Letters uate members. AWE ● Keeping physicists in Since March 2002, when the first the teaching profession International Union of Pure and Applied Physics conference on 7 Event horizon women in physics was held in Paris, What’s on at the Institute there have been many positive developments – both at the Institute and 8 Antimatters nationally. The best of science podcasts In 2003, Council set up the Women in Physics Policy Committee and appointed a full-time staff member for women’s issues. The government also commissioned Sir Gareth Roberts to write a report, SET for success, which

identified a future shortage of science, Robert Taylor/UKRC engineering and technology (SET) Clockwise: Wendy Hall, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Maggie Aderin, Julia Goodfellow, Kathy Sykes, Rebecca George. graduates and noted that this could be “Am I a traitor to my addressed if more women were These include the difficulties of return- years and, while women make up 24% recruited. In response, the govern- ing to science after a career break; com- of those employed in SET, they hold physics roots?” ment set up the UKRC in 2004. The long-hours bining childcare with the demands of a only 12% of managerial positions. Kate Bellingham on teaching Work has continued apace at the career in science; women following Gillian Butcher is an active member maths, p4 Institute. Between 2003 and 2005, culture in physics their partners when they relocate; lack of the Women in Physics Group and 40% of UK university physics depart- departments is of networking opportunities; lack of a research associate in space instru- ments were visited by a panel that transparency in hiring, promotion and mentation at Leicester University. She “Skydiving is a lot assessed how welcoming they are to often a problem for pay; few visible role models for women says that, while there are more female women. The panel noted a lack of and the continuing problem of gender physics undergraduates than when closer to flying than transparency in promotions and women with stereotyping. she was at university 20 years ago, appointments and said that the long- Many of these factors were identi- there are very few women working at to falling.” hours culture is often a problem for children. fied in the Institute’s report The 3Rs: her level in her field. “When I was an Jules Hoult, p5 women with children. A similar Recruitment, Retention and Returning, undergraduate there were six women scheme of industry site visits is published in March 2004. Following out of 40, which was quite good at that planned. on from this, the Institute conducted time. You thought, it’s all going to “One of the joys of The Institute will shortly publish a a survey of women taking career happen and it’s all going to change. podcasting is listen- review of research into girls and breaks and published a guide to plan- But I now wonder where they all are.” physics as well as a guide for teachers ning a successful career break. Katharine Hollinshead, the Institute’s ing to programmes on how to keep girls interested in the The gender balance has certainly diversity programme leader, says there subject. improved in the last 50 years, says is a strong business case for making from the other side of The Royal Society is also making Gillian Gehring, who started as an women more welcome. Technology- efforts to improve the situation for undergraduate in 1959 and was only based industry faces similar imbal- the world.” Samuel Rae, p8 women in science. Last June it the second female professor of ances to those in academia, with launched the Athena SWAN Charter – physics when appointed in 1989. By women making up just 4% of directors an award scheme to encourage uni- March 2005, the number of women in the top 100 technology companies. versities to demonstrate their com- professors had risen to 26, but many “There are huge numbers of women mitment to advancing the careers of believe this upward trend has now who have SET qualifications who are CHARTERED female scientists. In the first round of reached a plateau. not actually working in the sector, and STATUS KEEPS awards, announced in March, silver The proportion of female physics it’s a waste of resources. Companies medals went to Imperial College, professors has increased only slightly need to move beyond seeing it as a leg- YOU AHEAD London and the chemistry depart- in recent years, to around 4%. Female islative requirement to see the positive careers.iop.org/ ment at Edinburgh University. A-level entries and undergraduate aspects. You can see it as a ticking-the- There are many reasons for the per- numbers seem to have stuck at box exercise or as a real opportunity chartered sisting shortage of women in physics. around 21–22% for the last 10–15 for your company or university.”

Interactions April 2006 2 news BRANCH NEWS New strategy for UK technology Edinburgh to celebrate Maxwell Year The Institute of Physics in Scotland is joining in By Ayala Ochert investment by businesses in R&D, ing a new medical technology, for celebrations of the 175th anniversary of the “Research is about turning money from just 1.2% of GDP to the govern- example , could get access to buyers in birth of James Clerk Maxwell in 2006, which has into knowledge and innovation about ment’s target of 1.7% by 2014. Spittle the National Health Service. turning knowledge into money,” said said that a “step change” in UK inno- The UK lags behind on business been designated Maxwell Year. The James Clerk former Institute president Sir Gareth vation was vital, given developments spending on R&D, but the situation in Maxwell Foundation, with the Royal Society of Roberts as he welcomed the Insti- in countries like India and China. “The Germany would appear to be much Edinburgh, Edinburgh University, Heriot Watt tute’s business affiliates to the year’s pace of change in those countries is better, with investment at 2.6% of University, the national museums of Scotland first Key Insight Business Briefing on more fierce than you can imagine, and GDP – two-thirds of the country’s and the City of Edinburgh, have set up a series 13 March. the challenge for us is immense.” total spending on R&D. of events between April and October to mark the anniversary. The meeting drew together tech- The Technology Strategy Board has Reinhard Grunwald, secretary-gen- These will include lectures by Malcolm Longair and Basil Mahon, nology experts and business leaders a budget of £360 m to spend on sup- eral of the German Research Founda- author of an acclaimed book about Maxwell, a poster competition to discuss the UK’s new national porting the development of promis- tion, told the audience about the technology strategy, which was ing technologies; £260 m of that has German situation. Investment comes for primary schools and an exhibition at Maxwell’s family home in announced in 2004. The strategy is already been distributed, with 40% mainly from the automotive industry, Parton in Dumfries and Galloway. Maxwell’s school, the Edinburgh being formulated by a business-led going to small and medium-sized while other R&D-intensive industries Academy, will also open a new science facility in the autumn to be Technology Strategy Board and its businesses. Spittle said the board was – such as those involved in the manu- named the James Clerk Maxwell Centre. chairman, Graham Spittle, director of looking for risky investments that facture of machinery and pharmaceu- IBM’s Hursley Laboratory, was the might pay off in the next five to 10 ticals – are starting to decline. A diamond of a science facility first keynote speaker of the evening. years. “The writing is on the wall in Ger- On 1 March Simon Alcock of the Diamond Light Source told the “Science and technology are the The board is also creating “innova- many,” said Grunwald, stressing that fundamental bedrock of wealth cre- tion platforms”, which will bring all countries in Western Europe face Institute’s Midlands Branch members about this new science facility, ation but UK companies have not together stakeholders from govern- the same challenges in transitioning the largest in the UK for over 30 years. The giant machine, which is embraced them at the pace needed. ment and the business and research to a knowledge-based economy that housed in a doughnut-shaped building with a circumference of half a That’s where the technology strategy communities. These platforms aim to can compete with lower-wage coun- mile, is a particle accelerator designed to produce synchrotron light comes in,” said Spittle. link businesses with procurement tries like India, China and the nations in the form of x-ray, infra-red and ultra-violet beams of exceptional His board is trying to drive up opportunities. A company develop- of Eastern Europe. brightness. The Diamond Light Source will open in 2007 and should enable scientists to probe deep inside matter and answer JOINT MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT fundamental questions about everything from the building blocks of life to the geological origin of our planet. Synchroton light also has important practical uses — it has been used to study the molecular structure of chocolate to help food manufacturers create the best tasting bars. The physics of juggling – harder than you’d think On 28 February members of the Institute’s South Central Branch were treated to a display of amazing feats of both juggling and physics. Colin Wright, a physicist who has set up the juggling company Solypsis, explained that juggling tricks can be represented by diagrams that look a bit like Feynman diagrams. These allow him to model new tricks to see if they’ll work out the way he hopes. The length of time a ball spends in the air is represented by a discrete variable that can take negative values – in other words it can travel backwards in time. Wright pointed out that a particle travelling backwards in time is considered to be the same as an anti-particle travelling forwards in time – so why not an anti-ball? You don’t actually see the anti-ball, of course, or indeed its partner; what you see is the juggler’s empty hand. Wright wowed the audience with some amazing juggling before going on to explain how Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle also applies to the ball–anti-ball pair. Flipping from pole to pole Institute president Sir John Enderby (right) signed a joint membership agreement with Peter Jackson, the It has been known for 100 years that the north and south magnetic president of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). The agreement will make it easier poles have swapped positions many times in the geological past, but and cheaper to be a member of both organisations, with a 25% reduction on each subscription. It also creates the idea still has the power to fascinate. A talk on geomagnetic a fast track for corporate members of IPEM to register as chartered physicists. “The agreement will benefit reversals for the Institute’s Merseyside Branch on 2 March drew a lively people working in all areas of medical physics and encourages closer collaboration between our two audience. John Shaw, a professor of geophysics at Liverpool University, institutes,” said Enderby. described the two approaches to studying reversals and determining when the next is due. The first involves sampling rocks that record the Long-term study of While there is government data on undergraduate physics students into intermediate geomagnetic field – which is neither normal nor reversed where students end up immediately the study for several years to see how after they graduate, no-one has fol- demographic and employment pat- – and then trying to determine how the field changes as the reversal graduates begins lowed students beyond this. Peter terns change over time. The Institute progresses. This can be quite challenging as the reversal process can In February the Institute began a study Main, the Institute’s director of educa- hopes to get as many students to par- be as short as 5000 years, but results indicate that the intermediate that will track the paths taken by tion and science, has been encourag- ticipate as possible. “We all want to pro- field is very weak — just 10% of normal — and physics students after they graduate. ing physics departments across the mote physics to more people. And probably doesn’t have a simple dipole shape. The longitudinal study will follow country to promote the survey to what better way than to show potential The second, using a supercomputer to model the physics graduates for the next 10 years their final-year students. physics students the varied career paths Earth’s geodynamo, appears to show the same to see how many stay in physics, where “With the closure of several physics physicists take and the wide opportu- the rest end up and how much they departments, the results of this survey nities available to them?” says Main. basic pattern. The last reversal was 780 000 earn. The study will also provide will help departments to formulate Final-year students who have not years ago and, given the past rate of four every detailed information about gender, eth- better strategies for recruiting new already done so can fill out the ques- million years, the next is already overdue. nicity and disability to see if and how students,” he says. tionnaire online at www.sunion. these affect their future opportunities. The study will recruit final-year warwick.ac.uk/onlinesurvey/iop.

Interactions April 2006 news 3

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2006 An astronomical tour begins The announcement of Council’s nominations in the March issue of Interactions contained the wrong Joanne Page reports on the new Schools Lecture, which this year has a cosmic theme. dates for nominations and for the The Institute’s annual Schools and AGM. The correct date for the AGM is Colleges Lecture tour began in the 20 July 2006 at 2.00 p.m. at 76 North East on 10 March. The lecture, Portland Place, London W1. Gravity, Gas and Stardust, was given Since the last issue of Interactions, the by Pete Edwards to 120 students at the Bylaws agreed by members at the AGM in Science Learning Centre in Durham 2005 have been approved by Privy and included a 3D space fly-through Council and take effect from 16 March and stunning astronomical images. 2006. The new Bylaws change the Edwards is coordinator of public process for nominations by members for outreach at the Ogden Centre for Fun- elections to Council. damental Physics at Durham Univer- Under the new Bylaw 70, Council has sity, and he beat stiff competition to nominated the following candidates for become this year’s lecturer. “It can be election to serve on Council. hard to find practical demonstrations for a cosmology lecture, but Pete had David Smith is a some good ideas and his 3D videos are physics teacher at Dr great,” says Nicola Hannam of the Challoner’s Grammar Institute’s education department. School in Bucking- The lecture is aimed at 14-16-year- hamshire, where he has olds and will tour the country until worked since 1998. In his time there he the end of the year, visiting more than has helped make physics the second 40 venues. “The aim is to take the most popular A-level. Before becoming a audience on a journey through the teacher he worked for 22 years in cosmos, exploring some of the latest semiconductor physics research at the results from the world of astronomy GEC-Marconi Hirst Research Centre,

and what they may reveal about the Paul Sidney where he rose to a senior management birth, life and death of our universe,” Pete Edwards displays some stunning images of the galaxies, and shows he isn’t afraid to look silly. position. In addition to being an excellent says Edwards. teacher, he has made valuable Using images from the Hubble Ultra impression of an ambulance as he runs WMAP satellite, published in 2003, answer would have been 12–15 bil- contributions to the Institute’s own Deep Field published in 2004, Edwards around the room. “You have to be pre- was used to create the largest simula- lion years ago, but since the WMAP Physics Update courses. begins by showing the students that pared to look a bit stupid,” he admits, tion of the evolution of the universe to cosmic microwave background data there are over 10 000 galaxies in a patch but the audience seem to enjoy that. date. The Millennium Simulation of became available the answer has been Harjinder Obhi is of sky that would be obscured by a sin- From this basic physics, Edwards 2005 follows 13 billion years of cosmic narrowed down to 13.6–13.8 billion senior legal counsel for gle grain of sand. “All we get at school then moves into the latest research in history and again shows the beautiful years ago. Network General, an are simulations, so seeing real images cosmology. The audience don 3D filament-like structure of galaxies in When asked: “What caused the Big international IT was fantastic,” said teacher Steve Het- glasses for a fly-through of the local 3D. The physics department at Bang?” Edwards took the opportunity business. Upon herington, who brought his class from universe using the results from the Durham University was involved in to invite the students to study physics completion of a PhD in high- Framwellgate School, Durham. Two Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Sur- the production of both simulations. and help to answer this and other as- temperature superconductivity at To understand how astronomers and vey, completed in 2002. This simula- During question time at the end of yet-unanswered questions about the Cambridge University in 1994, he cosmologists study the universe the tion shows real images of the galaxies the lecture, Edwards was able to show universe, such as: what happened in obtained sponsorship to attend law students view spectra through diffrac- in their positions relative to each other, once again the impact of recent the first second after the Big Bang, school. Until last year he specialised in tion gratings; a Doppler ball and a giant and the fly-through reveals the large- research on our understanding of the why is the expansion of the universe intellectual property and law relating to balloon help to demonstrate redshift. scale structure – the “cosmic web”. universe. In response to the question, speeding up and where is the missing technology at Bristows, a London law In a memorable demonstration of the Edwards then shows how cosmic “When was the Big Bang?”, he matter in the universe? firm. He has also written extensively on Doppler effect, Edwards does an microwave background data from the explained that just three years ago the http://teachingphysics.iop.org intellectual property law (including in Physics World) and was founding chair of the Institute’s Physics and Law International body Group. He is also a member of the meets at Institute Nuclear ‘will not halt CO2 crisis’ Institute’s Ethics Committee. The newly elected executive council Many scientists – including the gov- always costs energy to release freely There only remains enough high- The new Bylaw 71 states: of the International Union of Pure and ernment’s chief scientific adviser, Sir usable energy,” he said. quality uranium ore to maintain and “Any twenty Corporate Members may Applied Physics (IUPAP) met at the David King – have been arguing that His study calculated how much then run down the world’s existing nominate any other duly qualified person Institute of Physics headquarters in the UK needs new nuclear power sta- energy is needed to convert uranium nuclear reactors, but not to replace as a candidate for election to any one or London on 24–25 February. tions in order to stave off global ore into nuclear fuel, to construct the them with new reactors or to expand more of the said offices by depositing at It was a fitting venue as the organi- warming. But, on 9 March, the Insti- power plant and keep it going, to dis- nuclear power, said Van Leeuwen. Yet least five weeks before the Annual sation is considering moving its sec- tute’s Energy Management Group pose of the waste and, ultimately, to 164 new reactors are currently on General Meeting such nomination in retariat to the Institute in 2008 from heard from one scientist – Storm van decommission the reactor. The order worldwide. writing at the office together with the its current location at the American Leeuwen – who says that nuclear energy involved at each stage can be “This is an argument between econ- written consent of the nominee to accept Physical Society in College Park, power will not help reduce green- significant, explained Van Leeuwen. omists and physicists,” said Van office if elected. No Corporate Member Maryland, where it has been for the house gas emissions. For example, after a nuclear reactor is Leuween. Economists believe that may nominate more than one candidate last six years. He also told the meeting that there shut down, it has to be cooled for higher uranium prices will drive the in any year for any one vacancy.” At the meeting the council dis- is only enough uranium in the world decades before it can be dismantled. discovery of new sources. “But physi- Nominations under Bylaw 71 must be cussed how it plans to carry out the to sustain the current generation of One of the main limitations of cal facts suggest otherwise. There are received by Christine Cornwell, clerk to resolutions made by the General nuclear reactors – and no more. nuclear power, he went on, is the avail- no indications that new rich deposits the Council no later than 12 June 2006. Assembly in Cape Town in October Van Leeuwen, an expert reviewer ability of high-grade uranium ore. As are to be found. Physical laws cannot The new Bylaws also make provision 2005. Two major priorities identified for the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel the ore grade approaches 0.01% ura- be circumvented by economics.” for members to submit resolutions to the in Cape Town were physics education on Climate Change, presented his nium, the carbon dioxide emitted by Van Leeuwen did not look at breeder AGM. Each resolution must be submitted and physics for development. complete life-cycle analysis of a the nuclear reactor – taken over its reactors because these are unlikely to by no fewer than 20 members and be In order to increase the number of nuclear reactor. whole lifetime – becomes comparable come online in the next two decades. received no later than 12 June 2006. developing countries in IUPAP, the “A reactor is part of a complex sys- with that emitted by a conventional He also did not include the use of The full details of the new Bylaws are council agreed that membership tem, and all those processes emit car- gas-fired power plant. The energy pro- weapons-grade plutonium as a available at http://about.iop.org/ should initially be free for certain bon dioxide from the burning of fossil duced by the reactor also falls off rap- nuclear fuel because of the attendant IOP/objectives.html. countries and later be subsidised. fuels or through chemical reactions. It idly as the ore grade decreases. risk of nuclear arms proliferation.

Interactions April 2006 4 reflections Physics and maths should go together

“Physics ‘could die out in state schools’ due to lack of teachers.” encounter with the Teaching Information Line didn’t give the full When I read this headline and others like it last November, I had picture. I already knew that, as a former engineer, I could take already spent several weeks observing lessons in a local school part in the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), which means to help me decide whether to make a career change into that I could learn to teach on the job at my chosen school and be teaching. The headlines were based on research from the mentored in my chosen subject (with an afternoon a week at the University of Buckingham that showed, among other things, local university to cover more general aspects of teaching). that 24% of 11–16 schools don’t have a single physics specialist What I hadn’t realised was that I could do a PGCE specialising and 30% of physics teachers are due to retire in the next decade. in physics, doing just enough biology and chemistry to fulfil the My own experience may give some insight into why physics requirements. I also discovered that, once qualified, it would then teachers are fast becoming a dying breed. I have a physics degree be up to me and the school that employs me to decide what from Oxford, an MSc in electronics and experience working as a subjects and ages I would teach. That could include maths, Kate Bellingham computer programmer, an engineer and a presenter on physics and electronics. The bad news is that it’s still not possible television and radio. But, despite all this, the lessons I’ve been to do a PGCE in maths and physics together. Apparently, teachers “If the training observing are maths lessons. need to be qualified in one complete subject, and it is impractical was more flexible, When I first investigated the opportunities in teaching, I to cover the whole of maths plus physics on top. phoned the Teaching Information Line and explained that I had they might attract experience in physics, maths and electronics. I was told that Un-balanced science more physicists these were three different subject areas, and that I would have to Given the current, desperate lack of confident and capable choose just one to train in. physics teachers, I would like to see the TDA show leadership into teaching.” Electronics is part of design and technology, and I felt that I and initiative by supporting a new qualification in maths and had nothing to offer in the rest of that subject. Physics? That physics. I’m sure I’m not the only physicist put off “balanced comes under “science”, and you need to train across the whole science” because of a reluctance to teach biology. subject. I’d dropped biology and chemistry when I was 16 and It’s true that I could do the bare minimum of biology and had no intention of reviving them. So that left maths. chemistry in order to fulfil the requirements of a science For four months I have spent every Monday morning at my teaching qualification – even if I never taught those subject local secondary school, sitting in on lessons and helping out areas. But to those who say “you wouldn’t have to do much of it” where I can. I have had some real moments of satisfaction, and “I’m sure you’d be perfectly adequate”, my answer is: “I’m helping children work through a mathematical concept and see- not prepared to compromise”. ing the look of pleasure on their faces as the penny drops. A sim- In the meantime, my advice to other physicists considering a ple “thanks, Miss” can be immensely rewarding. move into teaching is this – get all the information you can and But am I a traitor to my physics roots? When there is such a find the training route that suits you. Make sure you are treated dire shortage of physicists to teach physics, shouldn’t I be out as an individual case and don’t be put off by demarcations in the there supporting my subject? What I’d really like to do is train in education system. It is frustrating that the school departments physics and maths – two subjects that surely have at least as don’t seem to align with science in the “outside world”. But as a much in common as physics and biology. Last November, fired physicist you are a rare commodity, and schools are sure to up after reading those headlines, I decided to contact the welcome you with open arms. Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) with a suggestion – if the training was more flexible, they might attract Kate Bellingham is a former presenter of the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World more physicists. and is president of Young Engineers, a national network of engineering The good news is that, in doing so, I discovered that my brief clubs in schools and colleges. focal point: physics in society Help us help you communicate your passion for physics Einstein Year was a great excuse to celebrate as the Physics to Go and Einstein’s Birthday Party In the meantime the Institute is conducting an www.physics.org, and Lab in a Lorry provides physics and all it has to offer society. It was also a packs provided tried and tested ideas for activities. online survey of outreach activity (http:// rewarding volunteering opportunities great opportunity to get physicists around the In addition, 20 university-based physicists surveys.iop.org/outreachsurvey) to find out (www.labinalorry.org.uk). country involved in workshops, talks, attended a day of practical workshops that allowed what members are already doing and how best to In fact, a recent independent evaluation of Lab demonstrations and debates aimed at taking the participants to experiment and build their support them. Is there a need for training in a Lorry showed that what makes it such a great physics to public audiences. Here at the Institute, confidence in front of a friendly audience before workshops to build confidence and share best experience is the enthusiasm and spirit of the we hoped that Einstein Year would help to trying out their new skills in public. practice? Do you want better tools to help you volunteers. This interaction with real scientists is increase the quantity, and the quality, of outreach To ensure that the enthusiasm generated in evaluate your current activities and plan future invaluable for inspiring the next generation of done by real physicists. 2005 continues now that Einstein Year is over, the ones? Can the Physics in Society team advise you physicists, and the Physics in Society programme To a large extent, this part of Einstein Year Institute has created the Physics in Society on generating publicity and attracting a wider aims to support as many of you as possible in seems to have been a success — more than 500 programme. One of the programme’s main audience? Or would you get involved if only we doing just that. So please fill in the survey and let locally organised events took place last year. Of objectives is to continue to increase and improve produced more resources? us know how we can help you. course, many physicists have been involved in outreach activities across the country. Of course, we’re not starting from scratch. We outreach for years, so the real challenge during Einstein Year is currently undergoing an already offer support in the form of the Public Caitlin Watson was programme 2005 was to encourage new communicators independent evaluation, which is looking at what Engagement Grant Scheme. There is an electronic manager for Einstein Year and through a combination of financial and practical motivated people to do physics outreach. The discussion list for physics communicators at now manages the Physics in support. final report is due at the end of April and will be http://networks.iop.org/archives/ Society programme. The Einstein Year and branch grant schemes made public so that the whole community can physics_comms.html. The resources developed provided access to funding, while resources such learn from it. during Einstein Year are now available at

Interactions April 2006 people 5 profile: Jules Hoult OBSERVATIONS Marieke Navin describes the four weeks she spent underground in Japan, helping with the Teaching in freefall reconstruction of the Super Kamiokande neutrino detector. Ayala Ochert meets a physics teacher with a passion for skydiving. Set deep in a mine in the Hida mountains in Japan, Super Kamiokande is the world’s largest neutrino detector at 40 m tall and 40 m in diameter. It’s filled with 50 kilotonnes of ultra-pure water surrounded by 13 031 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). In 2001, a single PMT near the bottom of the tank collapsed, causing shockwaves that destroyed 60% of the tubes. The Japanese temporarily restored it but with a drastically reduced sensitivity. A six-month project is now underway to restore “Super K” to optimum sensitivity, and the international collaborators have each agreed to volunteer some of their time to the refurbishment effort. As a PhD student at Sheffield University, it’s now my turn to spend a month in Japan helping to replace the damaged tubes. 16 January I wake to an early, freezing start and for the first time see Mozumi’s snow-covered hills surrounding us. I arrived in the dark last night feeling a little apprehensive about spending four weeks working down a mine in the middle of nowhere but excited about being in Japan. The 20 minute, 3 km mine train ride is loud and dark and not for the faint- hearted. We don clean suits, hairnets, shoes, helmets, toolkits, radios

David Haygarth and buoyancy aids and enter the detector area. My first glimpse of the Jules Hoult puts his faith in the laws of physics as he steps out of a plane with his skydiving companions. Super K tank is breathtaking. It’s half full with water, giving a sense of its massive scale. Most people remember the dreams of He recalls the physics and maths the pupils hate them. It takes all the flying they had as children, but in Jules teaching he received as “solid, if not fun out of practical work, which is I’m part of the outer detector team, which will connect the cables Hoult’s case he was determined that inspirational”. But his imagination was something that should make science from the PMTs being installed by the inner detector team. In training, this dream would someday become a captured by books on nuclear physics special.” Hoult says the IGCSE will to my huge relief, I succeed in making my first of many connectors. reality. He was captivated by planes and and quantum mechanics that he found allow him the flexibility to teach Later we’re lowered by gondola onto the floating platform of the outer flew in the cadet force at school and in the school library, including The physics the way he sees fit. detector and learn about recabling. It will take four days to complete later in the University Air Squadron at Strange Story of the Quantum by Banesh Schools in the state sector will not a circle of the tank; then the water level will be lowered to reveal more Durham, where he was trained by real Hoffman. Full of enthusiasm for the have this choice. From September PMTs. The process will be repeated until all 18 rows are refurbished. RAF pilots. Then, in 1997, he took the subject, he studied physics at Durham they will have to teach one of the new leap into skydiving. “Skydiving is a lot University but found the degree disap- science GCSEs, one of which will be 17 January closer to flying than to falling, especially pointingly dull. Nevertheless, he re- 21st Century Science, to be certain I’m less nervous now and start to enjoy the work. At lunch some of if you wear a wing suit. There’s no sense mained interested in the subject and that they have met the government’s the Korean scientists share kimch’i with us, the spicy Korean side of acceleration – you just step off into decided to become a physics teacher. requirements. As chairman of the dish of salted and pickled vegetables. There are also colleagues the airflow,” says Hoult. “I’ve flown all Hoult tries to inspire his pupils with Institute’s Education Group, this is the way round clouds and down the lively lessons and by showing how something that worries Hoult. The here from China, Poland and the US – a truly international effort. sides. Chasing clouds is beautiful.” physics is relevant to their lives. Not group has analysed the new courses 20 January Since then, he has done more than afraid to try out new ideas and tech- and has expressed its concerns about My job today is to follow the radio-worker after the connections have 1200 jumps, and he’s still just as pas- niques, he’s piloted the Institute’s own them. “21st Century Science is the been tested and melt the heat shrink over them with a hot-air gun to sionate about the sport. A few years Advancing Physics A-level and the 21st only one that has been piloted and, if I ago, he also started using skydiving as Century Science GCSE. “21st Century had to make a choice, it’s the only one waterproof the cables. It’s incredibly tedious and makes my arm a way to get children interested in his Science is a really good course that I would consider,” he says. ache as I have to bend to reach the heavy cables of the bottom two other passion – physics. Hoult has teaches some valuable skills and The group fears that the current PMTs. I’m thoroughly exhausted but this evening I’ve been invited to been teaching physics for 14 years and addresses the concept of scientific liter- review of science A-levels will also a Japanese house for a birthday celebration. We try grilled fish from is currently head of physics at acy – what you need to know to be a result in an overemphasis on practical the local river and home-made wine from mountain grapes and four Uppingham School in Rutland. competent member of society,” he says. assessments. “There are two fantastic different kinds of sake. He originally developed his talk Yet, like many in the independent physics A-level courses out there – on the physics of skydiving, which sector, from September he plans to Advancing Physics and Salters- 25 January includes video footage of himself in teach the International GCSE (IGCSE). Horners. They are imaginative and Wake up to a blizzard. We grab shovels and dig out the cars. At lunch- freefall, for his own class. But he has He admits that the syllabus looks very well thought through, but they’re time we take a trip into the inner detector. I get to sail in the orange since taken the talk round the country traditional, but the attraction is that it going to have to be changed simply to dinghy I’ve seen in all the photos. It’s amazing to be inside the detector. and given it more than 30 times. In it has no practical coursework assess- fit this new assessment model.” Today I’ve been given a radio and I am to perform the connection tests. he explains how skydivers can change ment. “These assessments are just a For his next challenge, Hoult is I even learn how to communicate with the electronics hut worker in their fall rate by changing their cross- series of hoops to jump through, and again looking skyward. His school has sectional area, how they manoeuvre, just installed a dome on the roof of its Japanese! “Signal o tsunagatteimasu” means “signal connected”. and why they jump from 13 000 feet, science building and has bought a 7 February as well as talking about the physics 12 inch reflecting telescope. “There’s I’m now considered an expert and train the people who will replace involved in modern parachutes. “Assessments take no astronomy in the IGCSE, but we’ll me. I can’t believe it’s coming to an end and wonder if I’ll ever get the Hoult has always taught at inde- all the fun out of be teaching it anyway,” he says, adding pendent boarding schools, an envi- that astronomy is a great way to get opportunity to be inside the Super K tank again. I’ve been involved in ronment that is familiar and which he practical work, but even the least science-oriented chil- the cabling and signal checking of 2736 PMTs. It’s been a fabulous enjoys. He grew up in Hull in a musi- dren interested in physics. experience and I hope I’ll be back in 2009 to do data collection and cal family and, when he was just seven that’s what makes “I’ve been teaching astronomy to my calibration, which should be much less physically demanding. years old, auditioned for a place as a science special.” bottom set for the last two weeks, and chorister at King’s College School in they’ve been avid. I think there’s a deep Photographs of Marieke Navin’s visit are at www.shef.ac.uk/physics/people/ Cambridge – which he won. With the fascination with astronomy, based on mnavin. To contribute to OBSERVATIONS send an e-mail with your idea to help of music scholarships, he spent a fundamental desire to know what’s [email protected]. the next 10 years in boarding school. out there and how we all fit in.”

Interactions April 2006 6 letters

President Prof. Sir John E Enderby CBE FRS CPhys FInstP, President Elect Mr Peter Saraga CPhys FInstP, Honorary Secretary Prof. John L Beeby CPhys FInstP, Honorary Treasurer Dr J A (Tony) Scott CPhys Hon.FInstP, Vice-president, Education Dr Elizabeth Swinbank CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Business and Innovation Dr Keith Winters CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Membership and Qualifications Mr Alan Pratt CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Science Prof. Carole Jordan FRS CPhys FInstP, Chief Executive Dr Robert Kirby-Harris CPhys FinstP, Director, Education and Science Prof. Peter Main CPhys FInstP, Director, International Dr Peter Melville CPhys FInstP, Director, Membership and Electronic Services Mr John Brindley, Director, Strategy, Communications and Business Dr Paul Danielsen FInstP, Group Finance Director Mr Sean Fox MInstP, Managing Director, Institute of Physics Publishing Mr Jerry Cowhig.

Editor Ayala Ochert, Assistant Editor Heather Pinnell, Art Director Andrew Giaquinto Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7470 4800; fax: +44 (0)20 7470 4991; e-mail: [email protected]; Web: http://members.iop.org

AWE has got morals the same thing: a peaceful and just Plug the hole Am I alone in thinking that if the line should refer to miles too, world. He shouldn’t be so quick to taps are failing to fill the bath, some meaning that Gwen had fallen Jim Grozier’s letter is too simplistic dismiss those with different views Your recent articles on physics consideration might be given to 100 miles, not 100 metres. Perhaps (“Take a moral stance”, March). Far about how to achieve this. teaching leave me with a feeling of ways of putting the plug in? he could express speed in furlongs from “eschew[ing] any moral Steve Rothman déjà vu. I was a physics teacher from Tim Peters per fortnight or, better still, teach his stance”, I made a positive moral Tadley, Hampshire 1993 to 1999, and I wrote to Physics Sidcup, Kent students about SI units and stick to decision to work at the Atomic World back then about why I left that well-established international Weapons Establishment (AWE). Jim Grozier attempts to link the teaching. What continues to amaze Comic-book units system in his calculations. Outside work I am a Labour Party decline in science teaching to the me is that no-one talks about John Scott activist and a member of Amnesty existence of the AWE. retaining physicists in teaching, nor is Prof. Kakalios is to be commended Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA International. My work also has Far from diminishing oppor- there any sign of any effort to do so, let for his method of attracting and relevance to nuclear fusion power, tunities in physics, AWE provides alone to encourage good ex-teachers retaining students’ attention in Looking-glass world which may help to avert global them. It also actively supports local back into the profession (as has physics classes (“Heroic physics warming. schools in the teaching of science, happened in the nursing profession). from the parallel world of comic In the Marvin and Milo cartoon My reading of 20th century history and a significant number of its It is worrying enough to consider books”, March). But when he shows (March), the lens effect of the glass of is that there is real evil in the world scientists voluntarily give up their the bald statistic that 30% of physics students the physics exhibited by water is incorrectly drawn, with left and that dictators will take what they time to help in schools. teachers will reach retirement age superheroes in comic books and and right not consistently reversed, want by force and threats and, if It’s not out to “recruit” school over the next 10 years, yet few of my action movies, I hope he pays more and there should be nothing behind unopposed, will interpret this as leavers but aims to foster an interest friends who are still teachers attention to the units he uses. the glass when viewed through the weakness and try to take more and in science in pupils that will anticipate getting anywhere near He writes: “After falling 100 m water’s upper surface. more. We need to be prepared to encourage them to extend their retirement before they leave the Gwen would have been moving at Tom Syson fight both to deter and to resist agg- science education into college and profession. The physicists among nearly 95 mph.” What does the Cardiff ression; pacifism and appeasement possibly university. them have an almost limitless choice symbol “m” in “mph” refer to in that don’t work. Lee Upcraft of alternative careers, few of which statement? Presumably miles but, in Write to [email protected] or the address I assume Jim Grozier and I want Reading have as high a stress level as teaching. that case, the “m” on the previous above. Letters may be edited for length. notices

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Interactions April 2006 event horizon 7 Visit whatson.iop.org for full details of all Institute of Physics events.

APRIL 2006 Particle Physics 2006 Characterisation of Photovoltaic Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Push: the Plasmas Surfaces and Thin Films Annual conference of the High Energy Materials and Devices Physics of the Jet Engine One-day meeting with invited speakers Magnetic Nanomaterials Particle Physics Group of the Institute. One-day meeting covering all Lecture by Neil Glover of Rolls-Royce. and poster presentations. Half-day workshop to showcase UK R&D High Energy Particle Physics Group photovoltaic technologies. Midland Branch Ion and Plasma Surface Interactions in magnetic clusters, particles and grains. 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Manchester Branch updates and hands-on experiments. South-West Branch Crieff Hydro Hotel, Crieff, Scotland Professional Standards Department A free interactive exhibition of Schuster Building, Manchester Merseyside Branch 10–13 April Ramada Jarvis City, Ingram Street, contemporary physics for young University Chadwick Physics Building, University of Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol people – now extended until http://reld.phys.strath.ac.uk/ Glasgow 29 May Liverpool 4 April August 2006. 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Business & Innovation Department Mobile Careers Surgery IOP in Scotland How Materials Science is Saving Summer School for Physics London & South-East Branch 76 Portland Place, London W1 One-to-one careers advice for Institute the Environment University of Stirling 12 April members. 31 May Teachers 76 Portland Place, London W1 Lecture by Prof. Colin Humphreys of [email protected] Professional Standards Department http://scotland.iop.org/events.html Residential event providing discussion 5 April Cambridge University. Thistle Aberdeen Altens, Souterhead Booking required and enrichment opportunities for http://london.iop.org Midlands Branch Road, Aberdeen teachers in Scotland. 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Professional Standards Department Booking required Surface Science Research Centre, Issues Related to Digital Printing and Digital Photography The Risky Side of Radiation Merseyside Branch Bristol (venue to be announced) University of Liverpool Campbell Town Road, Birkenhead, A two-day conference for conservators of Lecture by Dr David Twiss of New Cross 8 June 6 April Wirral prints, photographs and textiles. Hospital, Wolverhampton. http://careers.iop.org/Mobile- http://merseyside.iop.org 9 May Printing, Papermaking and Packaging Midland Branch careers/mobile_careers_surgery.html http://merseyside.iop.org Group Chancellors Building, University of Keele Booking required Artificial Pitches and the Games Booking essential They Play on Them 76 Portland Place, London W1 27 April 24–25 April http://midland.iop.org Annual Physics Teachers Talk by Dr Colin Walker of the University http://conferences.iop.org/PPP The Search for Life on Other Meeting of Strathclyde. 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The Man Who Changed Photonics North West London & South-East Branch Dielectrics Group 76 Portland Place, London W1 chnique Everything: the Life of James Meeting to highlight regional activities in w te s • University of Leicester 17 May vie Jo 10–12 April Clerk Maxwell applied photonics. er b http://london.iop.org/meetings.html nt s http://conferences.iop.org/BID Lecture by Dr Basil Mahon, author of an Optical Group/Materials and I ea acclaimed book about Maxwell. Characterisation Group • rc IOP in Scotland University of Manchester Mobile Careers Surgery g h in • One-to-one careers advice for Institute k SCHOOLS LECTURE 2006 Fraser Noble Building, Old Aberdeen 28 April c C Campus, University of Aberdeen http://groups.iop.org/OP members. e a h Gravity, Gas and Stardust 25 April Professional Standards Department r c e

ONE-DAY MEETING Best Western Queen’s Hotel, Southsea FREE e www.maxwellyear2006.org/ Various venues throughout V

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Everything: the Life of James the art, communicate new findings •

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Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, d

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i r n e o i c http://teachingphysics.iop.org/ 26 April 30 June Cheshire t events/student_events/ www.maxwellyear2006.org/ http://conferences.iop.org/ISEM 23 May schools_lecture html/events.html http://merseyside.iop.org

Interactions April 2006 8 matters Naked scientists top the Internet charts Perry Hastings Samuel Rae discovers the brave new world of podcasting. These days you can’t board a bus or a train without see- Some podcasts are radio broadcasts that have been ing at least half a dozen iPods or other mp3 players, made available on the Internet. The Naked Scientists radio cocooning their owners in a cosy bubble of their show is broadcast weekly on BBC Eastern Counties favourite music downloads. I’ve always looked on Radio, but it attracts a worldwide audience through smugly, assuming that these people are foolishly clos- podcasting. Presented by a cast of real scientists, the ing themselves off from the outside world. But it seems show is fun and informal, with a focus on science in that, thanks to the new phenomenon of the podcast, everyday life. In one episode Peter Brennan, an expert these people are just as likely to be catching up with the on the science of smell, was asked why farts seem to latest news, brushing up on their Spanish language linger longer when you’re in the shower – exactly the skills or finding out about the latest developments in kind of question that scientists should be asked more astrophysics. often, I think. The word “podcast” was voted Word of 2005 by the The creator of The Naked Scientists, Cambridge virol- New Oxford American Dictionary, which defines it as ogist Chris Smith, also presents the Nature podcast. This “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar pro- is more formal and news-oriented but good if you’re gram, made available on the Internet for downloading looking for in-depth science coverage. Like the jour- to a personal audio player” (although you don’t actually nal itself, it’s aimed at an audience who work in or need an mp3 player – you can listen to podcasts on your around science. For example, one of the stories I lis- computer). Podcasting, I discovered, looks set to change tened to had a discussion about the alternatives to the not only the way we listen but what we listen to. current system of ranking journals by citations alone. “Naked Scientists” Brian Wallace (left), Chris Smith and Helen Scales at work. Opening up iTunes (the free mp3 software from One of the joys of podcasting is being able to listen to Apple) for the first time, I was struck by the sheer num- radio programmes from the other side of the world. Podcasting NASA, which is accompanied by videos that you can ber of podcasts in the science category – 470 when I Every week Dr Karl on Triple J (Australian Youth Radio) view in iTunes (or on a video mp3 player, if you’re lucky looked, and all free to download. But are they any good? throws open the phone lines for people to ask their looks set to enough to own one). To find out I trawled through and listened to as many as burning science questions. A great variety of people Although it’s not strictly speaking in the science cat- my ears would take. phone in – like the builder who wanted to know if sit- change not egory, BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time is definitely worth a The popular science magazines all seem to have their ting on concrete really causes piles. The show is com- mention. This history of ideas discussion programme own podcasts – Scientific Americanand New Scientistboth pletely unscripted, which makes it very funny at times, only the way is presented by Melvyn Bragg and seems to feature sci- making it onto Apple’s top 20 most popular podcasts. and when Dr Karl doesn’t know the answer he’s not we listen but ence almost every other week. Its excellent choice of They are professionally produced, with flashy music afraid to admit it. A helpful listener will usually e-mail topics and expert contributors makes it one of the best tracks and sound effects. A silver-tongued presenter in a response. what we programmes out there. introduces the week’s main science stories, followed by Another entertaining podcast from overseas is A useful feature of iTunes is that it allows you to sub- interviews with scientists about their work. Like many Slacker Astronomy – a weekly round-up of astronomy listen to. scribe to your favourite podcasts, so you need never of the science podcasts I listened to, they let the scien- news produced just for fun by three American miss an episode. By the time I finished writing this arti- tist explain their own research, which I found a refresh- astronomers that has built up an impressive audience cle a whole new batch of podcasts had appeared on my ing change. of more than 14 000 regular listeners. computer. I’ve always been a fan of science on the radio The Scientific American podcast stands out thanks to While most science podcasts are news based, there because it allows me to expand my mind and do the its presenter, Steve Mirsky, who asks some insightful are some that are intended as permanent educational washing-up at the same time. Now, thanks to the pod- questions. I also really enjoyed its Totally Bogus section, resources. Michelle Francl, a lecturer at Bryn Mawr Col- cast, I can listen to great science programmes wherever in which four unbelievable science-related stories are lege in the US, has produced 26 podcasts, each one a and whenever I like. presented and listeners have to guess which one of chapter of An Introduction to Quantum Chemistry. And them is a bluff. there’s also the excellent Ask an Astronomer series from Samuel Rae is the Institute of Physics outreach officer. particles GIVE THEM A GIFT THEY REALLY WANT!

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Interactions April 2006