Halloween's coming and PsiStar has managed to buy 10 Pumpkins for everyone to Carve up into demonic images of Satan and such (PsiStar does *Not* encourage Satanic Worship, we understand everyone has their own beliefs) this coming wednesday (26th Oct). Supply is limited but anyone who would like to attend should Meet us at 2.30pm in the physics foyer. Carving will begin at 3ish in room 202, thats the student common room through the 2nd floor laboratory in Physics. All are welcome, bring your favorite carving tool and pumpkin if you like.
After the pumpkins have been killed we will then have a Bootleg Cinema evening. The movie is not yet decided but anyone with any suggestions please email me ASAP, we can get almost anything within reason (PsiStar does *Not* encourage piracy, though we do encourage dressing as a pirate to prevent global warming). Viewing will take place from 4pm in room UG1, you are encouraged to bring popcorn. Due to laws, we can not accept any payment for showing any movie so non-members will be free, but we can charge you for any pumpkins that you wish to destroy so come along, all are welcome.
My last point is this; no one is saying that Wednesday's event needs to be fancy dress, but if someone did turn up dressed in unusual attire they wouldn't be turned away.....
Steve 'PsiStar does Not encourage spamming' Hudziak
Just a quick reminder from PsiStar that we will be having our first seminar of the year tomorrow. The head of the Physics Department, Prof. Dave Dunstan will be giving us an interesting and colloquial talk about his research entitled 'Alcohol and Pressure on the Brain'. It would be great to see as many of you as possible especially the Physicists.
The talk will begin at 2.30pm in UG1 (Physics Building), we will meet up in the foyer at 2.15pm and direct you if necessary. Some food and soft drinks will be available free to members, non-members should bring along £1.
Prof. Charap's weekly email on the departments seminars.
quote (Prof. John M. Charap):
On Monday next, 17 October, Professor Michael Duff (Imperial) will be speaking on "A layman's guide to M-theory".
Michael was an undergaduate in this department. He gained his PhD in theoretical physics in 1972 at Imperial College, London, under Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam. After postdoctoral fellowships in Trieste, Oxford, King's College (London), back here at Queen Mary and then Brandeis, he returned to Imperial College in 1979 on a Science Research Council Advanced Fellowship and joined the faculty there in 1980. He has held Visiting Professorships and Fellowships at the University of Texas, Austin; the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Kyoto and the Isaac Newton Institute, University of Cambridge. He took up his professorship at Texas A&M in 1988 and was appointed Distinguished Professor in 1992. In September 1999 he moved to the University of Michigan, as Oskar Klein Professor of Physics. In 2001, he was elected first Director of the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics and was re-elected in 2004 .
In 2005 Michael Duff returned to the UK to take up the positions of Principal of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Professor of Physics at Imperial College, London.
Michael Duff's interests lie in unified theories of the elementary particles, quantum gravity, supergravity, Kaluza-Klein theory, superstrings, supermembranes and M-theory. He is a member of Save British Science and has acted as spokesman for British Scientists Abroad, a group of expatriate scientists who are concerned about the underfunding of British science. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK) and Recipient of the 2004 Meeting Gold Medal, El Colegio Nacional, Mexico.
The lectures are held at 14.15 in room 112 Physics for those that are interested, this talk could come in handy for any of you doing a project this year on String Theory.
In my bordem I've added a little preview of the events we will be hosting over the course of the next couple of months up to Christmas.
There are still things to be added like the Christmas party which the committee are still looking into and the finer details of who will be doing the Seminar's but apart from all that its pretty much accurate.
This Wednesday, 12th October, is time for something completely different, a day trip to Greenwich.
We will be convening at 2.30pm in the Physics foyer and head off before 3pm to go to Cutty Sark. There will be a pretty tight schedule as we will head off to to the Greenwich observatory via the National Maritime Museum both of which are free to enter but they do close at 5pm. I can personally recommend coming along for this trip and perhaps think about coming back with a date sometime, the area is beautiful and its the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Once again we will be heading off to zone 2 so prices will be the same as last week (£2.20-£2.60). For anyone who wants to stay out late(ish) we will no doubt be heading to the pub after, so be warned!
For those of you not on Prof. Charap's email list.
quote (Prof. John M. Charap):
On Monday next, 10 October, Professor Russell Cowburn (Imperial College) will be speaking on "Nanowires, nanoparticles and nanoprobes: challenging chips, cancer and crime". Professor Cowburn holds the Chair in Nanotechnology at IC.
He writes: I describe three different applications of nanoscale fabrication and measurement techniques to some of the technological and social challenges of our time. In the first, I show how lithographically defined magnetic nanowires can be used to perform logic operations and to store information in an ultra-high density 3-dimensional network. In the second, I discuss the application of biochemically functionalised magnetic nanoparticles to locating and disrupting cancer tumours in the human body. In the third, I show by live demonstration how laser speckle can be used to probe submicron imperfections in the surface or paper, plastic and metal. This information can be used to derive a unique physical fingerprint from valuable documents, branded products, ID cards and passports, which can be used to counter fraud, counterfeiting and crime.
The lectures are held at 14.15 in room 112 Physics for those that are interested
So this week (wednesday 5th october) there will be a nice trip to Canada Water with Bowling in mind. Meet in the Physics (the building next to the Queens building) Foyer (Lobby for the gifted people) at 2.30pm (14.30).
We will attempt to leave around 3pm (15.00) and will be making our way towards Mile end station. Canada Water is in zone 2 and a return costs around £2.60 or £2.20 for prepay oyster card users. The Bowling costs £2.25 per game when you show a valid student card and be prepared for 2 games each.
Don't forget if anyone has joined PsiStar then we owe you a pint so come along and present your membership card.
Finally to Kick start the new year there will be a surprise Challenge in the Physic Foyer, it is really simple and I'm sure everyone has done it before. Participation is not mandatory, having a good time is.
Right-oh chaps, we have a lovely first event for you. We will be convening in the museum in the Physics department (on the first floor) at 2:30pm on wednesday for a lovely lovely welcome with all manner of drinks and delicious treats.
Seeing as all you first years are automatically signed up, you can all come and bring anyone you think might be interested in joining us. We'll be inviting the lecturers as well so it gives you an ideal opportunity to meet your future mentors, advisers and best friends.
After you've got a first impression of everyone, we'll be off to Wings Chinese Buffet for a spanking slap-up all-you-can-eat-for-5.90 chinese. We will then let fate take us where it will, those of you who think you know PsiStar have probably already guessed that we mean the pub.
If you've joined by that point, we will provide you with a free red beer or soft drink. Membership is the usual and obligatory £5 at the information point. First years have the Physics department to thank for their membership, and the union to thank for the beer.
Just to remind everyone that there is still one day left to come see PsiStar at the freshers fayre in the sports halls and get S*P*A*n*K*E*D by Steve...
Seriously though, if anyone wants any information on PsiStar or just wants to point and laugh at us (be warned we will through things back and shock you), freshers fayre is open from 10am till 4pm in the sports hall.
