Australian Institute of Physics - SA branch

Minutes of the meeting held at 6pm on Wednesday 25th August
in room 201, Physics Building at the University of Adelaide.

Present: Campbell, Veitch, Quinton, and Drake.

Visitor: Shaun Manning.

Apologies: Brunger, Shiell, Samardzic, Cockshell and Bouwknegt.

Minutes of Last Meeting: Approved without corrections.

Business arising from the minutes:
  - Public Schools Club:
      Veitch reported that he had organised submissions on this by 
      the deadline of July 19th from himself, John Carver, Harry Medlin,
      Angus Hurst, John Jenkin and Rod Crewther. The meeting of the
      assessment panel is in September.
  - Oliphant Awards:
      Veitch said we have sponsored this at $250. Last Saturday he
      went and selected the person for the prize and is to tell 
      SASTA. He asked if anyone wants to go to the presentation on
      Friday 10th Sept. at the AMF in Conyingham St. at 7:45-9pm. We
      need to send a certificate and Veitch is to ask Blankleider
      to produce it.

Chairs' report (by Veitch):
  - There was a good turnout for the Christine Charles talk, with 
    interesting questions. One supper platter was fine. The event
    went down well.
  - The WIP talk was very good, with a lot of positive comment. It
    was good that the year-12 students were invited. (Campbell
    noted that any advertising by National Science Week had not
    produced much effect.)
  - We have been asked to support David Ridout by paying
    for registration at an AMS conference in Victoria. (Quinton noted
    that the Victorian branch has increased its student scholarships
    to $250, with no provisos. Campbell pointed out that David Ridout
    has never been listed as an SA member by the national branch, who
    have him on a "spouse" membership, and that as his partner is now
    in the Victorian branch, it is not appropriate to treat him as
    a South Australian member. Hence the grant was not supported.)
  - The travel grant should be renamed a conference
    grant (allowing registration as an expense), but retaining the 
    rule that the student must be making a presentation. (There was
    concensus for this.)
  - There has been discussion with the National Secretary about Michael
    Bromley's presentation. The arrangement is that the meeting should
    be set up when it is convenient for both Bromley and the branch,
    and then the President will come to make the presentation if 
    possible. We have been given permission to pay for expenses. We
    will probably make the award for John Prescott at the same time.
    (Campbell said that he had just sent an email to Bromley which
    indirectly asked about when he would be available and undertook
    to copy this email to Drake, who is now to take the lead on this 
    matter. The preferred date was then decided to be any Wednesday 
    (except Oct. 6th) either before September 15th or in mid-October 
    or early November.)
  - The joint meeting with the ASSA will be on October 6th at 8pm in
    the Kerr Grant. Campbell is to coordinate with the ASSA about
    supper.
  - The Quiz had been well attended, with 18 tables, 107 students and 
    no ringing around, mostly by private schools, with St. Peter's 
    winning again. There needs to be some quality control on the 
    marking, maybe a double check on the leading table. (Quinton 
    asked about the organisation of the Quiz. Campbell noted that 
    Quinton could present a round of questions and so advertise his 
    courses.) 
  - As there is only two weeks before the next holidays, the Careers
    night must be delayed until after the mid-semestre break.

Tabled documents: None.

Treasurer's report:
  - Quinton said that a lot of expenses have come in recently. He
    reported that the current balance is $9546.09, with recent
    cheques accounted for, as shown in documents circulated to 
    committee members before the meeting. 
  - Drake suggested that $250 was not much for students to attend
    conferences. Campbell suggested that the amount is intended as
    an addition to other sources, and that the AIP cannot afford to
    offset the reduction in funds available from University 
    departments.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: Science Policy committee:
    Campbell noted that the national branch has published a
"Science Policy" in the most recent "Physicist".

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
    Shaun Manning described an initiative that he is undertaking 
together with Wade Shiell for the International Year of Physics.
This is to give a presentation which introduces students at 
primary schools to Physics. An aim is to explain how Physics is
different to Science in general. It is expected that teachers will
want to do it, with this year's International Year of Rice being 
an example. A non-compulsory charge of $2 is proposed to cover
expenses. The Education department will advertise it by fax to
all schools.
     The content should be impressive, with no detail, leading
to a general discussion of what Physics and Physicists do. It is
proposed to concentrate on electromagnetism and lasers. Examples
are propelling a conducting ring and low-temperature Physics.
     Veitch noted that schools will not mix upper and lower age
groups and asked what is being sought. Manning said that they want
to do it for the AIP and to advertise the AIP. The $2 is for 
running costs. He said that Shiell is an amateur actor and so is
to present the show, while Manning is to handle PR and video shows.
     Veitch indicated that we need to be assured of how the
material is presented, requiring a dry run from Shiell. Manning said 
that they would like a female co-presenter and Shiell is using his 
SPACED contacts to look for one, although an alternative is to hire 
an actor. He noted that it has to fit in with Honours work. They
are thinking of a 40-minute show, once a week, with a half-hour of
travel time. There is some bulky equipment and so a transport issue.
Campbell suggested that there are also safety issues with liquid
nitrogen and lasers.
     Manning noted that the show would go over the heads of most
students. The aim is to target upper primary, but interest the
younger members visually.
     Veitch suggested that the education subcommittee would be
interested. He proposed that the presentation be roughed out to
get some feedback. Quinton and Drake suggested some particular
demonstrations. Quinton suggested leaning towards mechanics, as
the students have an intuitive feeling for it. Veitch, Drake
and Quinton all agreed to support the initiative. Veitch stressed
the need to target it very well.
     Quinton suggested surveying what is Physics, rather than
limiting to electromagnetism and lasers. Veitch suggested hooking
up to the next education subcommittee meeting. Quinton said that
he is happy to interact, but has a time problem.
     The issue of having the show at Uni. was suggested, as it is
easier for transportation and allows more equipment to be used.
Manning said that teachers prefer that they go to the schools,
so Veitch suggested sticking with this.

     It was decided to hold the AGM at the Public Schools' Club.
There is a need to choose a speaker.

DATE of NEXT MEETING: This was set for 6pm on Wednesday 
                      September 29th. 2004.

                 The meeting finished at about 19:10

                                   Laurence Campbell, 31-8-04