sydney.edu.au/science/iss ISS2017: FUTURE POWER Report on the 39th Professor Harry Messel International Science School

“The two weeks in the ISS was the most meaningful, fulfilling, exciting time in my life. It was an experience we can not gain anywhere else.”

ISS2017 Scholar

2 View from the accommodation at

Contents

Thanks To Our Supporters 5 The Scholars 6 Staff and House Parents 7 The Scientific Program 8 Social Events 10 Accommodation 11 The ISS Book & Lecture Videos 12 Educational Outcomes 13 In Conclusion 15 Appendix A: The ISS2017 Scholars 16 Appendix B: The Lecturers 18

3 The 39th Professor Harry Messel international science school, ISS2017: Future Power, ran from 2 to 15 July 2017, with a focus on the challenges, opportunities, research and technology of the world’s energy future. The theme incorporated science across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from fusion power and high-efficiency solar, to smart grids, energy modelling and biofuels, to medical physics, astronomy and scientific ethics. Over 130 senior science students attended ISS2017, representing every state and territory in and seven overseas countries. They were treated to a unique lecture series by leading researchers, participated in hands-on activities in disciplines across science and engineering, and enjoyed a host of social events. The students were accommodated at Kincoppal and Kambala schools, neighbouring boarding schools on the shore of stunning Harbour, for the duration of the two-week program, which provided a nurturing environment for developing new friendships and bridging the many different cultures and backgrounds The feedback we received from the ISS scholars shows that, for many of them, their time at the ISS is transformational. Their messages of thanks attest to the truth in the traditional words of welcome to the International Science School:

“The ISS will be the best two weeks of your lives.”

4 Thanks To Our Supporters The Professor Harry Messel International Science School could not run without the generous backing of our many supporters, including all those who have given to the Messel Endowment, the Physics Foundation’s campaign to secure the long-term financial future of the ISS. Each ISS costs approximately $450,000 and we profoundly appreciate the support of all who contribute to ensure we can maintain the high quality of the experience provided to the students at each ISS. Ongoing ISS funding is provided by the Messel Endowment, the Government through the Department of Education and Communities, and the Australian Government through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The Physics Foundation warmly thanks all supporters of ISS2017, including − Department of Education and Communities, NSW Government − Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Government − Faculty of Science at the − And the many, many donors to the Messel Endowment Australian students were selected in their states and territories with the support of the Science Teacher Associations in every state and territory, and in NSW with the assistance of the Department of Education and Communities. The following institutions assisted in the selection of the overseas students and supported their international airfares to Sydney: − Affiliated High School of Peking University, China − Raman Research Institute, India − Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in − The Royal Society of − Ministry of Education, Thailand − The Ogden Trust and the University of York, United Kingdom − The American Australian Association

5 The Scholars Chosen by our selection panels across Australia, students attended the ISS from every state and territory of Australia: Australian Capital Territory (2), New South Wales (50), (3), (11), (4), (3), (10) and (6). International scholars came from China (9), India (5), Japan (9), New Zealand (6), Thailand (7), the United Kingdom (5) and the United States of America (5). Appendix A provides a complete list of all 135 ISS2017 scholars. In their evaluations of the program our students consistently identify the diverse mix of scholars from different backgrounds and cultures as one of the great strengths of the program. One key concern for the ISS since its inception has been the need to ensure the scholars have suitable proficiency in english; overall the international scholars participated enthusiastically and were well represented in the question time following each talk. Several of the accompanying adult chaperones noted that their students’ confidence in english developed during the ISS. As in previous years the ISS book of lecturer interviews was made available as an e-book and PDF file in advance to all scholars, providing an opportunity for international scholars to preview the lecture topics.

Indigenous Scholars Program Indigenous are greatly under- represented in Australian scientific, technological and engineering- related fields. In 2005 the Physics Foundation and the Federal Government created the International Science School Indigenous Scholars Program to encourage and support talented indigenous students with an interest in science.

The 2017 International Science School Indigenous Scholars.

6 For ISS2017, the foundation reserved five scholarships specifically for applications from indigenous students. Six applications were received from students identifying themselves for the indigenous scholars Program — two from NSW, two from Queensland, one from the Northern Territory and one from Tasmania. All were judged to be of very high quality, and one of the students was chosen for a first-round ISS scholarship by the state selection panels. The remaining five students were offered places through the Indigenous Scholars program.

Staff and House Parents The various members of the ISS staff team are vital to the smooth running of the program. At each ISS we invite previous scholars to return back as volunteer ‘staffies’, and several staff from previous years are also welcomed back as ‘senior staffies’. This year, a total of fourteen staffies were engaged to assist with the program, retaining the increased number from ISS2015 to allow for the extra duties involved in living off-campus. Two staffies were assigned each of six groups of scholars for the duration of the ISS, which gives the opportunity for staff and students to bond and form strong group dynamics over the two weeks. Once again we welcomed back one of the New Zealand scholars as a staffie — marking the sixth ISS in a row where an international alumnus has returned as a staff member. Also back for their seventh ISS were our two house parents, Karen Palmer and John Bright, who, along with the overseas chaperones, were in loco parentis for the scholars for the entire two weeks. We ensured all overseas chaperones felt part of the staff team by inviting them to participate in all activities — and we organised a couple of lunch functions just for them as thanks for their help.

The fabulous staff of ISS2017 Back row: Chris Stewart (Director), Bethany Snowden, Nicole Green, San van der Weerden, Meika Liveris, Tim Johns Second row: Chelsea Ho, Olivia Kong, Brendan Harlech Jones, John Bright (House Parent), Natasha Bond, Jonathan Simpson; Front Row: Elizabeth Li, Tatsuya Shiihara, Karen Palmer (House Parent), Emma Clignett, Guoxiang Li

7 The Scientific Program The ISS is an intense fortnight of lectures, talks, tours of the university’s research facilities and other parts of the university, hands on experiments and social events. The 39th Professor Harry Messel International Science School was formally launched by Mr Mark Scott AO, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, at the official Opening Ceremony on Monday 3 July in the University’s new Prof. Harry Messel Lecture Theatre. Following the opening, the first lecture was delivered by ANU’s Prof. Kylie Catchpole, leading researcher on high-efficiency solar cells. The remainder of the lectures were also held in Messel Lecture Theatre. Eleven scientists, selected for their research expertise, scientific reputation and communication prowess, were invited to give one or two lectures to the scholars. For the first time in the history of the ISS, leading female scientists comprised the majority of the lecture program. Each sixty-minute lecture was followed by twenty minutes of perceptive and challenging questions from the scholars. The lecture series comprised: −Prof. Steve Cowley (Oxford, UK), Fusion Energy and ITER −Prof. Kylie Catchpole (ANU), The Future of Solar Energy −Associate Prof. Tara Murphy (USYD), Exploring the Transient Universe −Prof. Andrew Stuchbery (ANU), Nuclear Power: Past, Present & Future −Dr Jenny Gerbi (ARPA-E, USA), Thirty Million Dollars to Change The World −Associate Prof. Bernadette McCabe (USQ), Bioenergy −Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (U.Sydney), Great Moments in Science −Dr Nicole van der Laak (USYD & Gelion), Battery Basics & Making Them Better −Prof. Annette Haworth (U.Sydney), Medical Physics: From Curie & Schrödinger to Curing Cancer −Dr. Jenny Hayward (CSIRO), Modelling The Energy Future −Prof. Tony Vassallo (USYD), Smart Grids

Short bios of the lecturers can be found in Appendix B.

Top to bottom: Kylie Catchpole explains her research into high-efficiency solar cells; The state-of-the-art lecture theatre in the Sydney Nanoscience Hub; Steve Cowley describing magnetic fields in the ITER fusion experiment; Tara Murphy exploring extreme events in the transient universe; Jenny Gerbi discussing the role of innovation in solving the society’s energy challenges

8 In addition to the official lecture series students took part in several special events: The ISS2017 Speed Meet & Greet— an opportunity for the scholars to chat with research students and staff from across the faculties of science and engineering at a ‘trade-display’-style event. A wide range of researchers each set up a table with a talking point activity or object, with displays ranging from Child Psychology and Mathematical Biology to astronomical simulations and 3D models of the ocean floor. Science & Engineering Challenge — as in the past, scholars participated in a special ISS edition of the Science & Engineering Challenge produced by the University of Newcastle, where teams compete in a series of activities designed to encourage and reward problem-solving and teamwork, from bridge building to electricity grid design to code breaking. The ISS Alumni Panel — We gathered six alumni from across the 50 years of the program, and asked them to reflect on their ISS experience and where their careers have taken them. The current cohort asked questions about career and degree choices, and the collective wisdom flowed. The participants were: − Susan Pond (ISS1962): Susan attended the very first ISS, has had a rich and varied career in medical research, has sat on many company boards and led some of Australia’s top scientific and technology organisations, and is now Director of the Sydney Nano Institute. She sits on the University’s Physics Foundation that oversees and funds each ISS program. − Trevor Danos (ISS1974): Trevor is also a long-serving member of the Physics Foundation and an enthusiastic supporter of the ISS. He is a commercial lawyer, company director and a strategic and business advisor. − Hong Dao Nguyen (ISS2003): Hong has a teaching-focussed position in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney, having completed her PhD there in 2013. Hong was also an ISS staffie in 2005 and 2007. − Charlotte Fletcher (ISS2009): Charlotte is an early-career science communicator. She completed a BSc at USyd, majoring in biology, followed by a Masters in Science Communication (Outreach) at ANU, and is now back at Sydney University coordinating high schools outreach for the Faculty of Science. − Jun Tong (ISS2009): Jun has just completed his PhD in evolutionary biology at the University of Sydney. With Charlotte, he was an ISS Staffie in 2011 and 2013. Jun has also written opinion essays about universities for the Sydney Morning Herald, the ABC, and the Age. − Emma Clignett (ISS2013): The most recent alumna on the panel, Emma was a staffie in 2015 and returned as senior staffie in 2017. She did a BSc in. Biomed and Chemistry at the Uni of Queensland, and has just commenced her Masters of Teaching.

Top to bottom: One of the scholars meets some local fauna during the Indigenous Knowledges seminar An electron microscope at the Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis Observing sunspots on the roof of the School of Physics

Kitted out in blue lab coats 9 at Charles Perkins Centre The ISS Alumni Panel answering some tricky questions from the audience Ethics and Leadership in Science Workshops — developed in conjunction with the USA’s Smithsonian Institution and delivered by Associate Prof. Dominic Murphy from the university’s Unit for History & Philosophy of Science, these workshops challenged the ISS scholars to think through key ethical issues in modern science. After warming up with some classic examples such as the trolley problem, students broke into groups to discuss and debate moralistic and ethical aspects of issues such as nuclear weapons, Big Pharma, and climate change.

In parallel with the lecture series, a range of tours, hands-on activities and workshops were organised to give the scholars further exposure to science at the University of Sydney. Students toured the university’s museums, the research labs at the Sydney Nanoscience Hub, and the Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis. Hands-on activities and experiments were staged by the schools of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geosciences, Physics, Psychology and Agricultural Sciences, as well as the Sydney Innovation Hub and the Faculty of Engineering. D'harawal Saltwater Knowledge Keeper Shannon Foster led a seminar on Indigenous Australian approaches to land care and sustainability, and our long-time friends and collaborators, the Young Scientists of Australia (YSA), led a DIY-Science-Show workshop.

Clockwise from left: The infamous ISS Bush Dance; The Opera House up close; The final night disco; The Harbour Cruise, perfect for photo ops Social Events The organised social events, most run by the NSW chapter of the Young Scientists of Australia, included a trivia relay race, a bush dance, rock climbing, observatory visits, city tours, a visit to Taronga Zoo, movie nights, and many more ‘at home’ events in the boarding accommodation. The YSA’s involvement in the science schools has been invaluable over many years — their infectious energy and rapport with the scholars, and their enthusiastic organisation of the social events are vital contributions to the success of the ISS. The scholars themselves organised the infamous ISS Talent Night in the second week, with acts ranging from traditional dances and songs from the international students, to individual scholars showing off their musical, comedy and magic skills. The traditional ISS Harbour Cruise took place on the middle Saturday night, where all scholars and ISS staff enjoy dinner and dancing against a stunning backdrop of the city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge by night.

10 From top: The Len Basser Award was presented to Indian scholar Poorvi Hebbar by Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; Gala MC and Sleek Geek Adam Spencer; Mulpha Award winner Logan Howell from Tasmania, presented by Ms Sue Bakir; The beautiful Great Hall.

The ISS Gala reception, held on Thursday 9 July in the Great Hall, was an opportunity for alumni, donors, friends and staff of the University of Sydney to meet the ISS scholars first hand. MC for the evening was Adam Spencer, radio and TV presenter, Sleek Geek, and science ambassador for the University of Sydney, who kept more than 400 guests entertained throughout and ensured the event ran smoothly. Two important awards are made at Gala reception: the Len Basser Award for Leadership in Science and the Mulpha ISS Award for Leadership. Both awards were established in 2005 in recognition of million-dollar donations to the Messel Endowment — the Len Basser Award was created in collaboration with the Australian Federal Government, while the Mulpha Award was created with Mulpha Australia, a multi-national corporation with strong ties to the ISS and the Physics Foundation. The ISS staff select the winners of these special awards, based on close observation of the scholars over the two weeks. The Len Basser Award is presented to the scholar who, in the course of the ISS, demonstrates leadership in science through a combination of originality of thought and a willingness to assist other scholars. Poorvi Hebbar, one of the Indian scholars, was this year’s recipient. She was presented with the award by Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. The Mulpha ISS Award for Leadership recognises international kinship and cooperation, and is awarded to a student who displays diplomacy, friendship, encouragement and understanding of fellow students from all cultures. This year the recipient was Tasmanian scholar Logan Howell, with the award presented by Mulpha representative Ms Sue Bakir.

Accommodation All scholars, staff and overseas chaperones were accommodated off the main university campus at Kincoppal Rose Bay School and , neighbouring boarding schools in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. This is the second time the ISS has been hosted at these schools, and the commute has been successfully worked into the daily program. This arrangement is not ideal: the accommodation is more expensive than past arrangements with on-campus colleges; students do not get the same full experience of living on a university campus; and the travel time is a significant addition to the ISS schedule that restrict the available time for other activities. However, boarding at Kincoppal and Kambala has proven to be a workable option, with some positive aspects. The schools are secure overnight and managed well, the catering is excellent … and the views are second to none!

11 Download the ISS Book … … or watch the entire lecture series on YouTube The ISS Book & Lecture Videos Since 1962 we have produced a book to accompany every International Science School, with chapters about each of the invited lecturers. In recent years the book has comprised interviews with the scientists, discussing their work, their influences and experiences, and their thoughts on the future of their disciplines. The ISS book is a cross-section of the cutting-edge of science at that point in time; it is both an introduction to a wide variety of scientific disciplines and a unique historical document. All participants received a copy of the book on arrival. Copies were presented to each lecturer at the conclusion of their talk, and were also given to friends and supporters of the program. The book is available to download in PDF and e-book formats from the ISS website: sydney.edu.au/science/iss Since 2005 we have recorded the ISS lectures and uploaded the series in audio or video form on the Internet. In the past we have tested various methods for capturing the lectures, ranging from simple audio recordings to full multi-camera video productions. In recent years we have settled on a format comprising a video recording of the speaker next to a presentation of the lecture slides. The entire ISS lecture series, along with other relevant video material, is available on our YouTube channel at: youtube.com/TheSydneyISS

12 Educational Outcomes Students who attend the International Science School have the opportunity to benefit from a wide range of experiences, both social and academic. Educational outcomes vary between participants: a student from a small rural town may have a different experience of the program to a student from a large inner-city school, and Australian students may take away a different impression to the overseas scholars. However, there are many common experiences for all who attend the program. During the two weeks, ISS scholars make new friends, explore different cultures, discover new fields of knowledge and encounter new intellectual and emotional challenges.

Scientific Understanding and Application The scholars learn about many important and relevant areas of science. The lecture series and many of the other experiences of the ISS deal with modern science in considerable breadth and depth. Many students comment on the range of topics, noting that prior to the ISS they did not realise that science was so diverse. Attending the ISS is greatly beneficial to the scholars’ overall scientific development. Scholars have contact with acknowledged experts in many different fields through lectures, direct one-to-one conversations and other interactions with staff from School of Physics and right across the University. The scholars observe scientists in their working environment, and the scientists in turn provide role models for scholars that can shape their career decisions. Through the tours of research laboratories and other activities during the ISS, scholars see modern scientific equipment and instrumentation techniques and become more familiar with scientific methods. Scholars participate in formal and informal experiments and activities, some aimed at teaching them about experimental design and, importantly, about the trade-offs necessary between equipment design and performance, and the costs of such equipment.

Cultural Awareness and Interpersonal Relationships The ISS provides a rich cultural environment. Contact with peers from other parts of the world and from different regions of Australia broadens the scholars’ perspective; they develop an appreciation of different living and learning environments, and obtain insights into the nature and validity of approaches within their own educational system. The range of scientific and social activities provide an opportunity for scholars to learn about the impact of scientific research on their own and other cultures. They gain an understanding that, while scientific investigation may follow the same ‘rules’ wherever it is undertaken, the application of technologies (such as nuclear power) or certain lines of enquiry (such as stem- cell research) are strongly influenced by cultural settings. The scholars spend two weeks living together in boarding accommodation, which provides a unique opportunity for socialising, whether at mealtimes (often with the lecturers from that

13 day), during social outings, or just meeting casually. Scholars report that this environment accelerates friendships and bonding beyond what might be expected from such a brief time. Many scholars stay in contact after the ISS through email and social media – the ISS2017 Facebook Group page has more than 150 members from all participating countries. While the scholars were most actively engaged in the weeks leading up to and immediately following the program, interaction continues months later as they post updates, photos, links and stories of planned or spontaneous reunions.

GenerIc AttrIbutes The program offers opportunities for the scholars to practise many of the general skills that schools, universities and employers identify as a crucial aspect of education. Through many of the activities run during the ISS, the scholars gain experience and confidence in expressing their ideas, working in groups, critically analysing new ideas and using a range of techniques to solve problems. Scholars are challenged to present and defend original ideas to the larger group, to build effective teams and negotiate group dynamics, to take a leadership role or encourage others to do the same. During the ISS Ethics & Leadership in Science workshops, many students encounter thorny moral and ethical issues for the first time, and spend time both formulating arguments for different points of view, and critically listening to others’ experiences and understandings. These are vital skills for young scientists, and greatly valued by universities and employers.

Other Educational Outcomes The ISS produces a book of the lectures for each program. The ISS2017 book is available as an e-book and as a downloadable PDF on the web, formatted as an educational tool for science teachers — find it at sydney.edu.au/science/iss ISS webcasts make the lectures available to those unable to attend as well as to a broader national and international audience. In the eight months since they were uploaded to YouTube, the ISS2017 webcasts have been viewed more than 10,000 times — and the entire ISS lecture collection has over 150,000 views. View the lectures at youtube.com/TheSydneyISS

Financial Statement The University of Sydney could not run the International Science School without its generous supporters, some of whom have helped fund the ISS for many years. We are very grateful to all who contributed to the ISS2017, including the many donors to the Messel Endowment. Appendix C provides a statement of ISS2017 finances as at December 2017.

14 In Conclusion

The Professor Harry Messel International Science School is a wonderful, exhausting, inspiring, challenging, time-honoured and — at times — utterly chaotic experience. We have been running the ISS for more than 50 years now, yet each cohort of scholars still manage to surprise and amaze me with their enthusiasm and openness to experience. At the ISS2017 program, I wanted to show the students both the range of local and global issues and the breadth of vital research attached to the central theme of Future Power. Our challenge was to present these issues as opportunities to be grasped and problems to be solved — opportunities and problems within the scholars’ grasp as they continue their formal education and consider their future careers in and around science. I hope we got there. From the feedback we received from the scholars, I think we did. The team behind the ISS is larger, and works harder, than the students ever imagine – when everything is going to plan, the effort is invisible. I am indebted to all who made the program run smoothly: Liz Kenna, Charlotte Fletcher and the rest of the Faculty of Science Engagement & Outreach team; the Science Communicators and their dedicated helpers across the many Schools and research groups of the University; the staff of the School of Physics and members of the Physics Foundation; and particularly the fabulous Teagan Jenkins, who landed in the middle of the busiest period of ISS planning and got the job done with grace and humour. Directing the ISS program is truly an honour, and it’s genuinely humbling to meet all these amazing students from across the planet. I admit I sometimes feel like I spend the entire two weeks yelling through a microphone for one reason or another, but at the end of it all it’s so rewarding to see everyone leaving with such reluctance, swapping contact details, taking a last group selfie, and saying farewell with tears in their eyes. We at the School of Physics, the Faculty of Science and the Physics Foundation look forward to the next celebration of excellence at ISS2019.

Dr Chris Stewart Manager, The International Science School

Chris yelling through a series of microphones across the ISS fortnight.

15 Appendix A: The ISS2017 Scholars

New South Wales Australian Capital Territory Adnan Agha Australian International Academy Holly Schyvens St Clares College Chloe Beydoun Tijana Stevanovic Canberra Girls' GS Judith Browne Bega High School Alexandra Cartmill Wollongong HS of the Northern Territory Performing Arts Patrick Bond Taminmin College Daniel Chadwick Kandos High School Johvan Miles OLSH Catholic College Elysia Chua All Saints' College Samantha Woodbridge Darwin High School Selina Chua OLSH Kensington Maya Cohen Moriah College Queensland Cameron Eggins Thomas Hassall Anglican College Lauren Blackwell Shalom College Lachlan Eggins Thomas Hassall Anglican College Dilki De Silva Moranbah State High School Ashleigh Elliott Gulgong High School Lauren Drabwell Kepnock State High School Clare Fisher Mullumbimby High School Raluca Ghebosu Ryan Catholic College Kate Fiumara St Francis de Sales College John Hatfield Cannon Hill Anglican College Toby Hardcastle High School Farah Sofia Hilmi Kelvin Grove State College Christopher Harris David Nguyen Qld Academy of Science, Riley Havela St Vincents College Mathematics and Technology Daniel Horsnell Oxford Falls Grammer School Jesicca Nizeti-Panebianco Shailer Park State HS James Humphries Ayoka Wong Pimlico State High School Paul Isaac Daniel Yanes Sanchez Brisbane State High School Leonidas Katsanis Wonie Yusia Wavell State High School Ezabell Kong High School Winson Lau Macquarie Fields High School South Australia Rachel Liang St George Girls High School Sam Custance Edward John Eyre HS Vishaal Lingam Broughton Anglican College Eliza Gordon Tenison Woods College Connor Logan Wyong Christian CS Gabrielle Pearce Ashlea Lorenz Sylvania High School Renny Travis-Birch Edward John Eyre HS Bradley Lucas Carmen Nguyen Strathfield South High School Tasmania Amber Nicholas Maddison Gardner Launceston College Chloe Northfield Rebecca Griffin St Michael's collegiate Ellen O’Dwyer Coolamon Central School Logan Howell Don College Ashley Oliver-Sjahry MLC School Kaustubh Patel Cherrybrook Technology HS Victoria Moumita Paul Mackillop College Jack Cohen Thornbury High School Harsh Rathi Clare Freeman Lalor Secondary College Neve Robins Broken Hill High School Sarah Greham Gisborne Secondary College Elizabeth Rose Maclean High School Stella Le Penleigh and Essendon GS Annie Liu Lauriston Girls’ School Rathin Shah Arthur Phillip High School Will Manuell Wesley College Jathu Shanmugam St Marys Senior High School Somesh Mehra Balwyn High School Oliver Simon Trinity Catholic College Lismore Gabriel Oyarzo Koonung Secondary College Mouhtadi Sjarief Sydney Technical High School Sarah Yang Korowa Anglican Girls’ School Nicholas Standen Lumen Christi Catholic College Benjamin Street International Grammar School Western Australia Cameron Stuart Mamre Anglican School Katie Harris Penrhos College Emma Wellham Macquarie College Caleb McKenna Warwick Senior High School Joshua Wilkinson Oakhill College Joel Moffet Guildford Grammar School Esther Wong Meriden HS Zoë Sydney Iona Presentation College Yongyan Xia The Haadi Umer Byford Secondary College Brandon Yip Lauren Watt Geraldton Grammar School

16 China New Zealand From the Affiliated High School of Peking University: Oliver Gwatkin Lincoln High School Wang Wei Lan Emma Hogan Onslow College Li Zi Yi Moana Lengkeek Trident High School Gu Haiwei Mikayla Stokes Western Springs College Xie Haotian Paice Vaughan Kaipara College Yang Jiatong Malin Walpola Wellington College From Shanghai High School International Division: Diao Shuaizi Thailand Kwon Sang Yoon Supagorn Chineravata Samsenwittayalai Xie Allen Panyalak Detrattanawichai Benjamarachutit Yan Hongyuan Narisak Hiriotuppa Sriboonyanon Sakdipat Kongkaeo Hatyaiwittayalai India Vorrapard Kumthongdee Kaennakhon Wittayalai Arpit Behera The Mother's International School Sirawit Lertwiriyapiti Bodindecha Shashankh Chandarr Suguna PIP School Treerat Srivipat Samsenwittayalai School Ashim Dubey Modern Vidya Niketan School Poorvi Hebbar Sri Chaitanya Naranya Jnr Col United Kingdom Sriram Sridhar Air Force School Hebbal Ocean Bach Blackpool Sixth Form Aamna Irfan Xaverian College Japan Farihaa Motala Nelson and Colne College Egawa Sho Toin High school Jack Saville Prior Pursglove Hamasaki Rui Keio High School Benedict Yorston Radley College Kotani Tatsuya Ono High School Miyake Ryosuke Saitama Prefectural Omiya HS United States of America Narimatsu Norika Uto Senior High School From Lexington High School: Tani Tomonori Hroshima Prefectual Hiroshima HS Benjamin Choi Tashima Ryoto Niigata Prefectural Shibata HS Nicholas Gould Uchida Tsubasa Osaka Sakuyakonohana Snr HS Anka Hu Ueta Yukiko Tottori West High School Derik Kauffman Joshua Park Catherine Wang

17 Appendix B: The Lecturers

The Future is Solar Prof. Kylie Catchpole Australian National University Solar energy has surged worldwide in the last decade, from home rooftop systems to giant solar power plants covering many square kilometres of land. Kylie’s research interests are in nanotechnology and new materials for solar cell applications. In 2010 her work on nanophotonic light trapping was listed as one of MIT Technology Review’s ‘10 most important emerging technologies’. In 2015 Kylie was awarded the John Booker medal in engineering science from the Australian Academy of Science.

The Future is Sustainable Dr Jenny Hayward CSIRO Energy With many different forms of sustainable energy in the mix, research into their relative cost, scalability and integration has become vital. Jenny is a research scientist in the Energy Transformed Flagship of Australia’s CSIRO. She leads research projects on technology cost projections and has made economic modelling contributions to renewable energy projects, including studies undertaken by CSIRO on the potential of wave energy and concentrating solar thermal energy in Australia. Jenny’s focus is on developing new methods and modelling approaches to provide robust projections of the capital costs of existing and emerging electricity generation technologies.

The Future is Fusion Prof. Steve Cowley President, Corpus Cristi College, Oxford, UK Nuclear fusion will offer future generations a cleaner and safer source of energy and has the potential to meet the majority of the world’s energy demands. At present, however, more energy is required to feed the process than can be produced. Steve is a leading plasma and fusion theorist, and currently President of Corpus Christi College at the University of Oxford. Previously he was Chief Executive Officer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Much of his research career has been devoted to modelling and understanding plasma turbulence in nuclear fusion, a phenomenon that must be controlled to achieve stable fusion. Steven is leading the UK’s participation in ITER, an experimental reactor that is set to make nuclear fusion commercially viable. Steve presented a 2009 TED talk entitled Fusion is Energy’s Future, and received the 2012 Glazebrook Medal from the Institute of Physics.

18 The Future is Geeky Dr Karl Kruszelnicki Julius Sumner Miller Fellow, University of Sydney Karl Kruszelnicki began his media career when he started presenting ‘Great Moments In Science’ on Double J radio to pay his way through medical school. Since then, his media career has exploded from radio to include TV, books, newspapers, magazines, professional speaking, and of course, the Internet. Karl has written more than 40 books, and has degrees in Physics and Maths, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery and has worked as a physicist, film-maker, car mechanic, labourer, and as a medical doctor at the Kids’ Hospital in Sydney. In 1995 he became the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at Sydney University, spreading the good word about science and its benefits

The Future is Smart Prof. Tony Vassallo Delta Electricity Chair in Sustainable Energy Development, University of Sydney With distributed energy generation from many different sources, we need smart power grids able to intelligently adapt, balance and predict changes in supply and demand. Tony has held the Delta Electricity Chair in Sustainable Energy Development at the University of Sydney since 2008, where he focusses on energy storage and smart electricity grids. Prior to this, he held the position of Senior Principal Research Scientist with the CSIRO, followed by a period of consultancy to industry and government in the field of sustainable energy technology. Tony is a past President of the Australian Institute of Energy, and co-leader of the Clean Energy Research Cluster at the University of Sydney.

The Future is Healthy Prof. Annette Haworth Director, Institute of Medical Physics, University of Sydney Increasingly, physics is playing a central role in medical diagnosis, imaging and treatment. Annette is a medical physicist with more than 20 years hospital based, clinical medical physics experience. In 2016 she joined the University of Sydney to lead the Institute of Medical Physics. Annette has an international reputation in the field of brachytherapy, and her research includes the development of radiobiological models and advanced imaging techniques for prostate cancer focal therapy.

19 The Future is … Nuclear? Prof. Andrew Stuchbery Head of Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University Any discussion of the future of energy needs to consider the role of power from nuclear fission. Andrew has led this conversation in Australia in recent years, with the aim of truly understanding both the benefits and the problems inherent in the nuclear industry. Andrew studies the structure of nuclei through gamma-ray spectroscopy methods, with an emphasis on the measurement and interpretation of electromagnetic properties using hyperfine fields. He is convenor of the Master of Nuclear Science Program, which encourages students to develop the scientific knowledge needed to inform debate on nuclear issues, without taking a particular position.

The Future is Storage Dr Nicole van der Laak Senior Research & Development Officer, Gelion Battery Energy Storage is central for future energy generation, and research on battery technologies is booming across the world. Nicole is a materials scientist, consultant and researcher, specialising in the renewable energy storage sector. Her Recent work includes research and development in supercapacitor technologies, zinc-bromide batteries and water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Before joining tech energy start-ups in Sydney in 2011, Nicole was a research scientist and academic in the UK, and .

The Future is Bioenergy Associate Prof. Bernadette McCabe National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland Carbon-based fuels aren’t going away quickly — but there are ways to produce fuels sustainably from biological processes. Bernadette’s specific research interest is in energy capture and resource recovery of waste. She has expertise in the monitoring of wastewater, biogas production and assessment of biosolids as fertiliser replacement. Bernadette is Australia’s National Team Leader in the IEA Bioenergy program Task 37: Energy from Biogas, an international working group made up of 14 member countries that exchange global best practice in biogas production.

20 The Future is Connected Dr Jenny Gerbi Program Director, ARPA-E, USA There are many challenges to overcome in our energy future, and many researchers spread across the planet working on different parts of diverse but connected problems. How do you bring everyone together to focus on real, workable, affordable solutions? Jenny’s focus as a Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) includes improving energy efficiency and management via advanced sensing systems and storage, as well as renewable energy generation through photovoltaics. Prior to joining ARPA-E, Jenny worked at Dow Corning in multiple capacities, starting in the company’s Business and Technology Incubator. She then managed a global team as a Business Builder, leading new business development for a lithium- ion battery program. Gerbi’s most recent role at Dow Corning was as an Applied Engineering and Technical Service Leader, where she led an electronics application engineering and development team, working directly with large global customers to enable technical solutions via silicones in consumer and crossover healthcare electronics markets.

The Future is Transient Associate Professor Tara Murphy Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, University of Sydney Transient astronomical objects (those that appear and disappear rapidly) signal some of the most extreme events in the Universe: events such as stars dying, the moment a black hole forms, or the collision of two neutron stars. Detecting these rare events pushes our telescopes and analysis techniques to the limit, but the reward is insights into extreme physics that can’t be obtained in any other way. Tara’s research is interdisciplinary, investigating the application of novel computer science and software engineering techniques to data-intensive astronomy research. In particular she is investigating astronomical objects that vary on rapid timescales. These objects act as a laboratory for studying extreme physics, and may help to answer questions about the formation of black holes, the missing mass in our Galaxy, and the origin of many exotic objects that burst and flicker in the distant universe. In 2013 Tara co- founded start-up company Grok Learning that teaches high school students and teachers to code.

21 Download the book of the ISS2017 lecture series as an-ebook or PDF at sydney.edu.au/science/iss

The entire ISS2017 lecture series and many videos from past ISS programs are available on our YouTube channel at: youtube.com/TheSydneyISS

22 23 University of Sydney Physics Foundation School of Physics A28 The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia T +61 2 9351 2537 | F +61 2 93517726 E [email protected] W sydney.edu.au/science/physics/foundation

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