School of Physics & Astronomy

Welcome to the School of Physics & Astronomy


We run a popular undergraduate physics programme. We pride ourselves on being a centre that is internationally recognised for the quality of teaching and research. We hope that you will enjoy learning a little more about us through this site.

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Professor Clare Burrage wins prestigious award

The School is delighted to announce that Professor Clare Burrage has been awarded a prestigious Physical Sciences and Engineering Laureate award from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences. The award recognizes Clare's work on dark energy in the Universe, one of the biggest challenges in contemporary science.

Find out more about Clare and the work she's won the award for

 

Nottingham physicist wins prestigious award

Professor Matthew Brookes has been recognised for his revolutionary work in brain imaging, with a Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate award from the the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences.

 
 

Congratulations to the School's Five 2022 Institute of Physics Medal and Prize Winners

Dr Elena Boto, Dr Niall Holmes and Dr Ryan Hill: the Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize for “the design, fabrication, demonstration and commercialisation of a new wearable brain imaging technology, based on optically pumped magnetometers, that is capable of characterising human brain function with unprecedented accuracy.”

Dr Elena Boto, Prof. Matt Brookes, Dr Niall Holmes, Prof. Richard Bowtell and Dr Ryan Hill together with their colleagues David Woolger, Eliot Dawson and Rosemary Pardington at Cerca Magnetics who receive a 2022 Business Innovation Award for “bringing to market the world’s first wearable magnetoencephalography scanner. The device measures human brain function in health and disease, providing unprecedented accuracy and unparalleled practicality.”

Further details of the awards are available on The Institute of Physics 2022 award web page.

Research Excellence Framework 2021

The Research Excellence Framework (REF), assesses all subjects in all universities across the UK, based on submissions describing their research and the wider societal impact that it has had. 

The School of Physics and Astronomy maintains a strong position in the upper quartile of the Physics Unit of Assessment, with an increase from REF2014 in the percentage of both ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world-leading’ outputs, with more than a doubling of the percentage assessed as ‘world-leading’. The impact case studies submitted had an increase in those rated as ‘outstanding’ and the research environment also recognised being at least ‘internationally excellent’, with an increase to 75% ‘world-leading’ compared to REF2014. 

In addition to being delighted that our research and the associated societal impact has been recognized in this way, we take pride in the close link that we make between the research and the teaching that we undertake at all levels, from outreach activities in schools to the advanced research projects that our undergraduates carry out as part of their courses. Indeed, one of the “impact case studies” that we included as a key part of our submission for REF2021 described the work we have undertaken explaining physics research on the Sixty Symbols YouTube channel.

We are delighted to announce that staff in the School of Physics & Astronomy, led by Professor Richard Bowtell have been awarded £29.1 million to establish the UK’s most powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner as a national facility.

Physics BlogKeep up-to-date with what's happening around the School with this new blog written by our staff and students.

Physics Foundation ProgrammeHave you decided you would like to study physics but don't think you have the right qualifications? Check out our Foundation Programme.

 

 

Events

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Undergraduate students are welcome to attend all seminars.

Latest News

Art and science join forces for Space inspired events in Lewisham

Description
In a collaboration led by School astrophysicist, artist, and curator Dr Ulrike Kuchner, and artist and curator Nicola Rae, seven teams of artists and scientists have been brought together to create an exhibition and school workshops in Lewisham. Black holes, space travel and life on other planets are among the themes for exciting artistic exhibits being featured as part of a unique project to bring the science of space to life.
Date:
09/02/2023

Prof Clare Burrage wins prestigious award

Description
The School is delighted to announce that Prof Clare Burrage has been awarded a prestigious Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate award from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences. The award recognizes Clare's work on dark energy in the Universe, one of the biggest challenges in contemporary science.
Date:
18/01/2023

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School of Physics and Astronomy

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD

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