ILW15 Brochure Physics & Astronomy
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Table of Contents Table of Contents The Big ILW Physics Lecture Zero to Jam Consulting with Physics Talking of Physics Research... Demystifying Big Data Key Basics for LaTeX Workshop Week-long activities The Critical Angle Project Events organised independently of Schools Displays and Floor Shows in the Level 3 Foyer “Beauty through Failure Collective” Thursday pm: Do it at home – Physics experiments!!! Events offered by the School of Mathematics Consulting with Physics 1 https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13163 Consulting with Physics 2 https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13167 Demystifying Big Data http://edin.ac/1B1RC7O Key Basics for LaTeX https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13179 Talking of Physics Research https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13172 zERO TO jAM https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13161 zERO TO jAM https://www.events.ed.ac.uk/index.cfm?event=book&scheduleID=13170 THE BIG ILW PHYSICS LECTURE https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/5518305400/
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Introduction Innovative Learning Week 2015, 16 - 20 February. This brochure lists the events offered by the School of Physics & Astronomy. Unless otherwise stated, our events are open to all undergraduate students across the University of Edinburgh, regardless of School. The ​ Big ILW Physics Lecture on the Thursday evening is a public lecture open to all students, staff and members of the public. It is free to attend but will be ticketed via Eventbrite. Booking will be available from early January 2015. Other events will be bookable via the Events Booking system in MyEd. Booking will be opened in Week 3 of Semester 2 or thereabouts. Please only book if you really plan to attend. Most physics events happen at the end of ILW. If you have time to spare at the start of the week you might also want to look at the amazing events in the Maths programme (listed on the last two pages of this brochure). Many thanks to Maths for sharing. There will be no lectures, workshops, tutorials or labs during Innovative Learning Week. This is the final version of the programme and is available in print as well as online.
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The Big ILW Physics Lecture Dark Matter: Strands of Discovery. a showcase of the research going on here at Edinburgh related to the discovery of dark matter. Thursday 19 Feb 2015, JCMB-LTA Facilitator: Alex Murphy This year we offer another thrilling, informative insight into research here at the School of Physics & Astronomy, Edinburgh. In the 2015 presentation of our popular and much anticipated lecture series, Professor Alex Murphy, FRAS, FinstP will lead with direct searches for dark matter deep underground. Dr Ami Choi will take us into the stars and galaxies to learn about weak lensing studies before Dr Flavia Dias brings us back to Earth to look at accelerator based searches at LHC. This is an open lecture. We welcome members of the public and the staff and students of the University. The lecture will be preceded by refreshments including wine and nibbles. Refreshments at 16:30, Lecture starts 18:00. Expected to finish at 19:30.
Booking for this event is via Eventbrite. https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/5518305400/
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Zero to Jam An innovative music event
Wednesday 18 Feb 2015 14:00 to 17:00 JCMB-5215 Thursday 19 Feb 2015 14:00 to 17:00 JCMB-5215 Facilitators: Flaviu Cipcigan, Matt Giannotti, Ben Tyson Limit: 12 participants Booking: bit.ly/zerotojam Explore the learning process, cultivate your leadership and expand your group mind through musical games. 12 students will go from little musical knowledge to jamming as a proto-orchestra. This event explores the innovative learning part of IWL. We’ll focus on how we learn rather than what to learn, and we’ll do that through music. The only prerequisites are an open mind and an unfulfilled desire to play music! In Day 1, we’ll explore rhythm as a foundation to musicianship and get everyone tuned into their group mind. Day 2 focuses on groove, exploring how to listen and contribute to creating a tune.
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Consulting with Physics University research groups offer innovation and consultancy to companies. Come and learn about this aspect of research life not usually seen by undergraduates. Thursday 19 Feb 2015: (part 1) 10.00-11.30 and (part 2) 15.00-16.00 in JCMB-4325C Facilitators: Job Thijssen, Tiffany Wood and Alex Lips New this year, we’re pleased to present a fascinating insight into consultancy, one of the less well known aspects of life as a researcher. There are two related sessions, weaving in and out of other presentations on physics research careers on the unmissable Research Thursday. The School offers everything from simple quality control through to full consultancy on troubleshooting and innovation. Researchers meet the client either in the School, e.g. to demonstrate relevant equipment, or on site to understand fully the client’s requirements before proposing a bespoke programme of laboratory experiments and theoretical modelling. Led by Job Thijssen (Chancellor's Fellow), Tiffany Wood (Edinburgh Complex Fluids Partnership) and Prof. Alex Lips, the morning session will provide an introductory talk and some case studies which you will work on in groups, taking the part of consultants to devise a work proposal and preparing presentations delivered to mock industrialists.
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Talking of Physics Research... Researchers in physics & astronomy at Edinburgh Thursday 19 February 2015, 12:00 - 13:30 in JCMB-LTC Facilitator: Karon McBride What do physicists and astronomers do when not lecturing students? What inspired them to choose their research area? What kind of questions do they think about? Where do they do their experiments? What activities fill their days at work? Is their area of research worth going into now?
In this fast and furious event, academics and researchers from the School of Physics & Astronomy tell us what it is, exactly, they do all day. They each have ten minutes to talk (no slides) followed by five minutes questions from the floor. Always interesting, often funny, sometimes inspiring. Thinking of doing a PhD in physics or astronomy here at Edinburgh? This is the ILW event for you. Booking not required. 7
Demystifying Big Data What’s Big Data all about and what impact will there be on university research? Friday 20 Feb 2015 13:30 - 16:30 JCMB 4325A. Facilitator: Adam Carter, EPCC
What is “Big Data”? What is “Data Science”? What are the connections between the ways that Big Data is being used commercially, and here at the University in research? This event will bring speakers from different parts of the University and from companies who are working with Big Data including RBS and SkyScanner. There will be a brief introduction provided by Adam Carter from EPCC and then we will invite the speakers to explain what they think Big Data is, and what is new and interesting about it. We'll also compare Big Data to Data Science and explain how these relate to each other. There will be a drinks reception after the event, and an opportunity afterwards to discuss what we're all doing with our data. To attend, please register (free) at: http://edin.ac/1B1RC7O All students and staff are welcome. 8
Key Basics for LaTeX Workshop In this workshop you will learn the basics to get you started using the document preparation system, LaTeX
Monday 16 February 2015, 14.00 - 16.30 in JCMB-CP_Lab Facilitator: Will Hossack Join this workshop to learn the basics of LaTeX. LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system; it includes features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation. LaTeX is the de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents. ● Introductory Presentation ● Short break for refreshments and doughnuts ● Practical Session with the opportunity to ask questions Ground floor CP Lab JCMB. Open to ALL students MUST have Physics CP lab access/login
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Week-long activities RAL Road Trip Junior Honours only 4 days at RAL Sadly we cannot run the RAL Roadtrip in ILW this year because the RAL beam is having some down time.
The Critical Angle Project First Year only Producing a magazine and videocast(s) Facilitator: Karon McBride
Events organised independently of Schools Funded by the University These are available for booking now via MyEd Events. (Hint: filter for the provider ‘Innovative Learning Week’) The Art and Craft of Problem Solving
16/02/2015@11:00-14:00 James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) Meteorology field trip: Mountain meteorology?
16/02/2015@13:00-17:00 Holyrood Park Road entrance to Pollock Halls (Book NOW! <20 places left) EUMO (Edinburgh University Mathematical Olympiad)
18/02/2015@11:00-15:00 James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB)
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Displays and Floor Shows in the Level 3 Foyer “Beauty through Failure Collective” - because science doesn't always go right first time Facilitator: Anna Mackie Thursday pm: Do it at home – Physics experiments!!! Simple experiments – Great Physics! Facilitator: Konstantina Zerva
Events offered by the School of Mathematics Monday - 10:30-12:30 CSI: Maths How can mathematics and image processing can help us catch criminals? Separate fact from fiction in this workshop delivered by Y4 students. JCMB 3211 - 18:00-19:00 Matt Parker: Stand-up mathematician Award-winning comedian and mathematician Matt Parker is in Edinburgh for one night only to give an amazing lecture. Don't miss it! Appleton Tower, LT5 with reception afterwards Tuesday - 10:00-17:00 LEGO calculator challenge How would you build a calculator from Lego? Learn the history behind this basic machine whilst having fun and challenging your creative and practical skills! Informatics Forum, G.07 - 14:00-15:30 Mathematical Walking Tour of Edinburgh A fun and exciting new way to find out more about how maths is entwined with our city through a walking tour. Meeting location will be directly outside McEwan Hall
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Wednesday - 10:00-12:00 Mathematical Maker Faire: Origami Exploring mathematical origami through polyhedra and captivating curves. No equipment or mathematical ability needed - only curiosity! For a sneak peek google “bauhaus origami”. JCMB 5215 - 12:00-14:00 Lunchtime puzzles Feast your brain on a variety of mathematical puzzles, games and toys in our lunchtime drop-in session. All welcome! JCMB Level 3 Café area - 13:00-17:00 Rubik's Cube workshop Learn how to solve the Rubik’s cube with the help of World champions! Intended for both novices and those with some experience of solving twisty puzzles. JCMB 3217 - 16:30-20:30 Bitesize meets Science Bake-off Science baking competition followed by a MathSoc Bitesize event (mini-lectures given by students) and a cheese & wine reception JCMB Level 3 + LTA Thursday - 10:00-12:00 Mathematical Maker Faire: Jewellery Making Create mesmerizing jewellery inspired by ideas from geometry and topology! Hands-on exploration of Platonic Solids, Moebius Strips, Borromean Rings. All materials provided, no experience necessary. JCMB 5215
Friday - 10:00-12:00 Mathematical Maker Faire: String Art Discover the beauty of mathematics in a hands-on workshop with string. Create your own art and collaborate towards an amazing exhibit. No mathematical ability necessary. JCMB 5215
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