Girls in Physics Breakfasts

The events are for girls in Years 10 – 12 and women either engaged in a career in physics or engineering or are at university.
The students will be seated at tables with students from other schools. At each table we will place two or three women. Over breakfast, the students can query them about their life and work. There is also an address by a prominent scientist, who will talk about her area of interest.

Times: The Breakfasts start at 7:30am and finish about 9:30am with an optional extension to 10:00am.

The talk is followed by activities for the students on Careers in STEM. Some women have stayed on and participated in the activities which were nominally for the benefit of the students, but they found the activities gave them insights about their own careers. If you are able to stay on until 10:00am, please indicate in the space in the form below.

There is no cost to you.

The events in 2022 were:

  • 19th May, Monash University Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories. Flyer with Amanda’s bio and abstract. Closing date: Wednesday,11th May.
  • 22nd July, Bendigo Speaker: Dr Dianne Ruka, Monash University Topic: From Science/Maths to Technology and Engineering with Diane’s bio and abstract. Closing date: 15th July.
  • 14th July, Warrnambool Speaker: Prof Frances Separovic AO Topic: MRI of Molecules: Where Biophysics meets Cell Chemistry Flyer with Frances’ bio and abstract. Closing date: 8th July.
  • 28th July, William Angliss Institute, 555 La Trobe St, Melbourne. Speaker: A/Prof Katarina Miljkovic, the AIP Women in Physics lecturer for 2022 Topic: Impacts! Rocks from space colliding with planets. Flyer. Closing date: 21st July.
  • 19th August, Mildura. Speaker: Dr Judy Hart Topic: Developing New Materials for Renewable Energy Flyer with Judy’s bio and abstract. Closing date: 12th August

There will be events in other regional areas of Victoria as soon as the venues confirm that they have recommenced business after COVID.

To: Register. For: Information on the 2020 Program and the 2019 Program

To Register

Please register on the form below.
If you have any queries, please email Vicphysics with subject ‘Girls in Physics Breakfasts’.

Please note: Registration is not just an expression of interest, it is a commitment to attend, students at your table will be provided with information about what you do and will have questions for you. Registrations normally close a week before each event. Please contact Vicphysics if you wish to make a late registration.

    Name *

    Email *

    Mobile *

    Qualifications (achieved or in progress) *

    University(ies) of your qualification *

    Work place (current, if post university) *

    Brief description of what you do *

    Please list the venues of the breakfasts you are able to come to *

    Are you able to stay on for the Careers in STEM activities?

    Any dietary requirements?

    Name of school you attended (optional)

    2020 Program of Breakfasts

    Only the first two events were held. The remaining Breakfasts in 2020 were cancelled due to COVID.

    • 10th March, Mildura Speaker: Dr Suzie Sheehy, Oxford University and University of Melbourne. Topic: Colliding worlds: Using particle physics to cure cancer. Flyer
    • 13th March, Ballarat Speaker: Hilary Wilson, Bureau of Meteorology Topic: Measuring the atmosphere to predict the weather. Flyer
    • 18th March, Geelong Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Hinde, University of Melbourne Topic: Glow in the dark: Using fluorescence to observe DNA in a living cell. Flyer.
    • 17th April, Wodonga Speaker: Dr Judy Hart, University of News South Wales Topic: Developing new materials for Renewable Energy. Flyer.
    • 1st May, Warrnambool Speaker: Emeritus Prof Frances Separovic AO, University of Melbourne Topic: MRI of Molecules: Biophysics meets Cell Chemistry Flyer.
    • 15th May, Bendigo Speaker: Dr Gail Iles, RMIT Topic: Human spaceflight and Science in Space. Flyer.
    • 2nd June, Monash University Speaker: Dr Dianne Ruka, Monash University Topic: Future Computing and Low Energy Electronics. Flyer.

    2019 Program of Breakfasts

    Breakfasts in 2019

    Below are the details of the Breakfasts in 2019. The flyers each gave the speaker’s biography, the abstract of her talk and the address of the venue.

    • 22nd March, Ballarat Speaker: Dr Dianne Ruka, Monash University Topic: Future Computing and Low Energy Electronics. Flyer
    • 3rd May, Geelong Speaker: Dr Ellen Moon, Deakin University Topic: Science in the Antarctic: Where can STEM take you? Flyer
    • 10th May, Warrnambool Speaker: Dr Gail Iles, RMIT Topic: Human spaceflight and science in space. Flyer
    • 17th May, Bendigo Speaker: Dr Judy Hart, University of New South Wales Topic: Developing new materials for renewable energy. Flyer
    • 24th May, Wodonga Speaker: Dr Estelle Wright, ANU Topic: Nuclear Fusion: An Australian Perspective. Flyer
    • 30th May, Central Melbourne Speaker: Dr Suzie Sheehy, University of Melbourne and Oxford University Topic: Colliding worlds: Using particle physics to cure cancer. Flyer
    • 28th August, Monash University, Clayton campus Speaker: Dr Helen Maynard-Casely, ANSTO, the AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2019. Topic: How neutrons can save the world.

    These events were sponsored by:

    • Bank Australia
    • The Laby Foundation,
    • Vicphysics Teachers’ Network,
    • the Victorian Branch of the Australian Institute of Physics,
    • the School of Engineering at Deakin University in Geelong,
    • the College of Science, Health and Engineering at La Trobe University,
    • the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low Energy Electronic Technologies (FLEET) and
    • the Faculty of Science and Technology at Federation University
    • and supported by the Royal Society of Victoria.

    The Breakfasts in 2018 were

    • 13th March, Hawthorn Speaker: Dr Sue Barrell, Chief Scientist, Bureau of Meteorology, Topic: Severe weather: How we forecast its impact.
    • 28th March, Ballarat Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Hinde, University of Melbourne, Topic: Glow in the dark: Using fluorescence to observe DNA in a living cell.
    • 20th April, Sunshine Speaker: Dr Laura Wolz, University of Melbourne Topic: Radio Astronomy through the eyes of a Cosmologist.
    • 27th April, Bendigo Speaker: Prof Frances Separovic, University of Melbourne, Topic: MRI for Molecules, Biophysics meets Cell Chemistry
    • 4th May, Geelong Speaker: Dr Gail Iles, RMIT, Topic: Human spaceflight and science in space
    • 21st August, Monash University Speaker: Dr Ceri Brenner, AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2018, Topic: Pressing FIRE on the most powerful laser in the world