People
The School of Physical Sciences is home to some of the brightest minds in science.
We have more than 350 people spread across teaching, research and professional activities; titleholders and visitors; and a large cohort of higher degree research students.
We are one of four schools in the Faculty of Sciences. The school office is located in the Physics building at the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace campus.
- Head of School - Professor Chris Sumby
- Head of Department (Chemistry) - Professor Tak Kee
- Head of Department (Earth Sciences) - Associate Professor Rosalind King
- Head of Department (Physics) - Associate Professor Andrew MacKinnon
Departments
Department of Chemistry
Chemistry is the broadest of the applied sciences. We are involved in teaching and international research focussing on chemistry in all its forms. This includes understanding how to develop new processes and chemicals including plastics, fuels and pharmaceuticals.
The chemistry major is the study of all the disciplines required to contribute to areas such as manufacturing, medicine and environmental science and can complement other areas such as biochemistry, biotechnology and biophysics.
At the forefront of innovative chemistry education and research, the Department of Chemistry is also one of the longest running disciplines at the University of Adelaide.
Chemistry occupies the Badger and Johnson laboratories in the north-western corner of the North Terrace campus.
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Teaching
Chemistry teaching
The Department of Chemistry teach undergraduate chemistry to about 1,000 first-year students each year from across the University.
We offer chemistry majors and double majors in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced); and chemistry research projects at honours level.
More than 60 students graduate each year with the RACI-accredited Bachelor of Science with chemistry majors.
Our innovative teaching is supported by award-winning educational specialists.
Throughout their degrees, students are exposed to research activity undertaken by our internationally recognised researchers and more than 50 postgraduate students.
Chemistry degrees Chemistry prizes Scholarships
Teaching awards and grants
Award Recipients 2017 Faculty of Sciences Teaching Grant (Small Group Discovery Grant Scheme) Associate Professor Natalie Williamson 2015 Commendation for the Excellence in Support of the Student Experience The Foundations of Chemistry Teaching Team
Associate Professor David Huang, Associate Professor Natalie Williamson, Professor Greg Metha, Associate Professor Stephen Bell2015 DR Stranks Award for Excellence in Chemical Education, SA Branch Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Professor Greg Metha 2014 University of Adelaide, Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching Associate Professor Natalie Williamson 2014 Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching Associate Professor Tara Pukala 2014 Chemical Education Division Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Professor Greg Metha 2014 Fensham Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Chemical Education, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), Australia Professor Simon Pyke 2013 Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (Early Career) Associate Professor David Huang 2010 University of Adelaide, Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching Professor Simon Pyke -
People
Academic staff
Name Research area Research Group Dr Emma Watson - Organic synthesis, solid phase peptide and nucleic acid synthesis, photocatalysis and bioconjugation
The Watson Group Professor Andrew Abell - Electron transfer in peptides and protein mimics
- The modulation of enzyme and protein function as the basis of therapeutics and biological probes
The Abell Group Associate Professor Stephen Bell - Biocatalysis, genome mining and enzyme encapsulation
- Biocatalysis, enzyme structure-function studies and bacterial secondary metabolism
The Bell Group Professor Christian Doonan - Organic and inorganic porous nanomaterials
The Sumby Doonan Group Dr Thomas Fallon - Synthesis and analysis of fluxional molecules
The Fallon Group Associate Professor Jonathan George - Biomimetic synthesis of natural products
The George Group Professor Hugh Harris - Mechanisms of action of metal-based drugs and dietary supplements
The Harris Group Associate Professor David Huang - Soft condensed matter theory
The Huang Group Dr Sara Krivickas Associate Professor Tak Kee - Optical spectroscopy and polymer material
Laboratory for Femtosecond Spectroscopy Professor Greg Metha - Metal nanoparticles and clusters
The Metha Group Associate Professor Tara Pukala - Biophysical characterisation of protein structures and interactions
The Pukala Group Professor Simon Pyke - Medicinal chemistry of small bioactive molecules
The Pyke Group Professor Christopher Sumby - Porous framework materials
The Sumby Doonan Group Research fellows
Name Research area Research Group Dr Witold Bloch - Nanomaterials based on metallosupramolecular building blocks
Dr Cameron Shearer - Photocatalysis and inorganic nanoparticles
The Shearer Group Dr Kenji Sumida - Energy, materials and environmental chemistry
Dr Jack Evans - Understanding of the chemical and physical properties of emerging materials using Computational Chemistry
The Sumby Doonan Group Staff alumni
Earth science honours New Zealand trip - Image courtesy Alex Butter
Department of Earth Sciences
Making new discoveries, facilitating important scientific activities and training researchers of the future. Our earth scientists are working across fundamental applied projects in environment, energy and minerals.
We also undertake award-winning research in fundamental earth sciences spanning the traditional disciplines.
Our teaching encompasses the earth science majors and palaeontology majors in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and honours programs; as well as the Master of Science (Earth Science) postgraduate suite of degrees.
We also coordinate the undergraduate mineral geoscience degree and administer the National Exploration Undercover School (NExUS), a prestigious summer school for the next generation of Australian exploration geologists.
Environment and sustainability degrees Earth Science Prizes Scholarships
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People
Academic staff
Davis Station, Antarctica. Image courtesy Nick Chang
Department of Physics
The discipline of physics at the University of Adelaide was established in 1886 and its history is one of the oldest at the University.
Physics is the most basic and fundamental science and is crucial to our understanding of the world around us, the world inside us and the world beyond us. It is concerned with exploring the laws under which our universe operates at both the macro and micro levels.
Our researchers contribute to projects which range from studies of the structure of sub-atomic matter; to the development of novel optical and photonic systems; to medical physics and geophysics; to the investigation of the atmosphere using a network of sites that stretch from the equator to the Antarctic; and to the investigation of the structure of the universe and extreme astrophysics.
Physics forms the basis of many other sciences, including chemistry, oceanography, seismology, and astronomy. Problem solving and critical thinking skills learnt in physics can be applied to areas such as finance, biology, software development, engineering and medical sciences.
Physics leads to great discoveries and technologies that have and will change our lives - from healing joints, to curing cancer, to developing sustainable energy solutions.
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Teaching
Physics teaching
While learning the fundamental concepts in physics, our students develop strong skills in critical thinking, complex and creative problem-solving and interpersonal skills through classroom and laboratory experiences.
These are the skills that are highly sought after not just in physics but in many other areas. This makes our students highly employable no matter where their future takes them.
The Department of Physics offers majors in both theoretical and experimental physics in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and science honours programs.
We also offer specialist degrees in space science and astrophysics, and high performance computational physics.
We teach undergraduate physics to over 1,300 first-year students each year from across the University. More than 50 students graduate each year with physics majors.
Our internationally recognised researchers underpin physics teaching, with students being exposed to our world-class physics research throughout their degrees.
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People
Academic staff
Staff alumni
Name Research area Emeritus Professor Roger Clay Emeritus Professor Stewart Greenhalgh Associate Professor Murray Hamilton Emeritus Professor Jesper Munch Emeritus Professor Robert (Bob) Vincent
Professional staff
| Senior Executive Officer | Lisa Laws |
| Executive Assistant to Head of School | Jacqui Hull |
| Faculty Management and Research Accountant | Candice Lo |
| Academic Support Officer | Wayne England |
Technical staff
| School Health, Safety & Wellbeing Officer | Jessica Gilson |
| Senior Analytical Facilities Officer (Chemistry) | Matthew Bull |
| Analytical Facilities Officer (Earth Sciences) | to be advised |
| Technology Officer | Ramona Rogers |
| Technical & Facilities Support Officer | Peter Apoefis |
| Technical Officer | to be advised |
| Senior Teaching Support Officer Chemistry |
Catherine Margach |
| Senior Teaching Support Officer Chemistry |
Jesse Teo |
| Senior Teaching Support Officer Chemistry |
Matthew Bull |
| Teaching Support Officers Earth Sciences |
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| Teaching Support Officer Physics |
Adrian Giffen |
| Teaching Support Officer Physics |
Adrian Selby |
| Fleet & Field Trip Officer | to be advised |
| Petroleum, Organic & Isotope Geochemistry, Biochemistry Facility Manager | Tony Hall |