Girls in Physics: Live-Streaming
The Australian Institute of Physics and the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network are organising the live-streaming of the talk Dr Danielle Holmes will be giving at a Girls in Physics Breakfast in central Melbourne on Tuesday, 20th May.
There are many ways for schools to make use of this live-streaming from the simple to the grand. Ideas and tips are provided below.
Date: Tuesday, 20th May 
Time: 8:45am and finish about 10:00am.
Speaker: Dr Danielle Holmes, AIP Women in Physics Lecturer for 2025
Topic: Wonders of the Quantum World: from Stars to Quantum Computers
Abstract: Tiny particles, such as atoms and electrons, behave in unexpected ways and require entirely different laws of physics – quantum physics – to explain their behaviour. Despite the miniscule scale of the quantum world, it has huge and fascinating consequences on the world around us, such as explaining why stars to shine and birds don’t get lost.
In this talk, I will take you on a journey to visit these surprising wonders of the quantum world. I will then reveal how scientists like me are now harnessing quantum physics to develop revolutionary computers that will solve problems that are currently out of reach, such as designing new medicines to fight disease and developing new materials to combat climate change.
I love quantum physics for its power to explain the world around us and to shape its future. Come along and find out how I became a quantum physicist and what they actually do in a typical day.
Bio: Dr Danielle Holmes makes ‘qubits’ using individual atoms in silicon chips. These qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers, new technology that will revolutionise humanity’s problem-solving abilities.
She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge, before exploring the technologies used to build quantum computers during her PhD at the University of Melbourne. Now at UNSW as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Danielle is a passionate science outreach communicator. She shares her love for quantum physics well beyond the laboratory- having even performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival!
Ways to use the live streaming from the simple to the grand:
- Record the presentation and show it to the students at another time.
- Invite students to view the presentation live and be able to contribute questions for the speaker.
- Offer the students a light breakfast at the school before viewing the presentation
- Invite people who have a career in STEM or are studying STEM subjects at university to join the students for an informal light breakfast before viewing the presentation. The guests could just be women if you wanted to make it a Girls in Physics event or you could open the event to all.
- Make the event more structured by including one of more of the following features before or after the live-streaming:
- Guests and students share a table with at least two guests per table with students asking them questions about what they do, their training, finding a job, etc,
- Include some careers-based activities. The guests find these of interest as well,
- Augment the live-streaming by asking a few of the guests to join a panel to say a few words to the whole group about what they do. Some prompt questions on the workplace can give students some insights into the nature of work.
- Contact a nearby school and make it a combined event
A document of Tips and Resources is available here.
To register for the live-streaming enter the details below.
The Girls in Physics Breakfasts are organised by the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network and supported by funding from the Invergowrie Foundation.
