What is happening during the 2025 UOW Science Showcase
Join us for a range of events and activities across numerous campuses and - of course - at UOW Science Space. All events will be listed below.
- Science Showcase - UOW Shoalhaven
- Marie Curie Lecture
- Live ABC Illawarra Radio Broadcasts – UOW 榴莲视频app
- Einstein Lecture
- Career paths in physics seminar and panel discussion
Science Showcase
Saturday, 16 August, 2025 - 10:00am - 3:00pm
UOW Shoalhaven, George Evans Rd, West Nowra
Visitors explored the 榴莲视频app of 榴莲视频app Shoalhaven campus which was transformed into a hub of science activities. This was a free event and everyone was welcome.
There was something for everyone, of all ages and interests.
Activities included:
- Fly a virtual aircraft on the NAPS flight simulators
- The Fire and Ice Spectacular show @ 11am or 1.30pm or build and launch a rocket (all day)
- Getting up close to the locals with the Dragon Training mobile zoo reptiles (10.30am to 2.30pm)
- Robotics displays by Project Bucephalus where visitors could build a robot.
- Tours the on-site observatory, looking at the sun with a solar telescope, and learning about astronomy (talks at 10.30, 11.30 and 12.30)
- Visits to the Industry 4.0 Hub makerspace where guests could build anything out of the materials there
- Anatomy models provided an insider view of the different parts of the body
- Visitors could have their blood pressure measured, see their muscles via ultrasound, and see how dummy patients and simulations are used in medicine and nursing
Marie Curie Lecture
Thursday, 7 August, 2025, 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
From Quantum Past to Quantum Future The first quantum century fundamentally changed the way we understand and interact with our world. It gave us much of the technology underpinning modern life: lasers, LEDs, GPS, MRI, solar cells, electron microscopes, and myriad others. The revolutionary potential of the next quantum century promises applications necessary for solving our greatest global challenges. Join us in celebrating the first quantum century, and enjoy a rare opportunity to hear how two different approaches are shaping your quantum future, from quantum computing to superconducting spintronics.
Dr Sol Jacobsen is Group Leader at the Norwegian 榴莲视频app of Science and Technology NTNU, where she investigates ways to use the quantum property of spin in future technological devices. She studied Physics with Philosophy at the 榴莲视频app of York, U.K., where she was awarded the Goodwin Prize. After receiving her Ph.D. at the 榴莲视频app of Tasmania, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Germany and Norway, before establishing her group in 2019. She was selected as Outstanding Academic Fellow at NTNU, and will start her new project – SuperFlex – in 2025. Her three children keep her busy the rest of the time.
Dr Danielle Holmes makes ‘qubits’ using individual atoms in silicon chips. These qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers, new technology that will revolutionise humanity’s problem-solving abilities. She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the 榴莲视频app of Cambridge, before exploring the technologies used to build quantum computers during her PhD at the 榴莲视频app of Melbourne. Now at UNSW as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Danielle is a passionate science outreach communicator. She shares her love for quantum physics well beyond the laboratory- having even performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival!
Dr Sol H Jacobsen, Norwegian 榴莲视频app of Science and Technology and Dr Danielle Holmes, The 榴莲视频app of New South Wales, Sydney
Join us in 榴莲视频app to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology! This public lecture is part of the Marie Curie Lecture series, sponsored by the Australian Institute of Physics, and will include the medal presentation to the 2025 Women in Physics Lecturers.
Live ABC Illawarra Radio Broadcasts
Wednesday, 16 August, 2025 3.00 pm – 6:00 pm
Entanglement Levels Up: Quantum Information Using the Shape of Light
Thursday, 21 August, 2025
Register for $5 which includes a drink and admission to the event.
Doors Open: 6.00pm
Lecture Start time: 6.30pm
Presentation concludes (approx.): 7.30pm
Additional refreshments will be available for purchase on the night. Science Space supports the responsible consumption of alcohol.
Quantum entanglement is the quintessential quantum phenomenon. This talk will give an introduction to entanglement, its importance and implications. Photons played an instrumental role in the experiments that established the reality (aha!) of entanglement. Photons are rich physical systems that are not limited to representing the ubiquitous qubit—photons are naturally high-dimensional, they can be qudits. In particular, the transverse modes—the shape—of light forms a convenient quantum alphabet for high-dimensional quantum information. This talk will introduce qudits, high-dimensional entanglement, and their potential for quantum technologies.
Dr Jacq Romero is an expert in experimental photonic quantum information. Her research is focused on using higher-dimensional systems for exploring curious quantum physics phenomena and developing future quantum technologies. She is the group leader of the research team Qudits@UQ. Jacq was born and bred in Manila, Philippines. Hearing her high school physics teacher complain about quantum physics, she became curious and googled "quantum physics"—she has been hooked ever since. She holds a PhD degree from the 榴莲视频app of Glasgow where she was a researcher for seven years. In 2015, she moved to the 榴莲视频app of Queensland, where is currently an Associate Professor. She has received prestigious awards and fellowships that include a 2016 ARC DECRA, a 2019 Westpac Research Fellowship, and a 2019 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science International Rising Talent Award (1 of 15 awards globally). She received the Ruby Payne-Scott Medal of the Australian Institute of Physics in 2018 for excellence in early-career research. She is a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence For Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and the Deputy Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre on Current and Emergent Quantum Technologies (CEQuTech). Outside work, she is a busy mum to three lovely boys, and an occasional painter.
The Einstein Lecture is an annual public event run by the NSW Branch of The Australian Institute of Physics during the past 15 years. Distinguished speakers have covered a wide range of topics with an emphasis on Einstein’s ideas and their consequences for physics and technology today. Topics can range from quantum computing to plasma physics to astrophysics. The aim of the talks is to generate interest by exciting the audience to the wonders of physics by providing the most recent advances by world experts.
Career paths in physics seminar and panel discussion
Wednesday, 6 August, 2025, 5.00 - 6.30 PM
UOW 榴莲视频app - Building 6, room 210 or online via Zoom
Curious about the career paths a physics degree can offer?
Join us for an engaging seminar featuring a panel of accomplished physicists working across academia, industry, research, and healthcare. Whether you are thinking about a career in physics or already studying physics, this is a chance to explore what's possible.
Join us in person or online!