Upcoming Events
Visit this page to stay in-touch with what's coming up of interest to Physics and ISS alumni. Also check out School of Physics News & Events and the Alumni News and Alumni Updates on the News page.
Professor Harry Messel International Science School 2011
The Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) 2011 – Light & Matter was held in the University of Sydney's School of Physics over a two-week period from 3-16 July 2011.
The ISS is a free, biennial science educational program that honours excellence in talented Year 11 and 12 students and encourages them to pursue careers in science. Around 145 ISS scholars attend from over all Australia, China, Japan, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, UK and the USA.
Since 2005 five places for Indigenous Science Scholars have been awarded to encourage Indigenous Australian students in their interest in science. In 2011 eight Indigenous Science Scholars participated in the ISS. Read more about their experience in Sydney Alumni Magazine (SAM) November 2011
The theme of Light & Matter showcased the pioneering work being carried out in physics, chemistry, biology and engineering. Sir John Pendry, the invisibility and cloaking pioneering scientist will be a keynote lecturer at this ISS. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM, our Julius Sumner Miller Fellow and media personality is also an ISS guest speaker. (As a veteran of the ISS and renowned science communicator, Dr Karl is also one of the most popular!)
The ISS offers a unique opportunity for senior secondary school students to meet scientists working in diverse areas not only from within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney but from all over the world.
All ISS scholars are chosen on their academic ability and, depending on their country, must compete for an ISS scholarship through either essay writing, an interview or sitting an exam. In the USA the ISS is awarded as a prize in the National Science Bowl run by the US Department of Energy.
ISS scholars live on campus for their two-week stay in the Women's College and for many it is an opportunity to visit Sydney for the first time, as well as to meet like-minded peers from different countries and cultures.
The ISS program reflects the different themes of each ISS and comprises lectures, hands on experiments and challenges as well as social activities.The Science Foundation for Physics within the School of Physics funds the ISS.
Applications for the ISS2013 will be available from the Science Foundation for Physics website from January 2013. Please note the Foundation DOES NOT select the ISS Scholars. For more information contact
Graduate Connections Breakfasts
The Graduate Connections Breakfasts are an on-going series of presentations by distinguished university alumni - for university alumni.
Want more information?
For information about upcoming events for Physics and ISS alumni, email:
Tel: +61 2 9036 5194 Fax: +61 2 9351 7726.
For information about University alumni events, see the Alumni Events Calendar.