The newspaper of the physics community October 2004
CONTENTS Careers advice hinders physics 2 News Tribology Group talks sport ● Photon04 report ● UK gas Ayala Ochert reports on the wider implications of poor careers education in schools. supply under threat You could call it the physics paradox – 4 Reflections the strange state of affairs in which How can we hang on to physics graduates are more popular our physicists? than ever with employers, yet physics as a subject is at its most unpopular 5 People among students. This year the num- Jonathan Pinto is a physicist ber taking physics A-level dropped who likes to get his hands dirty still further – it has fallen by a third over the last decade – and there are now signs of a downward trend in the number taking physics degrees. Many reasons have been put for- ward for the decline in numbers – physics is seen as the “hard option”; it’s not “flavour of the month”; and students now have many more A- 6 Letters levels to choose from, including “fash- Raising the profile of physics ● ionable” subjects like media studies, More reactions to Interactions law and psychology. But Peter Main, the Institute’s director of education 7 Event horizon and science, suggests that a big part of What’s on in physics the problem is poor careers advice. “Young people appear to have no idea 8 Antimatters what employers want or the options Physics comedy that are open to them if they take physics and the options they close off when they don’t,” he says. “You don’t study history to become a historian, but there is a perception that you study the sciences to become a scientist.” Mike Hill, a careers adviser in London for more than 30 years, says few students realise that just 60% of Digital Vision “Universities must the market is open to graduates of any Physics graduates are being lured by well paid jobs in the City, while fewer are choosing to teach in schools. discipline. “I tell students, it’s always build up larger possible to move from a degree in per job in some cases. But it’s not only Vic Shaw, a physics teacher at chemistry or physics to a career in “I’ve yet to come students struggling to find a job who Caterham School in Surrey, thinks incomes that the marketing, accountancy and banking. are affected. “There is this idea that the that the careers material produced by government cannot But I’ve yet to come across a signifi- across a significant higher-education market should be the Institute is of a high standard. He cant number of history or media-stud- driven by student choice, which will should know because he’s been using poke its nose into.” ies graduates going on to specialise in be informed by career opportunities. it for years in the “physics careers number of history Peter Cotgreave, p4 civil engineering,” says Hill, but he But the market can’t work properly if packs” he gives to his students. But admits that few careers advisers appre- or media-studies students don’t have that information,” Shaw says that he now believes that ciate this themselves. says Main. As a result of falling stu- careers advice, no matter how good, is “If there’s no While many physics graduates do graduates going dent demand, 20 physics departments limited. Far more important is the continue in science or engineering, a on to specialise in have closed over the last decade. Main quality of physics teaching in the class- nowhere, maybe high proportion go into numerate believes that better long-term data on room: “At the end of the day, what there’s also careers in IT, accountancy and finance. civil engineering.” where graduates end up, their salaries matters is having access to an enthusi- Physics World even has a new column, and job satisfaction would help to astic physics teacher. An inspiring no nothing.” “Once a physicist…”, where it high- inform student choices. teacher is worth their weight in gold.” Timandra Harkness, p8 lights interesting examples of physics Shaw, a winner this year of an Institute graduates working outside physics. Tackling the problem Teacher of Physics award, says the Ken Fulton, head of engineering In its 10-year Science and Innovation problem is that the number of physics “I believe that career development at Rolls Royce, Framework, the government recog- teachers is declining, and many stu- says that the firm values the skills of nised the need for better information dents are now taught physics by non- science can be physics graduates – analytical skills, about science careers in schools. The physics graduates who may not have a major force for problem-solving skills, the ability Department for Education and Skills the same enthusiasm for the subject. to make mathematical models and has recently done a review of careers Here’s the real physics paradox. The good in the world.” IT skills. “These can be applied to education for 11 to 19-year-olds, the more sought-after physics graduates John Enderby, p2 advanced problems of technical results of which will be published this become – by City firms, in IT and else- research, but they could also be used month. The Institute is also reviewing where – the fewer will go into teach- to figure out scheduling problems on all its careers materials – eight focus ing, and fewer students will be inspired the shop floor,” he says. groups of teenagers across the coun- to carry on with the subject. In other EINSTEIN YEAR Students taking media studies are try will examine the material and give words, as physics becomes more IS COMING rarely warned of how intense the com- their verdict on what grabs them (and popular, fewer people will want to petition for media jobs has become, what doesn’t), while an expert careers study it. (And you thought quantum einsteinyear.org says Hill, with hundreds of applicants advisory group does the same. mechanics was counterintuitive.)
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nu Exercise in 2000. His termExercise five-year as Society the Royal vice-president of ends in November. Ja tive for sports equipment like sports golf equipment for tive clubs very strong poor surface properties,” surface poor said Dong, engineers surface that explained who the performance improve to are able of by e elemen players c up to 4 m further. ergometer”–a brush curling meas- that and speedures force – has Blackford of action been studying the sweeping was helpin sport curling. in the lesser of known Trib cu friccing Edinbur He has twice been head the physics of department the University at of Bristol, the physics and he chaired panel of and technology, is also chief science is also chief and technology, ad sci- “Sir to is very John dedicated ing. and he really knows publishing ence ents in surface ents out of the design of out ovem technological advances r the Institute’s Tribology osites to make light but strong but light make osites to e Institute for 40 years and he e Institute for mp Enderby has been an active member has an active been Enderby Previous Previous nnis rackets – of Dong Hanshan but iscuss how advances in the field of in the field advances iscuss how FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE FESTIVAL engineering. “Titaniumengineering. is very attrac- On 1 October, Sir John Enderby began Enderby Sir John On 1 October, his two-year term as the Institute’s that new president, with the promise high- the need for “keep he would of the top quality at education physics the political agenda”. of th 1997. from 1994 to served Council on Children from Hatherleigh Community Primary School in Devon explore the nature of light at the BA Festival Children from Hatherleigh Community Primary School in Devon explore the nature the many enthusiastic young of Science, held this year in Exeter from 6 to 10 September. They were among sponsored two workshops people who tried out the fun hands-on exhibits at the festival. The Institute also with a physics theme for 8 to 13-year-olds – Building a Diver for Europa, in which children Light Fantastic and made their own Cartesian diver. Institute welcomes its new president Science of sport Science is superficial By Michelle Cain ended have Games may The Olympic sport but in August, was still a hot topic fo last On 22 September Group month. to meeting a one-day held the group d tribology – the study the interac- of between surfacestions as move they across one another – to are helping performances of in a range improve curling. sports, to racing from motor have oftenhave come of new materials – such as carbon co te Birmingham University that predicts to in the future are likely advances come from impr for Einstein Year (2005). The for Einstein Year (2005). by game, which was inspired the twin paradox in special online relativity, can be played In at http://einsteinyear.org. the game, a teddy bear must fight against aliens and beat the clock to save his twin back has shown that gold nanoparticles
David McCarthy won the Concepts category of the 2004 Novartis and Daily Telegraph Visions of Science Photographic Awards with this entry entitled “Visualising drug delivery”. It depicts a microscopic capsule that has burst open, revealing smaller capsules within. This set-up
and author of the Lambert Review on
October 2004 news
actions
October. Next year, the awards will include an Einstein Year would allow two different drugs to be delivered in two different places within the body. The Visions of Science awards were presented by the president of the Royal Society Lord May on 5 category (see www.visions-of-science.co.uk). Concept art wins Visions of Science award university–business collaboration, recommended that the Russell Group of Britain’s leading 19 universities should establish their own league table of the world’s best research institutions. Britain came second in the world league of research universities, which was published on 1 September by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The United States topped the league, but British universities just managed to beat Japan. Cambridge University rose two places to number three in the world rankings, behind Harvard and Stanford universities in the US, but Imperial College London fell from 17 to 23. The league measures universities on their academic research, the number of articles published in top journals and the numbers of staff or alumni who have won Nobel prizes or Fields medals. Last December, Richard Lambert, former editor of the Financial Times British universities rank second in the world Gold nanoparticles target tumours Gold nanoparticles target tumours issue of the Institute journal Research published in the 21 September Physics in Medicine and Biology can help X-rays kill cancerous cells in mice. The UScan help X-rays kill cancerous cells in mice. team that it so that it will work on developed the technique hopes to refine of Nanoprobes and humans. James Hainfeld and Daniel Slatkin Health Center began Henry Smilowitz of the University of Connecticut by a salt solution by injecting cancer cells into the mice, followed containing gold nanoparticles. Two minutes later, the mice were irradiated with high-energy (250 kV) X-rays. The team found that the combination of nanoparticles followed by X-ray treatment reduced the size of tumours or even eradicated them. The technique works because gold, which strongly absorbs X-rays, selectively accumulates in tumours. This increases the amount of energy that is deposited in the tumour compared with nearby normal tissue. on Earth. The aim is to engage young people through interactive on Earth. The aim is to engage young people physics (for example, the game play while introducing concepts of a “mission fact file”. twin paradox and teleportation) through says she hopes it will Caitlin Watson, Einstein Year project manager, spread by word of mouth be popular among teenagers. “It will be of reaching teenagers. If and by e-mail, which is a very powerful way If not, I’m sure plenty they like it, it will get passed on to their friends. of physicists will enjoy playing it!” she said. Computer game aims to inspire youngsters Computer game a the attention of teenagers than by creating What better way to get a mean (but cute) teddy bear zaps aliens? computer game where Institute has done as part of its preparations This is exactly what the Bottom image: David McCarthy – NOVARTIS/DAILY TELEGRAPH VISIONS OF SCIENCE 2004 HIGHLIGHTS
Inter 2 news 3
IN BRIEF
● PD2004. The Institute’s annual Photon04 professional development event was hailed a success by participants – and not just because it involved large amounts of chocolate. Young professional members of the Institute attended the two-day event to brush up illuminates on work-related skills, such as project management, team-work and presentation skills. There was a session on “avoiding death by Powerpoint” and one on how to avoid stress, led by clinical Glasgow hypnotherapist Patricia Bishop. A session on negotiating skills was delivered by ex-professional poker player David Reid reports from the UK’s largest Caspar Berry, who described some of the techniques that poker players use and optics and photonics conference. how these might be useful in the negotiation process. On the final day, On 10 September headlines around potential applications outside astron- with guidance from a professional the world announced the first ever omy, especially in vision science,” said chocolatier, participants made boxes of direct observation of a planet outside Dainty, whose own research involves chocolates and then marketed them to our solar system. It was a powerful making images of photoreceptors in the group. See http://careers.iop.org. demonstration of the importance of the retinas of newborn babies. the latest developments in adaptive The application of optics to bio- ● Institute of Physics Publishing has optics, a central theme earlier that logical and medical problems was an- announced the publication of a new same week at Photon04 – the largest other major theme of the conference. journal, Journal of Physics: Conference annual gathering of the UK’s optics Sonny Ramachandran of Heriot-Watt Series. The new conferences journal aims and photonics community, held at University in Edinburgh outlined a to provide cost-effective and timely Glasgow Caledonian University. new non-invasive technique that is publication of international conferences Adaptive-optics elements are lenses used to take pictures of the retina. It of the highest quality. The proceedings of or mirrors that are able to correct for should allow examination of the the first two conferences – one held in tiny variations in light and they are blood vessels of the eye to reveal the Tokyo, the other at the National Physical now used in all of the world’s largest presence or progression of any dis- Laboratory – are available free online at
telescopes to help resolve fuzzy or ease. This method, though not yet in David Parker/Science Photo Library http://jpconf.iop.org. indistinct objects. The image of a clinical use, promises to be a powerful The hot topic at Photon04 was advances in adaptive-optics technology. planet around the brown dwarf tool in diagnosing and monitoring the 2M1207 was captured by the Very most prevalent diseases of the eye – Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics dentist take measures to stop or repair NEWSMAKERS Large Telescope at the European glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and told the conference how optics is the damage before it gets too bad.” Southern Observatory on Cerro age-related macular degeneration. helping dentists to study decay. Poland Photon04 was the biggest confer- In September the Institute elected three Paranal in Chile, which itself incor- Ramachandran described how he described a new way of making a ence organised by the Institute’s new honorary fellows: Masao Doi of the porates adaptive-optics technology. had modified a standard ophthalmo- detailed 3D picture of a diseased area Optics and Photonics Division, said University of Tokyo was recognised for his Chris Dainty from the National scope to take images of the retina at a of tooth. “Dentists usually detect dis- chair Andrew Harvey. “Photon04 had fundamental contributions to the dynamics University of Ireland gave the plenary series of wavelengths. “Crucially, wave- ease by scraping and looking or by a broad appeal because it brought of complex fluids. Mildred Dresselhaus session at Photon04 on the future of lengths between 580 nm and 600 nm taking X-rays, but these methods only together a number of smaller confer- of the Massachusetts Institute of adaptive optics. He highlighted the reveal the oxygenation state of the catch decay once it’s already quite ences in one place. We hope Photon06 Technology received the honour for her need to shrink the technology down blood vessels in the eye, telling doctors serious,” said Poland. “The advantage will be even bigger and better, allow- major contributions to the field of carbon and to reduce its cost – current systems which areas are healthy and which of a detailed 3D image like the one ing greater exploration of interdisci- nanotubes. Tony Scott can cost between £5 m and £15 m. might be diseased,” he explained. we’ve created is that it can reveal plinary research fields.” (left) was recognised for “Adaptive-optics systems have many Simon Poland of the University of decay in its earliest stages and lets the http://conferences.iop.org his outstanding contribution to physics education in Ireland, in New group tackles particular for his creation higher education UK needs alternative to gas of the Irish Young Scientist competition. In September the Institute launched By Michael Fox gas as soon as 2006. That imported from the gas fields of Siberia to the On 22 September Grigory Volovik of the the new Higher Education Group, The UK should not rely too heavily on gas is likely to be delivered through UK, for example, it would be neces- Landau Institute of Theoretical Physics in which will deal with issues related natural gas for future electricity gen- transcontinental pipelines from res- sary to burn 25% of the gas trans- Moscow and the Helsinki University of to teaching and learning in higher- eration, according to a new report erves in Russia, Algeria and Norway. ported. As much as 4% of the gas Technology was awarded the Simon education institutions, including the commissioned by the Institute. The The report warns that unprotected could leak out directly into the atmos- Memorial Prize by the Institute’s Low training of research students and the report anticipates several potential stretches of pipeline will present an phere. The report suggests that it Temperature Physics Group. The prize, harmonization of university educa- problems in the future, including the obvious target for terrorists – especi- would actually be cheaper – and more awarded every three years, recognises tion across Europe. It will also work risk of terrorist attacks on transcon- ally when they pass through politi- beneficial for the environment – to his research on the effects of symmetry in with the Education Group on areas tinental pipelines and the likelihood cally unstable countries – and the UK sequester carbon emissions from superfluids and superconductors. such as physics-teacher training. of higher gas prices, but without the risks losing half of its power if the coal-burning power stations. Its first meeting, Physics through expected environmental benefits. planned pipeline connecting north- The briefing paper is the latest of the Allon Klein of Projects, will be on 20 October at the The report, Gas supplies to the UK – a ern Siberia to western Europe were Institute’s portfolio of reports on Cambridge University University of Birmingham, and its review of the future, says that natural gas sabotaged. The report also argues that energy-generating technologies, says has been given the first Annual General Meeting will be currently offers the cheapest method the investment required to build and Tajinder Panesor, policy officer at the Institute’s Best Physics held in December. The group’s chair of generating electricity, and gas-fired maintain this transcontinental system Institute. “The overall picture that Student award at the Robert Lambourne hopes it will generators produce much lower car- has been greatly underestimated. emerges from all of the reports to date annual SET Awards in be well attended. “The scope of the bon-dioxide emissions than oil- or Demand for natural gas is set to rise is that nuclear power, in addition to Guildhall, London, for his work on optical group’s activity will be determined by coal-fired generators, making gas an as other countries in the European renewables and clean fossil fuels, will rotation in cholesteric liquid crystals. the energy and enthusiasm of its mem- attractive fuel. The UK relies on gas for Union attempt to meet their own car- need to be considered more objec- bers,” he said. “We’re off to a good 40% of its total fuel consumption, but bon reduction targets. This increased tively if the UK wishes to become self- David Walters won first place in the 2004 start, but we now need to attract a that could rise to two-thirds by 2020. competition will lead to price rises. sufficient in its electricity generation Annual Thesis Prize of the Computational base of active members to ensure its While the country is currently self- But transcontinental gas may not be and meet its targets for reducing Physics Group for his PhD “Lattice Monte robust health in the years ahead.” sufficient in natural gas, it is estimated as environmentally friendly as North greenhouse-gas emissions, ” he said. Carlo studies of QCD”. http://groups.iop.org/HED that it will become a net importer of Sea gas. To maintain a constant flow [email protected]
Interactions October 2004 4 reflections Where have all the scientists gone?
Science has always been an international activity. To quote Our universities are not only hampered by a relative lack of Bob May, former chief scientific adviser to the government and money, but also by the straitjacket that comes with government the current president of the Royal Society: “Science was funding. British researchers – even ones of the calibre of globalised before the word ‘globalised’ even existed.” Kroto–must constantly write grant applications for what Galileo worked in Italy but his work was published in the should be safe projects to ensure that they bring in enough Netherlands. Edison came from the US to England to learn revenue to scrape by. I know of one British researcher who about telegraphy from the British Post Office. And Einstein was received a letter of rejection from a research council on the such an international figure that it was unclear which country’s same day as he got a message from Sweden telling him he had ambassador should accompany him to the Nobel-prize won a Nobel prize! awards ceremony in 1921. He eventually left Europe altogether to work in the US. Well funded The ease of international travel and global communication we Top scientists in the US have none of these worries, partly Peter Cotgreave now enjoy means that science is more global than ever. So why because US universities enjoy large private endowments of was there such a fuss when one scientist, Sir Harry Kroto, unencumbered funds. If a university boss wants to poach a “British research decided to leave the UK to spend some time in the US, the Nobel laureate from half a world away, he or she simply works institutions world’s largest and most productive scientific nation? out how much it will cost and then allocates the money. That If Kroto’s move – from Sussex University to Florida State freedom on the part of the managers translates into some simply cannot University – were just part of the normal, healthy circulation of measure of freedom for researchers, who do not have to spend compete for the scientists around the world, the scientific community in the UK their lives jumping through bureaucratic hoops. They can come would have patted him on the back and wished him luck. But it to work in the morning confident in the knowledge that they best brains.” is clear that his departure cannot simply be seen as part of the will have a well funded laboratory. long-established and healthy exchange of researchers between Of course, endowments cannot be built up overnight, and to the world’s scientific nations. be successful there would need to be a change in culture. In For a start, Kroto is not the only senior British researcher to Europe we are so used to expecting the state to pay for things have left the country in recent years. He is not even the only that we balk at the idea of handing over hard-earned cash to Nobel laureate to have done so. But one has to ask the question: public-sector institutions. how many Nobel laureates from the US have made the reverse If, as a nation, we want to put a decisive end to the UK brain journey in recent years and decided to come to a British drain and ensure that our higher-education institutions remain university? I cannot think of a single one. among the world’s best, two things must happen. First, the It’s not just the established high-fliers who seem to be government must carry on increasing investment while gravitating towards the US. A quantitative study of researchers simultaneously cutting back on the number of strings that it who received science doctorates in Britain in the late 1980s attaches to public funds – they must stop trying to showed that, on average, the best ones ended up across the micromanage science. Second, universities must start to build pond. Nor is the US the only place that is attracting British up larger incomes that the government cannot poke its nose researchers away from home. The weather, the standard of into. To do that, they will have to be inventive. But if university living and a common language make Australia an obvious administrators make the effort and secure those funds, then contender. Earlier this year, the press reported that a “campaign scientists themselves should be freed up to get on with the to lure top researchers to Australia” was “robbing” the UK of science – and in their home country if they so choose. its premier scientists. The trouble is that British research institutions simply cannot Peter Cotgreave is the director of Save British Science, a pressure group compete for the best brains in this fierce global marketplace. that aims to improve the scientific health of the UK. focal point: IOP 2005 A physics conference with a difference Next year, during Einstein Year, the Institute will Institute’s large annual gathering. To test the idea certainly attracted more enquiries than any other be conducting an experiment. During the week of we organised a brainstorming session with a conference that the Institute has organised in 10–14 April at the University of Warwick, we’ll be dozen or so leading physicists. It passed that test, recent years, although there has been some testing out a new kind of physics conference that so we decided to approach one of the most concern expressed over the topics left out. But if is unlike any other we’ve organised before. Called eminent, Sir Michael Berry from Bristol University, we continue to have such a conference every two IOP 2005: Physics, a Century after Einstein, the to ask if he would be prepared to chair the years, each one will be unique, the manifestation conference will focus on emerging areas of conference. Happily, he agreed and, with Julian of the vision of its chair, and over time the full physics and is designed to attract professional Cosmology. Within these there are 27 symposia, Jones from Heriot-Watt as his deputy, he set about spectrum of physics research should be reflected. physicists from across the country. covering such diverse topics as gravity waves, the creating his vision. The organising and I believe that the conference will be one of the What’s different about this conference is its physics of membranes and photonic crystals. The programming committees were drawn from as most exciting ever held in the UK. But there’s no structure. While most conferences we’ve held in themes cut across traditional disciplines to wide a range of interests as possible and, with need to wait for the reports – you can come along the past have a “bottom-up” structure, with groups encourage the cross-fertilisation of ideas. A guidance from Berry, the four themes and 27 and draw your own conclusions. and divisions determining the content, IOP 2005 physicist working on quantum fluids, for example, symposia emerged. has been organised more like an international might come along to listen to the talks on Another feature of IOP 2005 that sets it apart is Peter Main is the Institute’s conference, with a “top-down” structure. The mesoscopic phenomena, as both topics are part that each of the 100 or so speakers was director of education and whole event has one over-arching vision that we of the general Quantum Physics theme. personally invited. They are all world-class science. Details of IOP 2005: hope gives the conference an overall coherence. The idea for the experiment came out of the physicists and include two Nobel laureates, Physics, a Century after Einstein There are four themes: Quantum Physics, Light Annual Representative Meeting in 2000 during a Steven Chu and Anthony Leggett. can be found at and Matter, Physics in Biology, and Relativity and discussion on the future of Physics Congress, the So will the experiment be a success? It has http://physics2005.iop.org.
Interactions October 2004 people 5 profile: Jonathan Pinto OBSERVATIONS Angharad Thomas recounts her experience over the summer as Tinker, tailor, soldier… the Institute’s first fellow at the Parliamentary Office of Science Michael Fox talks to and Technology. 2 April a versatile physicist Last week I was in Oxford submitting my DPhil thesis on Bose– who likes getting Einstein condensation; this week I’m living in Tunbridge Wells and commuting to work in Westminster. What a change! I’ve just begun his hands dirty. at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), an office of both Houses of Parliament that provides independent “When I was at school, textbooks had analysis of science-based public-policy issues. My job over the next the exact recipe for gunpowder. We three months is to write a short briefing paper – a POSTnote – on the just put everything together and subject of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID tags are stood back.” Jonathan Pinto recalls sometimes thought of as the next generation of bar codes, but they how he first got interested in science have the capability to be much more. Parliament is interested in in the shed at the bottom of his gar- RFID not only for its potential future applications, but also because den, where he and his friends would get together after school and try to of the privacy concerns it raises. Having just written a 200-page make things explode. He has just as thesis, it’ll be a challenge to write just four pages on this topic. much fun nowadays, he says, only 9 April with a much more serious purpose – developing stealth technologies to The acronym POST seems to confuse some people – they either hide battlecraft from enemy radar. think we’re the Post Office or the government’s Office of Science and Now he’s an expert on not getting Technology. But I’ve also received several offers of help from Institute caught, but back then there was no members who read about my fellowship in Physics World, which is a escape when he finally blew up his welcome surprise. parents’ shed. The memory makes I’m starting to settle in here (despite the annoying bell that rings Pinto wince. “It was a lot easier to get every time either house is in session). Working in the parliamentary hold of chemicals 20 years ago. I’m Nick Elliot estate has its perks – I’ve been up to the top of Big Ben and stood glad I got through it with all my Jonathan Pinto loves to tinker – with his classic car and in the BAE lab. fingers and toes intact,” he says. underneath the bell as it chimed. I’ve also taken the opportunity to The 31-year-old physicist is much thing for too long,” he says. The qualifications formally recog- watch scientists get a grilling from MPs at a select committee more responsible now, managing His career up until now has cer- nise a high level of competence in meeting and I’ve sat in the strangers gallery in the House of Lords. a small group of electrical engineers tainly been varied. Before joining BAE technical and management skills, and 16 April for BAE Systems at their Advanced Systems in June 2000 he conducted Pinto believes they can be a particu- Technology Centre in Towcester near stress calculations on railway lines in lar advantage in any job that involves I’m learning some new skills – the “proper” etiquette for phone and Northampton. As team leader of the east London, and prior to that he collaboration between different dis- e-mail correspondence, for example. Here, networking is part of electromagnetism research group, developed camouflage gear for the ciplines as they reliably indicate the day-to-day life so I’m also honing my ability to approach people, Pinto tests samples of stealth mater- military – a job that he says was more ability to work in an area outside of introduce myself and ask if they can help me. I’m also getting to ials, tweaking their properties until sewing than semiconductors. “We your degree. The qualification also grips with the material. During a DPhil you focus on one area and they are sufficiently absorbent, trans- made everything from tents, boots gives credit for practical know-how think it through slowly and carefully. With this job you need to parent or reflective to escape detec- and shoes to bomb-disposal suits and and getting your hands dirty, which develop a broad perspective, not just on the science but on its tion. Much of the work is classified, dress uniforms.” It proved a useful, if is something that Pinto does anyway current and future applications, as well as the legislative and privacy but he also has commercial clients, unconventional, introduction to the for fun. like Heathrow airport, which needs area of stealth technologies. A classic-car enthusiast, Pinto is issues. The time pressure is also much greater. radar-transparent materials to cover Given his broad interests, it is per- currently restoring his 1975 Triumph I attended a POST board meeting this week and was very nearby buildings that might distract haps not surprising that Pinto is one Spitfire, the car he drove as a student. impressed at how efficient and orderly it was. Academics could air-traffic controllers as they bring of the few members to have received “There are a few parts you can’t get, so certainly learn a thing or two from how they run things here. planes in to land. all three chartership awards offered by I sometimes ask the guys at our engi- the Institute, becoming a chartered neering facility for a favour, and they 28 May Choosing a path physicist soon after joining and a run up a part for me on the lathe or the I took last week off to revise for my viva. Very strange to go back to Growing up, Pinto says he had a pas- chartered scientist just this August. In milling machine,” he admits. Whether quantum and atomic physics after seven weeks thinking about sion for understanding how things 2003 he became a chartered engi- it’s working on his Triumph or on RFID. I’m happy to say that I passed, but there’s no time to relax; I work, but no idea what career he neer – one month he later was pro- the hi-tech machines at work, Pinto have to get a draft of my POSTnote ready for internal review. wanted to follow. Choosing between moted. “Becoming CEng definitely loves to tinker and he often assembles subjects felt too much like narrowing advanced my career,” he says. “The devices for the lab at home. But as the 23 June his options: “I would have done a qualification is well regarded within technology gets more sophisticated Nice day yesterday. In the morning I listened to talks about the degree in maths, physics, chemistry the company.” that is becoming harder to do. “I find government’s 10-year strategy for science and innovation, which and biology if I could have,” he says. that nowadays I’m spending more were very interesting. Then I was presented with a certificate by Lord Instead, he chose his favourites and “I would have done time on the computer than working Sainsbury and Sir Harry Kroto at a lunch in the House of Lords. The studied chemistry and physics at with my tools,” he says regretfully. certificate acknowledges me as the Institute’s inaugural POST fellow. King’s College London. Ironically for someone who has so After graduation Pinto began a a degree in maths, actively pursued his own professional 9 July PhD at Bath, but soon decided that physics, chemistry development, Pinto says that the only This is it – the final week. My POSTnote is back from external review academic research wasn’t for him. thing that might spoil his fun now is and I’ve managed to cut it down to four pages. It’s been very hectic, “Unless you’re running a research and biology if I getting promoted again. “If I go up a but I’ve enjoyed my time here. I’ve gained lots of new skills, which programme, the work can be quite level on the corporate ladder, I effec- repetitive. I think that’s the problem could have.” tively become a purely technical man- will hopefully come in handy as I head off to the Engineering and with a lot of lab jobs,” says Pinto. ager,” he points out. “I guess it’s a Physical Sciences Research Council to start as associate programme Commercial research on the other problem facing a lot of people in my manager. Now I wonder if there are any bells down in Swindon… hand allows him to juggle several dif- position. But if I was in a role where I For details of the 2005 POST fellowship see notices, p7. ferent projects at once, a style of work wasn’t doing any science then I would If you would like to contribute to OBSERVATIONS please send an e-mail with your that seems to suit him much better. probably get bored rather quickly.” idea to [email protected]. “With R&D you don’t do the same http://careers.iop.org
Interactions October 2004 6 letters
President Prof. Sir John E Enderby CBE FRS CPhys FInstP, Honorary Secretary Prof. John L Beeby FInstP, Honorary Treasurer Dr J A (Tony) Scott CPhys Hon.FInstP, Vice-president, Education Dr Elizabeth Swinbank CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, International Affairs Prof. Michael J Kelly FRS FREng CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Industry and Business Dr Keith Winters CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Membership and Qualifications Prof. Anthony Wallard CPhys FInstP, Vice-president, Science Prof. Carole Jordan FRS 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, Senior Production Editor Laura Churchill, 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
LETTER FROM A near miss Lost continents “World Holidays” nor in “Notable More reactions Dates” can I find the date of Chinese ...the communications I don’t mean to be pedantic, but the The latest Institute of Physics diary New Year or the likely date of the end I found the first issue of Interactions a solution to July’s puzzle isn’t quite contains plenty of information and is of Ramadan. These are surely pleasure to read. It was clear and well director accurate. Sunrise is defined as the clearly presented, but I was struck by relevant even to somebody who laid out. Although my research area Have you heard or seen point at which the first sliver of the the insularity of a couple of pages. never ventures away from a is nanotechnology, I did not know more about the Institute Sun rises above the horizon. If you Under “World Holidays” there is a list university or firm in southern the origin of the “grey goo” panic. I on the radio and want the laser to hit the centre of the of countries that includes Australia, England. All over the world there are am much better informed as a result television and in the Sun, you’d better aim a quarter of a New Zealand, USA, Canada and members with fond memories of of your article, and the others were newspapers lately? I degree below it. Also, atmospheric some in Europe (but not the largest, time spent studying in the UK, and equally interesting. hope that you have refraction shifts the image of the Sun Russia). Three continents are they will be sad to see that in these Steve Bold because we have been actively trying to about half a degree higher than its missing! Using the “International diary pages their Institute pays such Witney, Oxfordshire raise the profile of physics and the actual position, so your aim needs to Information” section on the previous scant regard to their interests or even Institute within the media, presenting be about 45 min below the horizon. page, I find that the list includes just their existence. We’d like to hear from you. Please send your clearer opinions and analysis on Kevin Hesketh one of the ten most populous David Tilley letters to [email protected] or the address important issues in which the physics Preston, Lancashire countries in the world. Neither in Penang, Malaysia above. Letters may be edited for space. community has a stake. Our response to this year’s A-level OBITUARY results, for example, in which we argued that physics A-level offers students better career prospects than an A-level in media Sir Alan Cook 1922–2004 studies, shaped much of the coverage in the press and on the radio and television. Sir Alan Cook, who died on 23 July, was a leader in extended to music, literature and art, and he Earlier in the year, we took part in a the field of metrology. His interest in accurate was a keen painter. Radio Five Live discussion on energy measurement began soon after he graduated In 1972 he returned to Cambridge to take up policy, in which we argued that it is green from Cambridge in 1943 and was posted to the the Jacksonian Chair of Natural Philosophy and, to be pro-nuclear – several weeks before Admiralty Signals Establishment in Haslemere, in 1979, he succeeded Sir Brian Pippard as head of James Lovelock surprised the country Surrey, to work on radar systems. After the the Cavendish Laboratory, guiding the lab with the same message. war, he returned to Cambridge for a PhD in through financial difficulties. I recall his humour We’ve also generated some more light- geodesy under Edward Bullard. This involved and pointed advice on the weird way the hearted physics-related stories, including accurate studies of gravity using measurements university operated when I succeeded him as head the Einstein Rap (see Interactions July), from across Europe, which put him in a strong of the Cavendish. He continued in administrative which raised worldwide attention for position to exploit the data that would later come service, chairing the Astronomy and Space Einstein Year. There was also lots of from satellites. Science Board of the Science Research Council and interest in such questions as how spiders In 1952, Cook followed his supervisor to the completing the transfer of optical astronomy from stick to the ceiling (inspired by an article National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and there his Herstmonceux in Sussex to the Canary Islands. in the Institute journal Smart Materials skills in accurate measurements of materials, Cook was elected master of Selwyn College in and Structures), and we were delighted thermodynamical data, light and, most notably, 1983. Around that time he developed an interest to see a picture of “nanoflowers” in the gravity, earned him an international reputation as in the history of astronomical observation in Sun, under the headline “Blooming tiny”. well as two awards from the Institute of Britain, and in particular made a comprehensive Our ultimate ambition is to change the Physics – the Boys and the Chree medals. In 1969 study of the life and work of Sir Edmond Halley,
image of physics by getting it in the news he was promoted to superintendent of NPL’s Godfrey Argent writing what is considered to be the standard consistently, presented in an accessible quantum metrology department, but soon after Sir Alan Cook: a physicist with broad interests. biography of that fascinating man. way by good role models and moved on to become professor of geophysics at Sir Alan Cook was always a devoted member of communicators. And we want to be the Edinburgh University. That same year he was and he was the first to suggest that lasing the Church of England and a firm 1662 man. He first port of call for journalists when they elected a fellow of the Royal Society. behaviour was to be found in galactic sources. died at the age of 82 and is survived by his wife are looking for comment, analysis and Cook had a wide range of interests in physics This work led to the publication in 1977 of Isabell, a son and a daughter. interviews relating to physics. and beyond. Early on he appreciated the Celestial Masers, a book that is still in use as a Now it’s over to you. What do you think significance of the discovery of masers and lasers, textbook. Outside of physics his interests Remembered by Sir Sam Edwards. of our ambitions? Have you seen or heard any of our media coverage and, if so, did you agree with what we said? Did we send a clear and coherent message? Are we striking the right balance between “serious science” and lighter stories? We would also welcome your views on the issues you think we should be focusing on. There are some areas that are directly related to physics – schools education, for example – where we obviously have a stake. And there are others where we have a legitimate role in the debate – such as nanotechnology and climate change. What should our priorities be, and what positions should we be taking? Let us know what you think by sending your views to Interactions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Paul Danielsen is the Institute’s director of strategy, communications and business. Send your views to [email protected].
Interactions October 2004 event horizon 7 To get listed here, go to whatson.iop.org and register your event What’s on in physics is the Institute’s online calendar for the physics community, with information on the many interesting meetings, lectures and conferences held throughout the UK and elsewhere.
OCTOBER 04 Institute of Physics (Professional 20–21 October World of Work – A careers Standards), Plymouth, UK Young Physicists Conference Standards), Edinburgh, UK www.fesi.co.uk event for physics students 9 November Institute of Physics (Nexus & Young Mathematica Paris 2004 19 October 76 Portland Place, London, UK http://careers.iop.org Professionals), Glasgow, UK Conference http://careers.iop.org Public speaking: You can do it 3 November, 6.30–8.30 p.m. 19–21 November Wolfram Research, Paris, France CustomerClix, London, UK Low Temperature Techniques http://yp.iop.org/ypc2004.htm 6 October First Presentation Skills 21 October Are you a physics student thinking Course www.wolfram.com/services/ Skillstudio Limited, London, UK www.CustomerClix.com/ about your career choices after Institute of Physics Low Temperature International Conference of seminars/paris2004/index.en.html 19 October Training_courses_london.html graduation? If so, then this event Group, Aston University, UK Computational Methods in www.skillstudio.co.uk/course/ is for you. Network with 10 November Sciences and Engineering 2004 Cell-cell interactions in free presentation-skills-1.htm The Physics of Motorbikes: professionals from a variety of http://conferences.iop.org/LTO4 ESCMSE Vravrona, Attica, Greece suspension and in ultrasonic Are we reaching the limits? industries and ask advice on 19–23 November traps Postgraduate Workshop: Institute of Physics in Scotland, finding your ideal job. E-mail Harmonics and Flicker www.uop.gr/~iccmse USW Network, Bristol, UK Laboratory Based Edinburgh, UK Sam Rae, London and South-East Measurement Workshop 7 October Characterisation of Magnetic 21 October Branch representative, at National Physical Laboratory, Making the sale: Techniques www.ucl.ac.uk/medicine/ Materials http://scotland.iop.org [email protected] to Teddington, UK for non-sales people hepatology-rf/research/usw-net Institute of Physics Magnetism reserve a place. 10 November – 10 December CustomerClix, London, UK Group, London, UK Wolfram Technology Conference www.npl.co.uk/electromagnetic/ 22 November An Engineer in Court 20 October 2004 dclf/tech-transfer/registration_ www.CustomerClix.com/Training_ IMechE, London, UK http://conferences.iop.org/LAB Wolfram Research, Champaign, US www.npl.co.uk/nanoanalysis/ form.html courses_london 12 October 21–23 October nmaet.html www.imeche.org.uk/ Physics Through Projects www.wolfram.com/techconf2004 First Presentation Skills Experimental Techniques of conferencesandevents/court Institute of Physics Higher Chartered Status at QinetiQ Skillstudio Limited, Glasgow, UK Semiconductor Research Education Group, University of Public speaking: Persuading Malvern 15 November Institute of Physics Semiconductor Smart Labels Europe 2004 Birmingham, UK an audience Institute of Physics (Professional www.skillstudio.co.uk/course/ Physics Group, Birmingham, UK IDTechEx, Nice, France 20 October CustomerClix, London, UK Standards), Malvern, UK presentation-skills-1.htm 24 November 12–13 October http://conferences.iop.org/PTPR 28 October 3 November http://conferences.iop.org/ETS www.smartlabelseurope.com www.CustomerClix.com/Training_ http://careers.iop.org Synthetic Diamonds Present accelerator/FEL activity courses_london.html Institute of Physics, Edinburgh, UK Current Research in First Presentation Skills at MAX-Lab Applied Superconductivity 16 November Magnetism (CRIM) Skillstudio Limited, Edinburgh, UK University of Strathclyde, SPO2004, Problems of Institute of Physics Superconductivity www.phy.hw.ac.uk/~phydtr/iop Institute of Physics Magnetism 12 & 19 October Glasgow, UK Optics and High Technology Group, Birmingham, UK Group, London, UK www.skillstudio.co.uk/course/ 20 October Material Science 3 November First Presentation Skills 24 November presentation-skills-1.htm http://phys.strath.ac.uk/ SPIE/Ukraine, Kyiv National E-mail: [email protected] Skillstudio Limited, London, UK http://conferences.iop.org/CRIM04 information/colloquia.html University, Ukraine 16 November Chartered Status at BAe 28–31 October Ultra-high Q erbium-doped www.skillstudio.co.uk/course/ Fracture of Polymers Edinburgh Integrity for Life http://users.univ.kiev.ua/ toroidal microlaser on silicon presentation-skills-1.htm Institute of Physics Polymer Physics Institute of Physics (Professional UK Forum for Engineering Structural ~spoconference University of Strathclyde, Group, London, UK Standards), Edinburgh, UK Integrity, Manchester, UK Glasgow, UK Energy Spiralling out of Control 25 November 14 October Commercialising Research for 3 November Institute of Physics Energy http://conferences.iop.org/FRP http://careers.iop.org Women Physicists: Opto Technologies http://phys.strath.ac.uk/ Management Group, London, UK Who are we? Institute of Physics (Industry & information/colloquia.html 17 November Key Insight Business Briefing – Climate Change and the Role of 76 Portland Place, London, UK Business), London, UK E-mail: jasmina.bolfek- 10-year Science and Innovation the Sun 19 October, 2.00–5.30 p.m. 29 October Quant Congress Europe [email protected] Framework UMIST, Manchester, UK http://industry.iop.org Incisive Media, London, UK Institute of Physics (Industry & 18 October Listen to leading women from 8–9 November The Daphne Jackson Memorial Business), London, UK E-mail: [email protected] academia and industry talk about NOVEMBER 04 www.incisive-events.com/ Lecture and Karen Burt Award 29 November how they reached their senior quanteurope Women’s Engineering Society, http://industry.iop.org Laser Safety for Freespace positions. All members of the Quant Congress USA Institute of Electrical Engineering, Optical Communication Systems Institute are welcome, particularly Incisive Media, New York, US Chartered Status at British London, UK DECEMBER 04 National Physical Laboratory, those in the early stages of their 1–2 November Energy 17 November Teddington, UK careers. Speakers include Sandra www.incisive-events.com/ Institute of Physics (Professional www.iee.org Laser Transmutation Studies of 18 October Chapman and Ruth Lynden-Bell. quantusa Standards), Barnwood, UK Nuclear Materials www.npl.co.uk/photonics/training/ Organised by the Women in 9 November Chartered Status at NNC University of Strathclyde, fso_laser_safety.html Physics Group. Contact Nano-molecular Analysis for http://careers.iop.org Institute of Physics (Professional Glasgow, UK Andrea Fesmer at andrea. Emerging Technologies Standards), Knutsford, UK 1 December Chartered Status at PSDB, [email protected]. 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notices Announcements are free to Institute members. E-mail [email protected] or send to Interactions, 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT, UK; fax: +44 (0)20 7470 4991. NEW BUSINESS IN MEMORIAM ● Computational Physics Group. PARTNERS Alan Alderson, D Bijl, H Block, Nominations are invited for the Barker Brettell, Ischus, National Noel Chamberlain, Peter Curtis, group’s Annual Thesis Prize, open to Grid Transco, Psi-Tran, Unilever. Frank Farmer, Walter Fielding, any PhD student who has Alan Hendry, Bethune Neill, successfully completed their PhD in NEW FELLOWS Arthur Reid, Robert Sack. computational physics in 2004. Philip Burrows, Peter Doyle, Closing date: 31 December. E-mail Jaafar Elmirghani, Vladimir Mitin, WANTED Matt Probert at [email protected]. Graham Saxby. ● POST Fellowship. The Institute of Physics is offering a three-month AVAILABLE NEW MEMBERS placement for a postgraduate ● New Sciencewise grant Robin Aspey, Jaideep Barot, Brenda student with the Parliamentary scheme. Lord Sainsbury has Carr, Gregory Corcoran, Ian Crotch, Office of Science and Technology launched a £1.2 m scheme to Marshal Dhayal, Adam Dudidge, (POST). (See www.parliament. encourage public participation in Nicholas Green, Mark Holton, uk/post/home.htm.) POST fellows technology-related issues. Grants Matthew Hunt, Nasir Husain, are expected to research and write are available to organisations to Matthew Ivings, Christopher Joy, a briefing report. They may also support projects that build the David Lamb, Richard Lione, Tracey have the opportunity to assist a capacity of scientists, policy- Madden, Maksym Myronov, Stewart select committee in an enquiry. The makers and citizens to engage in Newlove, Daren Payne, David Pedlar, placement will take place between constructive dialogue on key issues Nicola Playle, Daniel Price, Vadim January and September 2005. arising from new developments in Silberschmidt, Wendy Strange, For further details contact science and technology. Deadline Khawar Syed, Patricia Thomson, [email protected]. for proposals: 15 November. Hong Wei Wang, Paul Wood. Closing date: 12 November. www.sciencewise.org.uk.
Interactions October 2004 8 matters Gambling on the universe gets you nowhere Timandra Harkness worries about some of the wider www.suspectpackage.org/geof implications of the latest research in cosmology.
It might seem an odd thing to admit, but when I heard bachelor socks party the night away, unfettered by their Stephen Hawking say that he’d lost his bet on black better halves? A group socks party elsewhere in the cos- holes, I felt a pang. I’ve always found the finality of black mos? No wonder they always lie in the sock drawer holes strangely comforting. Just knowing that some- looking crumpled but faintly smug. where in the universe there was something that could Alternative universes – now there’s a comforting make parking tickets, unwanted Christmas gifts and idea. Somewhere in that infinity of universes must be embarrassing ex-boyfriends all vanish forever from my one in which you choose the love of your life instead of life – at least in theory – put my mind at ease. the drunken psychopath, get the food mixer instead of But black holes are much more to me than personal the ill-advised tattoo, and always think of a witty reply waste-disposal systems. The implications of their when you need it, not three hours later at the bus stop. demise are much more serious. I mean, if you can no Except, of course, in that universe the rules are prob- longer slide over the edge of space-time into nowhere, ably completely different. There, the highest pinnacle does that mean there is no nowhere? And, if so, where of social achievement might be to bag the drunken will teenagers be able to say they’ve been as they sidle in psychopath. And your most respectable aunty would at two in the morning? “Hangin’ round the bus station” get you the tattoo as a wedding present. Certainly, the just doesn’t have the same existentialist resonance. laws of physics can be different. Even pointlessness has now lost its point. The phrase Gravity, for example, might be far weaker than in our “going nowhere fast” can no longer evoke the hurtling universe. Unable to rely on the apple-attracting powers Even of nothingness. Perhaps we could start with the “noth- of matter over the event horizon into absolute oblivion. of the home planet, life would have evolved in a com- ing” that children were always doing just before the All it means now is “staying still”. (Thank goodness pletely different direction. Geckos would rule the world pointlessness sound of breaking glass. That could be the basic unit; Einstein left us the possibility of staying still with high as less sticky-footed organisms floated off into space. then multiply it by ten to get the “nothing” that is velocity, thanks to the rapidly receding observer.) Mind you, the planet itself would be bound together has now lost on your sweetheart’s mind whenever you happen to Hawking now says that, theoretically at least, infor- more loosely – a friable snowball of matter too feeble to ask what they’re thinking. mation can escape from a black hole, which demotes hang on to its own atmosphere. Life might not get very its point. Without proper measurements, I could be left with it to a temperamental cosmic hard drive that deletes far at all before that whole universe disintegrated into no nowhere and no nothing. Don’t people like Stephen things only to spit them back out later. Perhaps physi- something resembling the crumbs at the bottom of the Hawking realise that I turn to physics for some cists will one day unravel the hidden code and reveal biscuit tin. absolutes in an uncertain world? If I wanted relativistic histories we thought had gone forever, like those There’s even a universe, I’m told, where the speed of ideas like “next to nothing” and “probably gone forever” incriminating personal e-mails furtively deleted from light could be as low as 2 miles per hour, which is excel- I could talk to a sociologist. work PCs. Or perhaps the information will simply lent news as it would mean that my motorbike could At least I’m still in with a chance with one absolute of emerge as random bursts of radio frequency – a Radio move away from a speed camera faster than the nature – bets are still on for the universe being infinite. Caroline of the heavens, broadcasting from just outside reflected light rays would make the return journey. I’m off down the bookies to put a fiver on that before it’s the territorial waters of ordinary space-time? But knowing that there are alternative universes out too late. And, if information can pop back out, what else there hasn’t eased my feeling of loss over black holes. might? Could this account for the mysterious beha- I’ve been wondering – if there’s no nowhere, maybe Timandra Harkness is a comedy and science writer. With viour of socks that vanish without explanation, only to there’s also no nothing. I’m not being greedy here, just Helen Pilcher she performs the Comedy Research Project, a reappear months later just hours after you threw the a little bit of nothing would do me. I urge cosmologists comedy science double-act. She is currently writing a feature other half of the pair away? Could they have slipped to turn their attention at once to the measurement of film with Linda Cotterill about a man who goes to Mars in his through a wormhole into an alternative universe where nothing, beginning with an international standard unit hall cupboard. particles Watery world We live in a universe that is mostly empty space, in which objects attract each other gravitationally. In a universe that has the same physical laws but which is mostly water with small bubbles in it, do the bubbles attract or repel each other, or neither? The solution will be in the next issue (November). If you have an interesting physics puzzle that you’d like to share with fellow members, please send it to [email protected]. If yours gets published, we’ll send you a bottle of champagne or £30 worth of your choice of Institute of Physics merchandise.
Interactions October 2004