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. You can register by clicking on ‘Registration Form’ for the event(s) you wish to attend in the list below.
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.
The events in 2023 are:

  • 25th May, Central Melbourne Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Black Holes: a window to another universe. Flyers
  • 31st May, Mildura Speaker: Distinguished Professor Emeritus Frances Separovic AO, Melbourne University, Topic: MRI of Molecules where Biophysics meets Cell Chemistry. Flyers
  • Fully booked. 21st July, Monash Speaker Dr Karen Livesey, AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2023, Topic: Nanomagnets: New materials to address biomedical and technological problems. Flyers, Registration Form for Monash
  • Cancelled. 2nd August, Geelong Speaker: A/Prof Elizabeth Hinde, Melbourne University, Topic: Glow in the dark – Using fluorescence to observe DNA in a living cell. Flyers, Registration Form for Geelong.
  • 11th August, Wodonga Speaker: Emma Dyce, Medical radiation physicist, Topic: Treating skin cancer with radiotherapy. Flyers, Registration Form for Wodonga.
  • 16th August, Traralgon Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Geothermal: vast energy reserves beneath our feet. Flyers, Registration Form for Traralgon.
  • 25th August, Ballarat Speaker: Dr Taissa Danilovich, Monash University, Topic: Molecules in space. Flyers, Registration Form for Ballarat.
  • 1st September, Bendigo Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories. Flyers, Registration Form for Bendigo.

There are two flyers, one with basic details and one with the abstract and bio.
For the programs in previous years, click 2020 and 2019.
If you have any queries, please email Vicphysics with subject ‘Girls in Physics Breakfasts’.

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