The Australian Institute of Physics upcoming events

Out of Field Professional Development Opportunity: Special Relativity (5 May 2026)

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:30:00 GMT

This Special Relativity intensive module steps you through the key concepts and skills required to successfully teach the relevant content in VCE Physics. Click here for flyer.

Why participate in SR Program?:

Deepen your understanding of key concepts in special relativity
Engage in key simulations and activities that you can directly deploy in your classroom
Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
Improve your ability to differentiate curriculum and assessment student achievement
Access materials to support your classroom practice prepared by experienced teachers and science education academics associated with the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network
Become part of a network like-minded teachers who are striving to improve their practice

Program: Seven two-hour workshops, presented by experienced teacher, Theo Hughes. It is presented online in weekly sessions from 5th May to 16th June, 2026 starting at 4:30pm.
Cost: $330 per participant, with discounts available for teachers from Government schools ($220) and for teachers from schools with a low ICSEA rank.

For further details and to book go to the VicPhysics website

TPG Seminar: Bounds for the Bel-Robinson tensor of linearized gravity in de Sitter spacetime, Eleni Kontou (Kings College London) (28 May 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Link: https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/89267161769

Abstract: In linearized gravity, defining a local energy–momentum tensor for the gravitational field via variation of the action with respect to the metric is generally problematic. This difficulty arises from the principle of equivalence, which allows one to choose a local reference frame along any timelike curve in which the gravitational field vanishes, implying that any local gravitational energy density must also vanish there. Despite this limitation, certain local tensors can still characterize the strength of the gravitational field. In this talk, I will focus on the Bel–Robinson tensor, a four-index tensor that possesses many properties analogous to those of an energy–momentum tensor. Working in a de Sitter background spacetime, I will first demonstrate explicitly the non-negativity of the Bel–Robinson tensor when contracted with timelike vectors. I will then quantize the linearized gravitational perturbations and derive a quantum energy inequality, providing a lower bound on the timelike-averaged Bel–Robinson quantity along a timelike geodesic. Finally, I will discuss the bound in the Bunch–Davies vacuum of de Sitter spacetime.

Bio: Dr. Eleni-Alexandra Kontou is a lecturer in theoretical physics at King's College London. She was awarded a PhD in Physics from Tufts University in 2015. After successfully applying for a Horizon 2020 EU grant she was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie research fellow at the Department of Mathematics at the University of York from 2017 to 2019. From 2020 until 2022 she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam. She has also worked as a visiting Assistant Professor at Bard College and the College of the Holy Cross. Her research interests cover a variety of topics in quantum field theory in curved spacetime, mathematical physics, and cosmology but most of her work focuses on energy conditions, quantum inequalities, and their applications.

From Physics Skills to Careers - Professional Development Day for all Science Teachers and Career Practitioners (16 Jun 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The University of Melbourne warmly invites you to an In-Service (PD) Day on the 16th of June: From Physics Skills to Careers for Science Teachers and Career Practitioners.

Physics is closely connected with many areas of science, contributing to and learning from other disciplines.

From medical applications to climate modelling and cancer research, physics is connected to far more careers than we often highlight to students.

On this day, you will:

Explore physics as a pathway to a wide range of careers
Gain practical examples to share with students and parents
Hear from alumni about how physics has shaped their (non-physics) careers

This day aims to provide fresh insights and useful tools for your teaching and career guidance.

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Girls in Physics Breakfast (WA) | Perth Southern suburbs (23 Jun 2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Australian Institute of Physics (WA Branch), the Science Teachers' Association of Western Australia (STAWA) and Quantum Girls are conducting a breakfast event to introduce modern physics to Year8, 9 and 10 girls and inspire and motivate them to consider going on to study high level mathematics and Physics in Year 11 and 12. This event is part of the AIP's Marie Curie Lecture Tour.

Audience: Motivated Year 8, 9 and 10 Girls who demonstrate aptitude and interest in science, accompanied by a female science teacher or other female role model (up to six students per school).

Cost: This event is FREE but registration is essential.

Talk title: Painting the Universe: A Visual and Musical Exploration of Space-Time

Brief outline: In this lecture, Dr Karelle Siellez weaves together sound, art, and astrophysics to explore the story of gravitational waves and the collisions that create the elements we are made of. Through “multi-messenger” signals like kilonovae and gamma-ray bursts, we’ll uncover how the cosmos communicates its most violent events. Blending scientific insights with creative expression, this journey reveals how listening to the Universe—and protecting its silence—can connect science, nature, and humanity.

Presenter: Dr Karelle Siellez is an astrophysicist and lecturer at the University of Tasmania. A specialist in multi-messenger astronomy, she contributed to the first detection of a gamma-ray burst and gravitational waves from the same cosmic event, recognised with the 2017 Breakthrough Prize. She is also an award-winning science communicator who integrates art, sound, and storytelling into her work, making complex astrophysics accessible and inspiring. Karelle has lived and worked in France, the USA, and now Tasmania—where she divides her time between telescopes, classrooms, and the wilderness of sea and forest.

Program:

8.00 - 8.45	Start with juices and a light breakfast
8.45 - 9.00	Introduction – Acknowledgement of Country (Host school), Career opportunities that open up for higher-level maths, physics and chemistry graduates.
9.00 – 10.00	2026 Marie Curie Lecturer Dr Karelle Siellez from the presents Painting the Universe: A Visual and Musical Exploration of Space-Time
10.00 - 10.20	Morning tea
10.20 - 11.30	Series of fun, hands-on activities introducing participants to the quantum world. Coordinated by Quantum Girls
11.40 - 11.50	Revisiting the amazing career opportunities in Physics
11.50 – 12.00	Close with round table discussions and feedback

Download the event flyer

Girls in Physics Breakfast (WA) | Perth Northern suburbs (24 Jun 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Audience: Motivated Year 8, 9 and 10 Girls who demonstrate aptitude and interest in science, accompanied by a female science teacher or other female role model (up to six students per school).

Cost: This event is FREE but registration is essential.

Talk title: Painting the Universe: A Visual and Musical Exploration of Space-Time

Program:

8.00 - 8.45	Start with juices and a light breakfast
8.45 - 9.00	Introduction – Acknowledgement of Country (Host school), Career opportunities that open up for higher-level maths, physics and chemistry graduates.
9.00 – 10.00	2026 Marie Curie Lecturer Dr Karelle Siellez from the presents Painting the Universe: A Visual and Musical Exploration of Space-Time
10.00 - 10.20	Morning tea
10.20 - 11.30	Series of fun, hands-on activities introducing participants to the quantum world. Coordinated by Quantum Girls
11.40 - 11.50	Revisiting the amazing career opportunities in Physics
11.50 – 12.00	Close with round table discussions and feedback

Download the event flyer

ISPSA 2026 - 22nd International Symposium on the Physics of Semiconductors and Applications (28 Jun 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Semiconductor Physics Division of the Korean Physical Society (KPS) invites you to attend ISPSA 2026, featuring over 1,200 participants and more than 800 high-quality presentations covering the entire spectrum of semiconductor physics, from fundamental theory to next-generation applications.

The academic program that features 6 Plenary Speakers who are global pioneers in their respective fields, including Prof. Jing Kong from MIT, Prof. John A. Rogers from Northwestern University, Prof. Joshua Yang from University of Southern California, Prof. Amir Yacoby from Harvard University, Prof. Henk Bolink from Universidad de Valencia, and Prof. Feng Wang from UC Berkeley. Their insights will be complemented by an extensive series of 5 Tutorial Sessions designed to provide in-depth educational value, alongside more than 180 Invited Talks from world-renowned experts representing prestigious institutions worldwide.

Abstract submissions close 20 March 2026.

More information

International Symposium on Cosmology & Particle Astrophysics 2026 and 13th Australasian Conference on General Relativity & Gravitation (5 Jul 2026)

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

International Symposium on Cosmology & Particle Astrophysics 2026 and 13th Australasian Conference on General Relativity & Gravitation

Join us for a stimulating conference in beautiful Christchurch, New Zealand.

The International Symposium on Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (CosPA2026) and the 13th Australasian Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (ACGRG13) will be held jointly, bringing together two complementary scientific communities. CosPA2026 is part of an annual conference series organized in the Asia-Pacific region under the Asia Pacific Organization of Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (APCosPA), while ACGRG13, convened by the Australasian Society for General Relativity and Gravitation, is a biennial forum for regional researchers in all areas gravitational physics from mathematical relativity to experimental gravitational wave detection.

Together, these meetings aim to unite theorists, experimentalists, and observers working across gravitation, particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, and astroparticle physics. Participants will engage in discussions on the latest observations, theoretical developments, and emerging directions in these intersecting fields.

More Information

Key areas of focus include:

Classical and Quantum Theories of Gravity
Cosmology
Radio Astronomy
Gravitational Waves
Dark Matter
Neutrino Physics
Relativistic Astrophysics
Mathematical and Numerical Relativity

Invited Speakers include

Nicole Bell (U Melbourne)
Krzysztof Bolejko (U Tasmania)
Torsten Bringmann (U Oslo)
Richard Easther (U Auckland)‡
Roy Kerr (U Canterbury)*
Jun Luo (Sun Yat-sen U)
Jiwoo Nam (National Taiwan U)
Kenny Ng (Chinese U of Hong Kong)
Jade Powell (Swinburne U)
Misao Sasaki (Tokyo U)
Volker Schlue (U Melbourne)
Seon-Hee Seo (Fermilab)
Arman Shafieloo (KASI)
Hirotaka Takahashi (Tokyo City U)
Bin Wang (Yangzhou U & Shanghai Jiao Tong U)

AMSI Winter School (6 Jul 2026)

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Applications are now open for the AMSI Winter School 2026

Applications are now open for AMSI Winter School 2026 on Geometric Analysis, AMSI’s flagship two-week national research training program. The 2026 School marks the 20th edition of Winter School and will be hosted by The University of Queensland from 6–17 July 2026.

This year’s program provides a scaffolded introduction to Geometric Analysis, exploring the intersection of differential geometry, global analysis, differential equations, and mathematical physics. Participants will engage with leading national and international experts through lectures, tutorials, participant talks and networking activities.

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Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australia Conference (6 Jul 2026)

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

In a time when higher education is evolving faster than ever, this year’s theme – Re-envisioning Higher Education for Tomorrow’s Learners – invites educators, leaders, and policymakers to come together to explore, question, and reimagine the future of learning. Through critical reflection on current teaching practices and bold exploration of innovative pedagogies, we’ll shape a path forward that meets the needs of a rapidly changing world.

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INTER-NOISE 2026 (9 Aug 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

On behalf of the Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) and the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering (I-INCE), we are pleased to invite you to Adelaide, South Australia, for the 55th INTER-NOISE Congress, to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 9–12 August 2026.

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The theme for the Congress, “From the outback to the ocean,” reflects the breadth of topics to be covered — from core issues in noise and vibration control to applications and challenges that are characteristic of remote areas. The program will feature oral and poster presentations, keynote and plenary addresses by leading researchers, and provide ample opportunity for thoughtful discussion with peers, catching up with friends and meeting new people.

ICPS2026 – The 37th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (16 Aug 2026)

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

The 37th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from August 16–21, 2026.

We warmly encourage you to contribute your latest research results and to participate in this premier international conference on semiconductor physics. Information on the abstract submission is indicated below.

More Information

Conference home page:
https://icps2026.jp

Abstract submission site:
https://icps2026.jp/abstract-submission/

Abstract Submission Deadline:
March 15, 2026, 23:59 PDT (UTC−07:00)

Submission Guidelines, Templates, and Submission Portal:
https://icps2026.jp/abstract-submission/

Particle Physics and Cosmology 2026 (PPC 2026) (31 Aug 2026)

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The XIX International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology (PPC2026)/4th Gordon Godfrey Workshop on Astroparticle Physics took place on 31 August - 4 September 2026 at The University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, hosted by the Sydney Consortium for Particle Physics and Cosmology. It will bring together a wide range of theorists and experimentalists to discuss current ideas on models of the dark sector of the Universe and to relate them to ongoing and future experiments.

The meeting will feature invited plenary talks covering topics of recent interest, as well as a number of parallel sessions to provide an opportunity for junior scientists to present their work.

See https://indico.global/event/15267/ for further details and to register.

Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (1 Sep 2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

2026 ACSME theme: Innovating Teaching to Equip Impact-Driven Graduates

How do we redesign curricula, assessments and partnerships so graduates are ready to create measurable benefit? Which teaching innovations cultivate the mindsets, skills and ethical compass needed to turn insight into impact?

As we move through a period defined by disruption and possibility, we will examine our responsibilities as STEM educators, to our students, our communities and the planet. What evidence shows these approaches work, and for whom? How might we scale what matters, phase out what does not, and build inclusive, authentic learning that connects classrooms with real-world change?

We look forward to testing ideas, sharing practice and charting pathways that equip graduates to tackle the challenges that matter most at ACSME 2026.

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ARPS 2026 Annual Conference (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The Australasian Radiation Protection Society warmly invites you to attend the 2026 Annual Conference, taking place from Sunday 20 to Thursday 24 September 2026 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Since its establishment in 1975, ARPS has evolved into a respected professional association representing more than 250 specialists committed to promoting best practice in the management and safe application of both ionising and non-ionising radiation. Our members contribute across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, research, industry, and mining.

The 2026 conference theme, “From Rutherford to Tomorrow: Kaitiakitanga in Radiation Protection”, recognises the foundations of our discipline while embracing the responsibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. It highlights stewardship, innovation, and the shared obligation to protect people and the environment as the field continues to advance.

We invite you to join us in Christchurch for what promises to be an outstanding conference experience. Register early to secure your place and be part of ARPS 2026. Please visit: https://arpsconference.com.au/registration/

21st Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs (9 Nov 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

From the Standard Model of particle physics to concordance cosmology, many of the most compelling ideas about how the universe works now point toward a rich and elusive dark sector. The 21st Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, hosted by The University of Western Australia at its Crawley campus on the banks of the Swan River in Perth, will be held from 9–13 November 2026, and will gather leading experts and emerging researchers to probe this frontier.

Workshop website

Continuing a distinguished series that began at CERN in 2005, the workshop will focus on innovative theoretical developments, laboratory and astrophysical searches for dark matter and dark energy, and state-of-the-art efforts to uncover new weakly interacting particles and constrain their properties. This edition will highlight the growing Australian and Asia–Pacific contributions to dark sector physics, drawing on UWA’s strong ecosystem in precision measurement, quantum technologies and astroparticle physics.

The workshop will delve into the physics of axions, WIMPs and WISPs in all their facets: direct and indirect detection strategies, novel detector concepts and readout schemes, astrophysical and cosmological probes, and the latest theoretical frameworks that knit these approaches together. By bringing together diverse communities, from quantum sensing and precision metrology to gravitational waves, cosmology and particle theory, the Patras Workshop in Perth aims to spark new ideas, forge fresh collaborations and accelerate progress toward unveiling the dark sector.

Information on previous workshops can be found here.