DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY Professor Bob Warwick Head of Department.

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

Professor Bob Warwick

Head of Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Origins

• 1921, Founding of the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland College in buildings of an old lunatic asylum

• 1924, Departments of Physics and Chemistry established

• 1927, Renamed University College, Leicester

• 1946, First Chair in Physics (Prof E A Stewardson)

• 1957, University of Leicester granted its Royal Charter and degree awarding status

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Department of Physics and Astronomy

A Successful University

• Six Faculties: Arts & Humanities, Biological Science & Medicine, Education, Law, Science, Social Science.

• 7300 Undergraduates

• 1200 Postgraduates, Research; 9700 Postgraduates, Taught

• 650 Academic Staff, 670 Academic-related, 1700 Other staff

• Turnover of £150 million per year

Department of Physics and Astronomy

A Top Rated Teaching & Research Department

• Top Grade 5 in the last three Research Assessment Exercises (1992, 1996, 2001).

• Excellent rating in the Teaching Quality Assessment 1999.

• The Queen’s Anniversary Prize 1994.

• Our research earnings per staff member are among the highest in the UK.

• Vibrant and innovative teaching programme

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Numbers of Students and Academic Staff

Academic Staff

Professors 9

Readers 4

Senior Lecturers 5

Lecturers 8

Total 26

Students

Fd Yr 13 (0)

1st Year 65 (12)

2nd Year 75 (12)

3rd Year 61 (14)

4th Year 28 (8)

Postgrads 41 (13)

Total 283 (59)

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Innovation in Physics Teaching

1973 Physics with Astrophysics

1988 “Physics at Work” Initiative

1990 Physics with Space Science and Technology

2000 Teaching Developments eg “Business Skills”

2002 National Award for “Problem-based Learning”

2003 Physics with e-Science

2004 i-Science

2005 Physics with Planetary Science

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Teaching Programme

BSc/MPhys Degree Courses in:

• Physics

• Physics with Astrophysics

• Physics with Space Science & Technology

• Experimental Physics

• Physics with e-Science

Science Foundation Year Programme

PhD and MPhil by Research

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Two Routes to a Physics Degree at the University of Leicester

• Pure and Applied Physics Route

• Astronomy and Space Science Route

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Pure & Applied Physics Route

core

physics

& maths

Physics, Experimental Physics, Physics with e-Science

Nanotechnology

Cosmology

Elementary Particles

Experimental Methods

Radiation & Matter

Plasma Physics

Fractals & Chaos

Advanced Materials

Radio Systems

Computer Simulation

e-Physics

Quantum Optics

Biophysics

Solid State Devices

Medical Physics

Management

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Astronomy & Space Science Route

core

physics

& maths

Physics with Astrophysics, Physics with Space Science & Technology

Life in the Universe

Active Galaxies

Extra-Solar Planets

Relativity & Black Holes

Star Formation

Supernovae

Cosmology

High Energy Astrophysics

Rocket Propulsion

Planetary Exploration

Digital Image Processing

Space Plasmas

Space Flight Dynamics

Solar Physics

Human Space Flight

Space Systems Design

Department of Physics and Astronomy

DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH

• Condensed Matter Physics

• Radio & Space Plasma Physics

• Theoretical Astrophysics

• X-Ray & Observational Astronomy

• Space Projects and Instrumentation

• Earth Observation Science

• UK Astrophysical Fluids Facility

• Astrogrid

Physics Building

Space Research Centre

National Facilities

LUMPS Mk3

Nanoclusters have enhanced magnetism

STM image of individual (2-3nm) Fe nanoclusters on

Si

The nanoclusters can be used as building blocks for advanced

materials

The group has produced the most magnetic material on earth, breaking

a record that has been held for 70 years

Nanotechnology

Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group’s new SPEAR (Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar)

facility on Spitzbergen as of Sept 2003.

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Colliding Neutron Stars

Accreting Black-holes in the Nearby Galaxy M101

OPTICAL X-RAY

Planetary Exploration: Beagle 2

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Good luck in your exams

and enjoy your visit!