University Of Glasgow Opens Up Postgraduate Physics Programmes To January Entry

Talented physicists interested in discovering more about The Big Bang Theory – the scientific theory, that is, rather than the American TV sitcom – are being sought by the University of Glasgow to join specially-tailored postgraduate programmes.

The University has launched a January intake option for six of its physics Masters degrees, all of which are designed to prepare scientists to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing the world.

Prof Miles Padgett, Vice-Principal for Research and Enterprise and holder of the Kelvin Chair of Natural Philosophy, said: “The University of Glasgow's School of Physics and Astronomy is one of the leading schools in the UK for cutting-edge research and first-rate taught programmes.

“Its research groups are highly valued by the UK government for their research – work that has also had enormous impact in areas including medical imaging, oil and gas prospecting, physics education, electron spectroscopy for materials characterisation, and laser stabilisation for high precision measurement and standards. Anyone embarking on a postgraduate taught programme in this school will be working alongside international leaders in these fields.”

With taught Masters programmes ranging from nuclear energy to exploitation of the latest data from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the new timetable is designed to accommodate applicants who wish to begin their studies in January rather than September.

Postgraduate students will have the chance to be taught by distinguished physicists, including Professor Christine Davies, a leader in the field of Quantum Chromodynamics, and others involved in cutting-edge, collaborative work at CERN, the world's largest particle accelerator. The University's links to the Large Hadron Collider may also allow students to become involved in Standard Model analysis of particle physics or on the development of alternative models.

Depending on the programme chosen, they will also have access to the Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre, which houses state-of-the-art instrumentation for studying materials at the nanoscale or below.

Glasgow is one of the few universities to offer a programme in Physics: Global Security. This ambitiously-named programme includes options such as “quantum information”. The development of quantum information holds out the prospect of developing quantum computers which are able to handle much larger numbers and tackle more complex problems than ever before.

Potentially, such developments might lead to securing methods of encrypting information in such a way that it is impossible to decrypt – an important tool in the battle against high-tech terrorism waged against armed forces or governments. In the optics field, global security may be enhanced through findings ways to image objects which are currently difficult to image, such as concealed arms.

Applicants to this course would require a fundamental understanding of quantum entanglement - the name given to a special connection between pairs or groups of quantum systems, or any objects described by quantum mechanics. Students would also have the opportunity to be taught by Professor Steve Barnett, who leads the Quantum Theory Research Group and holds the Institute of Physics Dirac Medal, and Professor Miles Padgett, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and heads the Optics Research Group at the University of Glasgow.

As it develops economically, Africa faces the challenge of developing a sustainable energy industry. It is already feeling the impact of climate change on its environmental landscape and will need highly-trained scientists in the latest principles and methods of modern physics to lead the way forward. An MSc in Physics: Energy and the Environment is therefore an excellent preparation, whether this is in a nuclear energy setting or the generation of other forms of energy.

The University of Glasgow's Masters programmes in Physics: Nuclear Technology and Physics: Energy and the Environment offer core courses in “nuclear power reactors” and “energy and environment” while optional courses range from “environmental radioactivity” to “detection and analysis of ionising radiation” and “advanced nuclear physics” to nuclear and particle physics.

The Physics: Advanced Materials programme will allow students access to the Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre as well as develop the necessary laboratory skills to do advanced research. This programme also offers options in the detection and analysis of ionising radiation; detectors and imaging; environmental radioactivity; nuclear power reactors; semiconductor physics; and statistical mechanics.

The Physics: Life Sciences programme offers a rare opportunity to use the discipline of physics, computing and mathematics to improve or capture images which can then enhance medical treatment in a range of areas.

Dr Nicolas Labrosse, MSc programme co-ordinator, argues: “Compared to other scientists, physicists are very easy to collaborate with as they already have a range of skills to apply to global problems – for example, maths and computing.”

The University's School of Physics and Astronomy achieved a 93% overall student satisfaction rating in the National Student Survey 2014, recognition of its delivery of both teaching excellence and a supportive learning environment as well as a commitment to world-class research.

The full range of January intake courses in the School of Physics and Astronomy are:

• Physics: Advanced Materials
• Physics: Energy and the Environment
• Physics: Global Security
• Physics: Life Sciences
• Physics: Nuclear Technology
• Theoretical Physics
Seven scholarships, each worth £5,000, are available automatically to international applicants.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/january/
Media enquiries: contact Liz Buie, International Media Officer, Communications Office, University of Glasgow, [email protected]; 0141 330 2702/ 07527 335373

For further information: [email protected]; Dr Nicolas Labrosse: [email protected]