GWiP lunchtime talk with Professor Gail McConnell
(she/her)
University of Strathclyde
3rd of April 2024
Optical mesoscopy with the Mesolens
The microscope has existed for centuries, but it is still one of the most widely used technologies in biology. My work involves developing new types of microscope that gives new insights into life. I will talk about the new types of microscope we are building, and I will show examples of how we are applying them to understand human health.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Kali Wilson
(she/her)
University of Strathclyde
20th of March 2024
Quantum fish: collective behaviour in superfluids
Quantum particles exhibit collective behaviour, analogous to flocks of birds or schools of fish. Schools of “quantum fish” result in useful bulk properties such as superconductivity and superfluidity. I will introduce the ultracold atom experiment under development in my lab at the University of Strathclyde and discuss how studies of vortex dynamics in this system may expand our understanding of collective quantum behaviour from micron-sized clouds of ultracold atoms all the way to the cosmological scale of hot and dense neutron stars. I will also talk about some of my experiences along the way as a queer women in physics.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Cat McAllister
(she/her)
University of Glasgow
28th of February 2024
What makes a Physicist?
A discussion of physics education and changing identity over the course of one PhD.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Siyuan Yan
(she/they)
University of Glasgow
24th of January 2024
The universe and me: a shared sense of metastability
The struggle is real, whether you are a particle physicist balancing your academic curiosity and daily obstacles, or an entire universe tip-toeing along the balance of our current electroweak vacuum. I will share my tales as a PhD student and an early career researcher, and the reason why I found the universe to be, oddly, so relatable.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Giulia Marcucci
(she/her)
University of Glasgow
6th of December 2023
Riding the Wave of Green Change: Advancing Wave-Based Reservoir Computing for Sustainable AI
Wave-based reservoir computing offers efficient and sustainable AI hardware, leveraging diverse systems with distinct input-output characteristics. The challenge lies in refining nonlinearity and randomness with a robust foundational framework. In this presentation, I'll discuss recent advances in photonic reservoir computing and my exploration of wave propagation's role in learning. Key takeaways: the importance of balancing technological progress with ecological responsibility, my specific contributions, and strategies for optimizing wave-based reservoir computing for a smarter, greener world.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Harriet Watson
(she/her)
University of Glasgow
17th of October 2023
Aiming for absolutely average
Who do you look up to? Why? As I enter the final year of my PhD in experimental particle physics, I have been reflecting on my role models during my studies and how they have both helped and, at times, hindered my progress. Viewed through the lens my own experience, I’ll discuss factors that affect our sense of belonging in physics and how I’ve settled on aiming for absolutely average.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Rosaria Lena
(she/her)
University of Glasgow
28th of September 2023
A journey from quantum physics to astronomy and teaching innovations
Dr Lena explores her journey from quantum physics to her current role as lecturer in the Astronomy & Physics Education group.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Jill Borland
(she/her)
University of Glasgow
3rd of August 2023
Exploring the Role of an Administrator
Have you ever wondered what the Research Admin Team do? In any successful institution, there are many roles which are “behind the scenes”, but which are vital to keep the cogs turning smoothly. Jill will give an overview of her role(s) within P&A and how she contributes to supporting PGR Students and research staff.
Jill has made the slides of her presentation available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): Exploring the role of an administrator
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Sam Skipsey
(he/they)
University of Glasgow
5th of June 2023
Decolonising Physics
The University of Glasgow is committed to "decolonising the curriculum" - but what does this actually mean, in general, and for Physics in particular?
And is it reasonable to speak merely about decolonising "the curriculum"?
Sam has made the slides of his presentation available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): DecolonisingPhysics
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Claire Cisowski
she/her)
University of Glasgow
9th May 2023
Road to topological optics: it is all about twists and knots
Pursuing a career in topological optics is far from being a trivial path! I will show how topology affects optical systems and how I came to love this disciplin. I will also talk about the challenges I faced during my early career to pursue this line of research.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Marion Cromb
(they/them)
University of Southampton
24th April 2023
Beyond the Binary: Uniting physics and life
I will draw some (potentially very tortured) metaphors between being a queer non-binary person and the mystery that motivates me to do physics. The mystery that our two best theories, quantum mechanics and general relativity, are incompatible, and we don't yet know properly how they interact, or what theory will supersede both of them. I will give an overview of the experiments I do to try and combine them, and also talk how being queer and non-binary shapes my life and how it feels like an experimental research project in itself sometimes!
Marion has made the slides of their presentation available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): BeyondBinary
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Áine O'Brien
(she/her)
SUERC, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
27th March 2023
Mars, Meteors, Meteorites, and Asteroid Missions
What can meteorites tell us about the potential of current/past life in the solar system? How do we detect and collect meteorites when they fall? I'll give an overview of my work analysing organic compounds in martian meteorites an the Winchcombe meteorite, and work with the UK Fireball Alliance to recover meteorites in the UK.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Sophie Renner
(she/her)
Lecturer in Particle Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
9th March 2023
Ups and downs (and charms and stranges) in my life as a particle physicist
JEDI lunchtime talk with Dr Dwayne Spiteri
(he/him)
ScotGrid, ATLAS Experiment
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
20th February 2023
Outreach and Visibility: Being the change you want to see.
Institutions are built on the people that operate within and run them, but generally outlive those involved in its processes. This means that institutions can be very slow to change, especially in short spaces of time. The larger the scope of the institution, the more important true diversity and visibility are at all levels of any organisation. This is especially salient when it has societal impact, as normal operation can see institutions unknowingly perpetuate bad behaviours that alienate changing demographics. As one of the only black people in the UK who has a doctorate in Particle Physics, I’ve seen this first hand. However it’s not all doom and gloom, and if we are to move on from the mistakes from the past, we should strive to help enact lasting positive change. I hope to show that anyone can do this by showing you the outreach journey I went through throughout my academic career this far.
JEDI lunchtime talk with Dr Jay Howarth
(he/him)
Royal Society University Research Fellow
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
26th January 2023
Adventures with Tops and Bottoms at CERN
Ever wondered what it's like to be LGBTQ+ at CERN? Interested in the IOPs work on Equality Diversity and Inclusion? Just want to hear about some cutting edge particle physics? Jay'll talk all about each!
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Sarah Croke
(she/her)
Senior Lecturer, Quantum Theory Group
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
10th January 2023
If I knew then what I know now: stumbling through a career as a theoretical physicist
Sarah never planned to become a theoretical physicist, or an academic, but somehow by following what seemed interesting at the time that's what happened. She'll talk about how she ended up where she is now, and challenges along the way, with a personal perspective on some of the issues that affect women in particular in academia.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Dr Fiona Speirits
(she/her)
Lecturer, Quantum Theory Group
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
1st December 2022
Staying the Course: a Random Walk from GRBs to OAM
A whistle-stop tour through some of the interesting research projects Fiona has been involved in during her unconventional experience in Academia.
JEDI lunchtime talk with Claire Neilan
(she/they)
Lab technician
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
9th November 2022
Disabled Enough
A look at the experience of working and studying with invisible disabilities.
Claire has made the slides of her presentation available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): Disabled enough- Living with invisible disabilities.
GWiP lunchtime talk with Prof Sonja Franke Arnold
(she/her)
Professor in Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
12th October 2022
Three children- one chair
The majority of researchers in academia will have children, but traditional gender norms place different expectations on mothers than on fathers. Sonja will give a personal account on what worked and what didn’t, underpinned by selected data/research on parenthood in academia.
Sonja has made the slides of her presentation available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): ThreeChildrenOneChair