The School of Physics comprises of a strong and dynamic group of researchers working across a wide range of disciplines including quantum physics, nanoscience, astronomy and space physics, condensed matter physics and medical physics.
We undertake internationally recognised research addressing fundamental questions about the Universe, including the nature of dark matter, as well as developing innovative technologies in materials science and quantum computing.
Our research is supported by advanced laboratories, world-class observatories, supercomputing resources, and strong collaborations with national and international partners, with a focus on using innovative methods to explore phenomena from the quantum scale to the cosmological.
Our scientists lead pioneering research across astrophysics and space science, from the Sun and solar system to the most distant galaxies. We investigate exoplanets, stars, black holes, supernovae, transient sources, the interstellar medium, and the dynamic Galactic Centre. Our work also spans the Sun’s heliosphere, space weather, and Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere. Combining computational astrophysics with innovative instrument design, we develop cutting-edge technology for the world’s largest telescopes and create transformative solutions for astronomy and industry.
Key researchers: Professor Tim Bedding, Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Associate Professor Helen Johnston, Professor Tara Murphy, Professor Peter Tuthill.
Stars are the building blocks of the universe. We use state-of-the-art techniques to study stars and their planetary systems. This includes high-resolution imaging which allows to study details on the finest possible scales, and radio astronomy, which allows us to probe magnetic activity on stars.
The most critical events in the stellar life cycle are so remote that extremes of magnification are required to witness the key action. Another technique is asteroseismology, the study of oscillations in stars, which probes their interiors in exquisite detail. We use data from NASA’s Kepler and TESS missions to measure tiny changes in stellar brightness, which allow to measure their internal properties, and to infer the properties of their planets.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Professor Julia Bryant, Professor Scott Croom Professor Elaine Sadler.
Astronomers are leading major international projects to better understand how galaxies form and evolve. Galaxies are complex ecosystems of stars, gas, dark matter and central super-massive black holes that often play a key role in their evolution. In using new technology to build 3-dimensional pictures of galaxies with both radio and optical telescopes. The SAMI and Hector Galaxy Surveys use instruments developed at Sydney to measure spatially resolved optical spectroscopy of thousands of galaxies and examine their rich diversity.
The ASKAP radio telescope allows us to break new ground in studying neutral hydrogen in distant galaxies. Hydrogen is the raw material from which new stars can form within galaxies. Linking our radio measurements to optical studies and theoretical simulations will provide new tests of current galaxy evolution models.
Key researchers: Professor Geraint Lewis
The question of how the universe has evolved over cosmic time is one of the most fundamental in astronomy. We know that it has been moulded by gravity, written within Einstein’s general theory of relativity, but the complex physics of gas, stars and magnetic fields means that making predictions from our theories is not straightforward.
Astronomers undertake detailed computer simulations of the growth and evolution of comic structure, following the collapse of gas and dark matter from the smooth universe after the Big Bang to the wealth of galaxies we see around us today. These simulations present a huge data-challenge and supercomputer techniques are needed to unpick the details and reveal the structure.
Key researchers: Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn and Professor Geraint Lewis.
Australian astronomers are world leaders in the field of Galactic archaeology. The ages, chemistry and motions of stars across the Galaxy can be used to unravel how it first formed and evolved over billions of years. We use the GALAH spectroscopic survey to measure precise radial velocities and abundances of 30 elements for a million stars, and the Southern Stellar Stream Spectroscopic Survey (S5) that is mapping tidal streams within the Galactic Halo. A major strength is building dynamical models of the Galaxy using both analytic functions, cosmological and N-body simulations.
Key researchers: Professor Don Melrose and Professor Michael Wheatland.
Solar astrophysics are areas related to solar activity, which is dynamic behaviour in the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the solar corona) caused by the evolution of intense local magnetic fields. The most dramatic examples of solar activity are solar flares, which involve the explosive release of magnetic energy on time scales of minutes. Flares and related coronal mass ejections directly affect the Earth because they can produce dangerous local space weather conditions.
Recent work includes modelling the magnetic field in the corona for active regions which produce large flares, to understand how the magnetic field changes during the flare, and devising a new measure of magnetic helicity – a quantity that represents the linkage of magnetic fields, and is approximately conserved in magnetic energy release.
Key researchers: Professor Celine Boehm and Professor Geraint Lewis.
Astroparticle physics is where the world of the microscopic, that of fundamental particles and fields, meets the large-scale universe. Our astronomers and physicists are exploring this complex interface by examining the impact of particle physics on the evolution of the universe, pushing the boundaries of our theoretical understanding of how dark matter interacts with normal atoms.
The physics of the “dark-sector” is being included in large-scale simulations of the growth and evolution of galaxies and structure in the universe, tracing how the interactions and decay of dark matter can inject energy into gas spread between the stars, revealing just what the next generation of ground and space telescopes will reveal about the dark universe.
Research groups
Key researchers: Dr Manisha Caleb, Dr Anita Hafner, Professor Tara Murphy, Professor Elaine Sadler.
Transients are astronomical objects that appear and disappear or change rapidly; they are our window to some of the most extreme processes in the Universe. Transient events can occur when black holes form, causing supernovae and gamma-ray bursts; when stars collide with black holes; or when hot, magnetised planets interact with their host stars.
There are also a multitude of mysterious transients of unknown origin, like fast radio bursts. Radio astronomy is undergoing a revolution in the discovery and study of transients. We lead projects on cutting-edge telescopes such as the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) which allows us to see the dynamic radio sky in ways that were not previously possible.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn and Professor Sergio Leon-Saval.
A key element of astrophotonics is the integration of technologies into high performance and precision instruments used for astronomy. The research focuses on two main instrumentation techniques: spectroscopy and interferometry. A major research area is the development of unique optical fibres such as Fibre Bragg Grating and Hexabundle.
Another prominent aspect of photonics is devices that provide fine control of light and its different properties as astronomy requires the careful detection of photons to elaborate and validate complex astrophysical models. Examples are laser combs, scramblers and 3D lanterns.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Marcela Bilek, Professor Iver Cairns, Professor David R McKenzie, Professor Michael Wheatland.
Space physics explores the Sun, Earth’s upper atmosphere, and the solar system’s interaction with the interstellar medium. Plasma physics underpins this field, as most matter in the solar system and universe exists as plasma—atoms partially or fully ionised, strongly influenced by electromagnetic forces.
Our research combines observations, theory, and simulations of plasma waves, radio emissions, shocks, particle energisation, and plasma structures, both in space and laboratory plasmas. We study space weather impacts on Earth and human technology, using spacecraft data from NASA, ESA, and our own University of Sydney / CUAVA / Waratah Seed / Australian missions, alongside lab experiments. We also develop and commercialise satellite technologies and services.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Iver Cairns and Professor Peter Tuthill.
Space industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy, with the Australian space sector expected to double by 2030 and to triple by 2040. Dominated by the “downstream” sector, corresponding to the uses of spacecraft data and services in the broader economy, research into satellite technology and the uses of space data are crucial. These open both the “science of space:” and the use of space for societal benefit.
The school has been at the forefront of Australian satellite development and space from 2011. Starting from the high-altitude balloon flight of the tubesat i-INSPIRE in 2013, our joint Usydney-UNSW-ANU CubeSat INSPIRE-2 reached space in 2017 as part of the EU 50-CubeSat project QB50, becoming only the third Australian-built satellite to work in space.
Research groups
We are dedicated to multidisciplinary research that combines physics, biology and engineering. We use fundamental physics to solve challenging medical issues. Our work in Medical Physics is particularly focussed on medical imaging, radiotherapy and radiation safety for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease.
Key researchers: Professor David R McKenzie
Renewable energy is becoming a large part of Australia's energy mix and relies on physical principles to create new materials with properties closely aligned to harvesting and storing energy while managing carbon dioxide emissions. Our laboratory is widely known for developing carbon materials such as the world first discovery of the material known as "amorphous diamond". We are using plasma physics to create and modify new materials and devices for solar energy capture in the built environment and in space, for hydrogen production and the capture of carbon dioxide emissions by plasmas.
Key researchers: Professor David R McKenzie and Associate Professor Shelley Wickham.
Synergy in medicine occurs when a combination of two treatments leads to an outcome better than expected based on the independent actions of each treatment acting alone. This area of research concentrates on the development of mathematical and statistical methods for finding, measuring and validating synergies. We define oxidative stress as the presence of reactive oxygen species at levels challenging the ability of an organism or cell to survive. We are researching the use of oxidative stress as a means of treating cancer cells using laboratory studies of spheroid tumour models in vitro.
The development and testing of plasma treatments in 3D selective laser sintered (3D printed) poly ether ketone bone and tissue scaffolds for biomimetic integration with living tissues. The aim is to develop long term replacements for metal scaffolds and patient harvested bone.
Key researchers: Professor Annette Haworth and Professor Zdenka Kuncic.
The Medical Physics research we conduct is dedicated to connecting members of the Medical Physics community through education, research and professional development. Together, our mission is to improve the lives of our patients through imaging and radiation therapy, employing cutting-edge techniques and technology to provide innovative solutions.
Our team of physicists, computer scientists, doctors, surgeons and pathologists who working together to devise radiation therapy treatments incorporating quantitative biologically features derived from multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and PET. We use these imaging data and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to define the spatial distribution of tumour characteristics to inform biological (mathematical) models for the purpose of customised radiation therapy treatment planning.
Research groups
Complex systems—from bird flocks and social networks to neural circuits and deep learning models—show how simple interactions can produce rich, emergent behaviour.
We develop new theories, models, and statistical methods to uncover the principles behind these systems, drawing on statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics, and data science. Our interdisciplinary work spans applications such as understanding brain information processing, how deep networks learn, the purpose of sleep, and how information spreads through social networks.
Key researchers: Associate Professor Tristram Alexander, Associate Professor Ben Fulcher, Professor Pulin Gong, Professor Zdenka Kuncic, Dr Wave Ngampruetikorn, Associate Professor Sveta Postnova.
Throughout history, physicists have advanced our ability to make sense of the intricate patterns we find in the world around us. In this theme, we aim to understand these patterns in space and time, and the structure and dynamics of the complex systems that produce them.
We do so by modelling the physical principles that govern these systems and developing novel statistical methods to accurately quantify their behaviour using techniques from data science, physical modelling, and statistical mechanics. Specific areas include the interplay between structure and observed dynamics in networks and complex time-varying systems, the inference of mesoscale structure in networks, clustering in high-dimensional systems, information flow on complex networks, and the inference of time-reversibility, nonlinearity, and non-stationarity in complex dynamical systems.
Key researchers: Associate Professor Ben Fulcher, Professor Pulin Gong, Associate Professor Sveta Postnova.
The brain is one of the most fascinating complex systems, made up of a web of complex interacting components that have evolved to exhibit an incredible ability to learn and make sense of the world around us. Our research aims to uncover the physical principles underlying the powerful neural computations that support core functions such as sleep, learning, attention, and memory. Circadian clocks orchestrate virtually all aspects of brain dynamics, ensuring that the complex physiological and cognitive functions operate optimally within a precise daily rhythm. Our research investigates how circadian rhythms are regulated and how the disruption of these rhythms—known as circadian misalignment (e.g., shiftwork and jetlag)—affects cognitive performance and health.
Research group
Key researchers: Professor Pulin Gong, Professor Zdenka Kuncic, Dr. Wave Ngampruetikorn.
We study learning and intelligence through the lens of physics, asking how complex systems—like brains or deep neural networks—extract patterns from data, and what fundamental principles govern that process. We view artificial intelligence not just as an engineering challenge, but as a new frontier for physics. Our work combines statistical physics with information theory and learning theory, treating deep networks as physical systems that can exhibit phase transitions, collectively process information, and the spontaneous emergence of novel strategies.
By studying these systems as we would physical matter, we can uncover general principles that explain when learning is possible, why it sometimes fails, and how it can be made more robust. Our goal is to develop theory of learning that makes artificial intelligence more interpretable and enables the creation of powerful new AI models while connecting it to the broader study of complex physical systems.
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics explores the fundamental physical principles governing condensed matter and materials, with applications spanning sustainable energy and advanced materials. Our research combines theory, computation, and experiment to uncover and control novel phenomena in complex systems, often at the nanoscale. From understanding emergent novel behaviours to designing materials with tailored properties, we contribute to both foundational science and next-generation technologies.
Key researchers: Professor Catherine Stampfl
We seek to acquire a detailed understanding of condensed matter to design complex materials for use in high-technology applications such as catalysts with greater selectivity and efficiency and new electronic devices. Our focus is on ab initio investigations of materials and surface science phenomena. First-principles electronic structure calculations are used in conjunction with high-performance computing to probe chemical reactions at interfaces and explore the energetics, atomic, electronic, and magnetic properties of polyatomic systems.
Key researchers: Professor Catherine Stampfl and Professor Rongkun Zheng.
We investigate and engineer materials with novel electronic, magnetic, and structural properties for applications in energy, electronics, and quantum technologies. Using first-principles modelling, Professor Cathy Stampfl explores the atomic-scale mechanisms that govern material behaviour, including surfaces, defects, and catalytic activity. Professor Rongkun Zheng’s research focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of functional materials, including superconductors, magnetic oxides, and low-dimensional systems. Together, their work advances the fundamental understanding and practical development of next-generation materials.
Key researchers: Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, Professor Catherine Stampfl, Professor Rongkun Zheng.
We develop and study perovskite materials for next-generation optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, transistors, and photodetectors. Our research spans fundamental materials design, advanced characterisation, and device engineering, aiming to enhance efficiency, stability, and scalability. By integrating perovskites with novel architectures and hybrid systems, we explore their potential in sustainable energy and high-performance optoelectronics.
Perovskite materials research aims to integrate materials and devices at the nanoscale for clean solar energy generation and includes research into Solar cell materials, single and multi-junction devices including design, fabrication, characterisation, device modelling.
Research groups
We aim to answer fundamental questions about the nature of the Universe that we live in. By studying the Universe at all distance scales, from the very small, the world of subatomic particles, to the very large, the large-scale structure of the Universe today, we seek a deeper understanding of what the basic building blocks and forces governing the Universe are; what dark matter is; how the Universe evolved over time; and the nature of gravity within unified description of quantum mechanics and relativity.
Key researchers: Professor Celine Boehm, Dr Theresa Fruth, Professor Archil Kobakhidze, Dr Laura Manenti, Dr Ciaran O’Hare, Professor Kevin Varvell, Associate Professor Bruce Yabsley.
We conduct experimental work to search for new subatomic particles and forces of nature, as well as to gain a better understanding of the ones that we already know about. We are members of large international collaborations both at collider facilities employing the highest energy and intensity beams that humans can build, and at laboratories deep underground studying particles that arrive at the Earth from the cosmos.
Some of our work involves developing novel detector technologies to improve our ability to study subatomic particles. Alongside our experimental work, we conduct theoretical work aimed at interpreting the results of experiment and at developing a deeper theory to describe the subatomic world at a fundamental level.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Celine Boehm, Dr Theresa Fruth, Professor Archil Kobakhidze ,Dr Laura Manenti, Dr Ciaran O’Hare, Professor Kevin Varvell, Associate Professor Bruce Yabsley.
We study one of the most pressing questions in fundamental physics: what is the dark matter that pervades the Universe? Is it particle-like or wave-like, and can we detect it? We attempt to directly search for particle-like dark matter through current and planned experiments, both in Australia and overseas, that involve detectors deep underground to catch naturally occurring dark matter, or alternatively by creating and detecting dark-matter at particle colliders. If on the other hand dark matter is very light it would exhibit collective, wave-like behaviour. We are investigating this interesting class of dark matter theories, which includes particles such as axions and dark photons, and are thinking of ways to test them using both astronomical data and laboratory experiments.
Research group
Key researchers: Professor Celine Boehm, Professor Archil Kobakhidze, Dr Ciaran O’Hare.
We study the physics that governs the very early Universe before the formation of the first atomic nuclei. Events in the first instants after the Big Bang have governed the evolution of the Universe from that epoch to the present day. Some of this is not yet understood: for example, we do not know where all the dark matter in the Universe came from, and we do not know why there is almost no antimatter present today.
We are investigating the implications of the complex (but still hypothetical) physical processes that could have occurred at early times and considering how we might test these ideas using upcoming cosmological data. Gravity dominates the present-day Universe and has been key in its evolution, and we know that the Universe contains black holes that we would like to understand better.
Key researchers: Professor Archil Kobakhidze
The foundational pillar of theoretical particle physics is unified description of quantum mechanics and relativity, upon which modern theories of fundamental interactions the Standard Model and general Relativity is based. These theories are however incomplete as indicated by experimental findings, as well as theoretical considerations and consistency criteria. We strive to uncover new particles and interactions based on mathematical rigorous extensions of current fundamental theories.
Optical and photonics instrument science and research are crucial to advances in modern astronomy. This burgeoning field, now formally recognized by the international photonics community, has emerged over the past decade in response to the increasing demands of astronomical instrumentation.
Key researchers: Dr John Bartholomew and Dr Sahan Mahmoodian.
Our research probes the quantum interactions between light, electronics, and atoms embedded in crystals. Understanding and engineering these interactions at the atomic scale promotes innovative technologies for connecting and exploiting quantum systems for developing platforms for robust optical storage of quantum information, multi-system compatibility and versatile on-chip architectures. Further, develops and uses theoretical and numerical methods to understand and exploit quantum optics systems composed of many atoms to answer fundamental physics questions in quantum optics using our understanding in this area to help build new quantum technologies.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Simon Fleming, Professor Boris Kuhlmey, Professor Maryanne Large, Associate Professor Stefano Palomba, Dr Mohammad Rafat, Professor Martijn de Sterke.
We are interested in nanophotonics, topological materials, quantum photonics, non-Hermitian physics, and thermal photonics. We engage in both theoretical and experimental studies. Our research finds applications in integrated devices, sustainable energy, and information processing. Our work contributes to advancing several research areas, including plasmonics, nonlinear photonics, and optogenetics. We also investigate how light interacts with structured materials across a broad range of scales, from nanoscale photonic architectures such as metamaterials to macroscopic fibrous textiles. Our work bridges fundamental theory and applied experimental research.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor Benjamin Eggleton and Dr Moritz Merklein
Based in the Sydney Nanoscience Hub and the School of Physics, our researchers drive fundamental and applied breakthroughs across optical physics, photonic sciences, and optoelectronics. Purpose‑built, state‑of‑the‑art laboratories and class‑100 clean‑room facilities give us every technological advantage for nanofabrication and rapid prototyping.
We are integral to the Institute of Photonics and Optical Science, the NSW Smart Sensing Network, and the Sydney Nano Institute, generating collaborative momentum across disciplines. Through the Jericho Smart Sensing Laboratory, we translate discoveries into mission‑ready sensing platforms. From quantum‑scale devices to disruptive integrated systems, we push light’s boundaries to solve real‑world challenges, benefiting industry and society.
Research groups
Key researchers: Associate Professor Tristram Alexander, Professor Boris Kuhlmey, Professor Martijn de Sterke.
We carry out experimental and theoretical research on optical solitons, which retain their shape upon propagation by balancing the effects of nonlinearity and dispersion. While the dispersion has traditionally been quadratic, so the group velocity depends linearly on frequency, our unique experimental setup lets us program in any type of dispersion.
This includes, for example, quartic dispersion, whereby the group velocity depends on the third power of the frequency, as well as fractional dispersion. While our research is firmly in physics, we collaborate closely with colleagues from mathematics, which allow us to work on a variety of challenging projects that are of interest to wide range of researchers.
Key researchers: Professor Simon Fleming and Professor Maryanne Large
We pioneered Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibre (MPOF). The fabrication techniques we use allow us to make and study structures that would be very had to make in silica. We explore a wide range of material properties of polymers that can incorporate material additives such as dyes and metal inclusions. We used this approach very successfully to make a range of novel metamaterials, and biomedical devices, by drawing exotic elastic polymers and hybrid polymer metal structures.
Furthermore, our researchers modify the properties of silicate glasses to provide them with enhanced nonlinearity that can be used to realise novel devices with important functionality. The approach involves poling of silicates glasses and silica fibres and through the application of intense electric fields together with either intense laser irradiation or heat.
Key researchers: Professor Boris Kuhlmey, Dr Sahand Mahmoodian, Professor Martijn de Sterke.
Terahertz waves, at frequencies between microwaves and infrared, offer promising possibilities but remain experimentally challenging. In close collaboration with CSIRO (Dr Alessandro Tuniz) we explore several aspect of THz physics, in particular time-variable THz devices and metamaterials for non-reciprocal physics (in collaboration with the Institute Fresnel, France) and in quantum THz (with the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris).
Single-photon single-electron quantum coupling at THz frequencies could allow quantum gates to operate at temperatures of a few Kelvin rather than millikelvins, with considerably cheaper and scalable cryogenic requirements enabling large scale quantum computing. Our terahertz physics lab builds on a time domain spectroscopy and cryogenic setup to work towards demonstrating quantum effects at THz frequencies, concentrating on resonator design and characterization.
Our theoretical research addresses major questions in quantum science. In Quantum Information Theory, we investigate how complex behaviour arises from simple quantum systems, whether phenomena like Bell nonlocality reflect an underlying physical reality, and how quantum properties (such as error-correcting codes) can be harnessed to enable technologies like quantum computers.
Key researchers: Professor Michael Biercuk, Dr Ting Rei Tan, Dr Robert Wolf.
Quantum control and simulation research is the intersection of control engineering with experimental quantum information, quantum sensing, and precision metrology. It focuses on the development of quantum technologies based on trapped atomic ions and specialised high-precision microwave and laser systems taking research on quantum control out of the laboratory and developing commercial software and hardware to make quantum technology useful.
Research groups
Key researchers: Professor David Reilly
This applied research questions the nexus of quantum technology and nanoscale systems and devices. A central theme of our research involves the interface between quantum devices and complex control hardware need to pass information between the quantum and classical domains. Examples include custom VLSI CMOS circuits that operate below 100 milli-kelvin for controlling quantum systems at scale and novel approaches to improve the efficiency and performance of readout transceivers for scalable quantum technologies. A closely related area of interest is the manipulation of spin-states in nanoparticles for new imaging modalities of interest in medicine.
Research group
Key researchers: Professor Stephen Bartlett, Professor Andrew Doherty, and Dr Dominic Williamson.
What unique properties of quantum mechanics give quantum computers their power? How do we scale up the physics that governs atoms to the size of a mainframe? Our theory team is led by Professor Stephen Bartlett, Professor Andrew Doherty, and Dr Dominic Williamson. Our research interests range from understanding the fundamental differences between classical and quantum information processing to designing the best quantum architectures for tomorrow’s supercomputers.
Research groups
Key researchers: Dr Xanthe Croot
The excitations of superconducting circuits are used to explore fundamental physics and build hardware for high-performance quantum technologies. The design, fabrication and measurement of superconducting circuits with excitations create interactions that optimise quantum information processing for coherent interfaces between superconductors and other quantum platforms (e.g. semiconductors) to develop hybrid quantum technologies.
Research groups
Research in sustainability is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and practical applications that address environmental and broader sustainability challenges. By integrating expertise from environmental science, economics, technology, and social science the research works on developing scientifically rigorous, quantitative, and comprehensive approaches to sustainability analysis. Their work supports evidence-based decision-making and policy development, aiming to foster a more sustainable and resilient future.
Key researchers: Professor Manfred Lenzen and Associate Professor Arunima Malik.
Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM), with a particular strength in coupling IAMs with Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) frameworks. This novel integration enables detailed analysis of global supply chains, resource use, and emissions. This work increasingly explores post-growth IAM applications, focusing on equitable well-being, degrowth pathways, and planetary boundaries, challenging conventional growth-based assumptions and expanding the scope of sustainability policy analysis.
Research groups
Key researchers: Dr Mengyu Li
Environmental and social footprinting spans across supply chains, applying advanced input-output methods to sectors including tourism, biodiversity, water security, food systems, public health, disaster resilience, biomaterials, energy technologies, textiles, and material and nutrient flows such as phosphorus and nitrogen. This research supports SDG monitoring, Planetary Boundaries assessment, international leakage analysis, outsourcing, and scope-3 emissions accounting. To enable robust footprint and life-cycle assessments, ISA runs the IELab, a large-scale collaborative research platform, and maintains the GLORIA database for UNEP, providing global MRIO data for environmental-economic modelling and policy evaluation.
Key researchers: Dr Yinyan Liu
This innovative research on low- and zero-carbon power grids, focuses on the integration of renewable energy with electric vehicles, dedicated biomass, stationary storage, and demand-side management. Their modelling explores how smart EV charging and load-shifting can reduce infrastructure costs and improve grid stability, particularly in scenarios with high renewable penetration. Also investigated is the role of dispatchable biomass and energy storage solutions, such as batteries and pumped hydro, in balancing variable supply. These insights are especially valuable for remote and island systems aiming for energy independence, resilience, and sustainable decarbonization pathways.
Key researchers: Associate Professor Arunima Malik and Dr Fabian Sack.
Employing quantitative and qualitative approaches with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models (LLMs), and predictive modelling, interview-based approaches, their work focusses on broad areas of health (e.g. disease), clean energy uptake, food and water sector, and critical minerals-nature interface. In partnership with corporations and global networks, their research unravels barries and challenges in integrating sustainability principles into practice. These perspectives inform climate, nature, and justice frameworks for institutions navigating complex ecological and societal transitions.
Research in physics education is dedicated to engaging people with physics, and physics teaching and learning. Projects focus on university teaching and learning including emerging technologies, school curriculum including teacher professional learning, innovations in pedagogy as well as science communications and outreach.
Key researchers: Associate Professor Tristram Alexander, Dr Daniel Schumayer, Professor Manjula Sharma.
Australia, similarly, to many (most English-speaking) countries, faces a shortage of qualified physics teachers, and often non-specialists' teachers may be required to teach physics. We investigate the efficacy and efficiency of interventions in professional learning that supports Australian secondary school teachers to deliver Physics with confidence, conceptual depth, and relevance to modern science.
Physics plays a vital role in primary science curriculum through topics such as motion, energy and electricity in primary schools. With the focus on STEM education, opportunities can be created for innovative teaching and learning of physics in primary schools.
Research groups
Key researchers: Dr Mohammad Rafat and Dr Daniel Schumayer
The explosive spread of generative AI tools already had an impact on tertiary education and it is expected to affect how sciences are taught in the future. We are investigating the effectiveness of this technology, how it may enhance or suppress some valuable skills of students, and how AI can be a collaborative partner. As AI tools evolve, associated ethical and integrity issues as well as policies and practices are key components of this research.
Innovative use of emerging technologies has been at the forefront of physics education in the School of Physics. Computational physics was pioneered in the school, as were multimedia for science communication and videos for flexible learning. This area continues the exploration of cutting-edge educational technologies in physics education.
