The Institute of Physics

REGIONAL NEWS 21 The Institute of Physics The forerunner of the Institute of do involves physics - switching on a light, physicists in commerce and industry. The Physics, the Physical Society of London, making a phone call or even baking a Council has established several Profession was created in 1874 at a time when the potato in a microwave oven. In industry, al Groups in areas such as consultancy, understanding of the physical world had physicists are helping companies to devel engineering physics and advanced been given an enormous impetus with the op novel materials that have physical prop systems. publication by James Clerk Maxwell of his erties more versatile that those previously In these days of shrinking science theory of electromagnetism. The creation developed, and they are designing new budgets, the academic physics community of the Physical Society was the response of generations of microchips which are has turned increasingly to its professional the embryonic society of professional and smaller and hence faster. The information representative, the Institute of Physics, to amateur physicists in Britain to what they revolution within which we are currently lobby Government about the importance believed was a major progression of their being buffeted would have been impos and relevance of physics. In common with ideas. Indeed, one could say that it was at sible without physicists and their research other science subjects, calls to justify Gov this time that much of physics began to - transistors, liquid crystal displays, mag ernment expenditure have increased in take on the appearance we recognize netic discs, optical fibres, semiconductor recent years. For several years the Institute today. lasers, and that most obvious example of of Physics has tirelessly argued the case for The first Institute of Physics also came the new information technology, the physics. There being an excellent case to into being, as a separate organization from World Wide Web, are all examples of the argue, physics research in the United the Physical Society, at a time, 1918, when work of modern physicists which are Kingdom is of the highest calibre and con major advances were taking place in phys irrevocably changing our world. tributes substantially to the wealth of the ics. The years which followed the founding nation via physics-based industries. Fur of the original Institute of Physics wit thermore, many medical diagnostics now nessed one of the biggest revolutions in depend upon recent developments of what physics - the investigation of atomic were once purely research tools in the structure and the development of quan physical science such as magnetic reso tum mechanics as a means of investigating nance imaging and ultrasound. and rationalizing the sub-atomic world. In addition to awarding the full pro These two bodies of physicists existed fessional qualification of Chartered Physi independently, although many of the dis cist (a right granted the Institute of Phys tinguished physicists who served as Presi ics by the Privy Council since 1985), the dents of the two bodies served as Presi Institute has, as a nominated body of the dents of both, until 1961 when the two Engineering Council, a license to accredit organizations were fused to form the Insti engineering physics degrees and to admit tute of Physics and the Physical Society, Apart from such tangible innovations, physicists to the Register of Chartered which existed until 1970 when, by Royal physicists also play a major role in weather Engineers (since 1996). The numbers of Charter, the present Institute of Physics forecasting and modelling, and hence in both Chartered Physicists and Chartered was created. attempting to understand the various Engineers continues to grow. The Institute The evolution of the learned societies complex processes which occur in material of Physics is rightly concerned that in this which represent the interests of a particu and heat transfer in oceans, at ice caps and era of reduced job security and rapid tech lar group of scientists inevitably follows within the atmosphere. Indeed, the last nological advance, physicists need to con the evolution of the subject. This is cer few years have shown that it is even pos tinually update their professional training tainly seen in the evolution of the Institute sible to be a physicist and earn spectacu and maintain their marketability. of Physics which has since its inception larly large salaries within the commercial There is currently much disquiet ably supported the endeavours of the sector of the national economy. There are amongst those involved in physics educa physicists of the UK. However, supporting now many trained in physics who have tion about the declining numbers of pupils physicists in their research and teaching is brought their expertise and ability to think studying physics in high schools which no longer enough to ensure the continued in a multi-dimensional manner of func manifests itself as a decline in the number success of the physical sciences in the tions strongly coupled to the financial of those studying physics at university. modern world. markets - apparently those who trade in Many reasons have been advanced for this Physics is a subject which, unfortu financial derivatives are often physicists. apparent lack of appeal of our subject. nately, the majority of its non-practi However, for all of these important However, everyone is agreed that the high tioners believe has little or no relevance to advances and application of physics to school syllabus has ossified and that teach their daily lives. We, however, are aware everyday life, there has never been a great ers need more support to show that phys that this is certainly not the case. It is diffi er need for a learned society to represent ics is alive and an exciting subject. Conse cult to imagine our world without the the interests of all physicists. In recent quently, the Institute of Physics has advances that have been made in physics years, the Institute of Physics has increas developed a strategy to support physics in in the last century. Almost everything we ingly catered for the needs of professional schools and colleges by developing a radi- 28 News 1997 Europhysics 22 REGIONAL NEWS cally new and relevant curriculum that the Institute’s mission, but is also provides on the history of the Institute and its signifi will both encourage young people to the resources needed to assist education cant participation and initiatives in science study physics beyond school and to make and the public awareness of physics. education in the UK. the subject more attractive. The Institute The 1990s have seen membership of On the final day of these celebrations, of Physics also plans to increase its efforts the Institute of Physics increase by more an international assembly of physicists to provide support for teachers of physics than 50%, new headquarters have been and scientists listened to presentations through their Schools and College Affilia acquired which offer unrivaled facilities from well-known speakers who included: tion Scheme. for both the members and staff of the Sir Michael Berry FRS - The colour of The Institute, through its publishing Institute. For many years, the Institute of caustics subsidiary in Bristol, leads the world in Physics had its headquarters in Belgravia, Laurence Eaves - Chaos and quantum the use of the most modern electronic London, but these premises became inad mechanics in semiconductor devices means of information dissemination. Hav equate for the expanding activities and Robert Brown - Opto-electronics into ing access to the best quality and most up- growing membership of the Institute. the 21st century to-date research information is essential Close to Regent’s Park, the new building Peter Kalmus —A personal view of for the continued success of the research possesses many additional features for Rutherford endeavour; since its inception the Institute members as well as a new conference cen Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS - Physics of Physics has striven to be a means of tre with auditorium and a suite of seminar and the search for extraterrestrial life providing such information. The Institute rooms. Chris Llewellyn-Smith FRS - Beyond publishes more than 30 research journals These premises were formally opened the standard model of particle physics in all branches of physics, and distributes by HM The Queen on 11 December, 1996, in David Clark - Surface-Interface sci this information world-wide in a variety of the presence of the Institute’s President, Dr. ence in the real world. media. For example, all the Institute’s Brian Manley, Past Presidents, Council mem This series of events marks an impor journals are accessible electronically from bers and staff. This occasion marked the start tant point in the continuing development around the world. of three days’ events and celebrations . On of the Institute of Physics as a vigorous Since the first journal more than 12 the following day, the premises were open to and active representative body for physics years ago, the Institute of Physics’ publish members and others to give them an oppor and physicists in the UK, and a dynamic ing activities have flourished and now tunity to view the facilities and the displays participant in the world of international result in a significant financial profit. Not on the contributions of physics to wealth science. only is publishing physics at the centre of creation and the quality of everyday life, and Jeffrey H. Williams (European Physical Society) University of Aarhus - Denmark ISA Institute for UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS Storage Ring Facilities Associate professor in surface physics University of Aarhus DENMARK Applications are invited for a permanent faculty position as associated professor in surface physics at the Danish Institute for Storage Ring Facilities - ISA. The position is open from June 1.1997.

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