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Latest news and events
New State-of-the-Art Laboratories shortlisted for a National Award
March 2012
The School of Physical Sciences newly refurbished Teaching Laboratories have been shortlisted in the Safe, Successful, Sustainable Laboratories Awards (S-Lab)
Science teaching to excel in new-look labs
December 2011
New £2.5m laboratories will help ensure that the University of Kent continues to excel in science teaching.
The new School of Physical Sciences laboratories, in the Ingram Building on the University's Canterbury campus, were officially opened by the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia M Goodfellow.
Student Finance Day
November 2011
Monday 14 November 2011 has been declared National Student Finance Day, a day dedicated to explaining the 2012 changes to student finance in England which will affect students who enter higher education from 2012.
The aim of the campaign is to ensure potential students, their families and educators understand how the new student finance scheme operates in order that they will be better informed about the true cost of going to university and the financial support available.
Forensic Science Society Accreditation
November 2011
The Forensic Science Society has just accredited the new MSci programmes in Forensic Science and Forensic Chemistry as well as reaccrediting our BSc Forensic degrees.
£150 Royal Society of Chemistry Prize Awarded to Reeya Oogarah
November 2011
Third-year Forensic Chemistry student Reeya Oogarah was nominated by SPS for the 2011 Analytical Prize in Chemistry for her outstanding overall performance in module CH506, Chemical Identification Techniques, in her second year.
Cannabis expert to present 'Cannabis Forensics - Soft Drugs and Hard Crimes'
October 2011
Dr David Potter from GW Pharmaceuticals will give a talk entitled ‘Cannabis Forensics - Soft Drugs and Hard Crimes’ at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus on Thursday 13 October, 6-8pm.
New State-of-the-Art Laboratories
September 2011
The School of Physical Sciences is undergoing a major £2.5 million refurbishment of our teaching wing to include new laboratories and equipment.
Space School 2011
August 2011
In August this year the School of Physical Sciences once again ran two weekends of Space School. Space School, which has been running at the University of Kent since 2001, provides an intensive two day experience aimed at introducing 11 - 18 year olds to the many different fields of space activity such as rocket propulsion and principles, astronomical observing and life in space.
Make it Work!
July 2011
The School of Physical Sciences was recently involved in the ‘Make it Work’ project at Simon Langton Girls Grammar School. The event is designed to provide a test for the students’ transferable skills.
Bicycle -Powered Disco
July 2011
The South East Physics network (SEPnet) brought its hands-on physics experience to the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus in July.
Young Scientists Rise to the Challenge
June 2011
150 year eight and year nine pupils from 12 schools in the wider Kent area participated in the Kent Science & Technology Challenge Day at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus on 27 June.
SPS Final Year Students - £1,000 Scholarship Available
June 2011
£1,000 scholarship available to University of Kent 2011 honours degree graduates who register for a postgarduate degree in SPS by 1st October 2011.
Dr.Solomson and Dr.Gibson take E-fit to Ghana
May 2011
Dr Chris Solomon and Dr Stuart Gibson recently travelled to Ghana to deliver training to the Ghana Police Service in the use of the facial identification software EFIT-V developed by SPS spin-out company Visionmetric.
Giant Radio Telescope Produces First Images
April 2011
A new UK telescope has taken radio pictures deep into space for the first time in the quest to discover more about the birth of stars and galaxies just after the Big Bang. The largest telescope in the world has revealed images of a quasar (a black hole in a distant galaxy) with unprecedented resolution. The images of the 3C196 quasar were taken by the International Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) Telescope, a network of radio telescopes designed to study the sky at the lowest radio frequencies accessible from the surface of the Earth.
MSc in Communication and Society on the UniBus
March 2011
A poster derived from research being conducted with Professor Bob Newport of the Functional Materials Research Group in the School of Physical Sciences will be displayed on one or more UniBuses from mid-March.
LightTAG Launched at BFI London
February 2011
An exhibition of 'light graffiti' created by disadvantaged youths from across the South East has gone on display at London's BFI.
Leverhulme Artist in Residence Appointed: Science and Humanities to Attempt Embrace
January 2011
The Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science is delighted to announce acceptance of a grant from the Leverhulme Trust enabling Dr Duncan MacKay to be writer and artist in residence for 2011.
SEPnet Work Experience Placement
December 2010
Third-year MPhys student, Alex Nicholas, shares his experience of his summer SEPnet placement at the University of Surrey.
Links with Japan
November 2010
Three lecturers from the School visited the Japan institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) in Kanazawa.
Open Day
Event: 9th October 2010
The School of Physical Sciences will be open for both prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of the University Open Day on 9th October. A number of current students and academic staff members will be available to answer course queries and we will be offering tours of the laboratories as well as some subject talks and demonstrations. The Open Day starts at 9am and finishes at 4pm. Visitors to SPS are encouraged to attend at 10am to ensure that they do not miss any talks or demonstrations which will take place in the morning. For further deails about the Open Day, including a programme, please see the main university website or call 01227 827272
Work Experience Summer 2010
September 2010
This summer SPS Technical Services played host to 10 work experience students who helped out in the physics, chemistry and forensics teaching laboratories. The physics students tested the existing foundation year experiments providing feedback on the lab-scripts and also helped develop new practicals.
Kent Student Forensic Science Society Meetings
Event: September 2010
A number of meetings will be held in the new term for Forensic Science Society members.
Kent's First European Research Council Award
July 2010
Professor Adrian Podoleanu has been awarded 2 million Euros as Kent wins its first prestigious European Research Council Award.
Young Festival-Goers Enjoy Cryogenics Display
July 2010
Staff from the School brought science to life for young festival-goers at 'Lounge on the Farm' in Canterbury. Over 150 children participated in a fun, hands-on series of science workshops which were part of the festival's 'little lounge.' They included fingerprinting activities and a Cool Physics Cryogenics Display for children between the ages of five and thirteen.
Celebration of a Career in Science
June 2010
A one-day symposium in celebration of the career of Professor Alan Chadwick, who retired in the autumn of last year, was held at Canterbury Cathedral in late June.
Rocket Day
June 2010
On Friday 25th June, the SPS Outreach team went to Bexley Grammar School for a rocket day. This involved students building their own chemical rockets in groups using cardboard tubes, bin bags, string, card and glue.
Music Prize Awarded to Physics Student
June 2010
Final-year Physics student, Madeleine Harris was recently awarded the Canterbury Festival Music Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to music-making at the University. During her time at Kent, Madeleine received a University Music Scholarship and a Music Lesson Scholarship to study clarinet with Ian Swatman. She put her skills to use in acting as both Secretary and Social Sceretary to the University Music Society and participated in a variety of musical events across campus including playing clarinet in the University Symphony Orchestra, the University Concert Band and the Clarinet Quartet as well as regularly participating in recitrals for lunchtime concerts and the Eliot Soiree.
SEPnet's New Conferencing Facilities
June 2010
Scientists from all over the South East recently shared their research and news through the new video-conferencing facilities provided by SEPnet.
Scientists Survey the Galactic Plane
June 2010
The largest ever systematic and unbiased survey for jets and outflows from young stars using molecular hydrogen emission lines started last year and the first results are being obtained.
STFC Appointment for Professor Newport
June 2010
Prof. Bob Newport, a member of the School's Functional Materials Group, has been appointed to the chair of the Physical & Life Sciences Committee of the UK's Science & Technology Research Council.
Introduction to General Relativity
June 2010
Dr. Lewis Ryder's new textbook, Introduction to General Relativity has now been published. The student-friendly book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and first-year postgraduate students in physics and mathematics.
Physics and Astronomy at Kent - in the top 20 according to the Times
May 2010
In addition to a ranking in the top 20 in the Times Good University Guide 2011, Physics at Kent came 1st in the UK for student satisfaction.
New Executive Director for SEPnet announces first regional conference - 17 May 2010
Event: 17th May 2010
Structure and Dynamics in The Solid State
Event: 25th June 2010
A one-day symposium, organised by the School of Physical Sciences to celebrate the Career of Professor Alan Chadwick
SPS Student Nominated for Space 'Oscar'
April 2010
Current PhD Student Ryan Laird was recently shortlisted for a Sir Arthur Clarke Award.
These national awards provide recognition for those who have worked for the advancement of space exploration. During their five-year history, they have become known as the space equivalent of 'The Oscars'.
SPS Academics Take E-Fit to South Africa
April 2010
The South African Police Service recently replaced their E-Fit software (American Identikit 2000) with the system developed by Dr Chris Solomon and his team through the SPS Forensic Imaging Group (Vision Metric’s E-Fit and E-Fit-V).
Dr Stephen Lowry Wins a Major Allocation of Observatory Time
April 2010
Dr Stephen Lowry recently put forward a proposal to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for a major allocation of observatory time.
Scientists Expand the Potential Uses for Glass Through a Study into How Atoms Vibrate
April 2010
Scientists from the School’s Functional Materials Group have expanded the potential uses of glass by developing an experimental technique that reveals more clearly how atoms in glass vibrate.
World Class Science at ISIS by Dr. Donna Arnold
Recent work by Dr Donna Arnold on Bismuth Ferrite (BiFeO3) has been considered to represent some of the world-class science conducted at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility in Oxford and was included in the science highlights section of their annual report (2009).
Faculty of Sciences Teaching Prize for Prof Newport
April 2010
The Faculty of Sciences Teaching Prize for this academic year has been awarded to Professor Bob Newport for his work in engaging non-traditional students on the Foundation Year Physics programme.