Working together to promote excellence in Physics Research in the School of Physical Sciences at Kent Paul Strange (Head of Department)

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Background Small School (formerly departments of Physics and Chemistry which were merged 11 years ago). We teach two degrees Forensic Science and Physics and variations on those themes academic staff (9 Chem, 3FS, 11 Phys) (2 Teaching Only) 623 students SSR = 28:1 Around 60% FS 40% P+A

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Research areas in the School of Physical Sciences at Kent Research is focussed in four areas: Astrophysics (5) (SEPnet fellow) Materials (12) (SEPnet fellow) Applied Optics (2) Forensic Imaging (2) 11 Staff direct beneficiaries from SEPnet including some of the FS/Chem staff. 10 staff supportive, but not engaged in SEPnet. 2 not engaged and not very supportive.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Bob Newport Professor of Materials Physics and senior tutor Experimental Physics properties and applications of amorphous and glassy materials.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Dr. Chris Solomon Senior lecturer in Physics Expert in forensic imaging and facial identification.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Dr Jing Qi Miao Senior Lecturer in Astronomy Star formation KTP

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Mark Burchell Professor of Space Science Impacts, works with NASA.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Adrian Podoleanu Professor of Applied Optics. Optical Coherence Tomography in medicine, biological imaging, art history, etc.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Key research staff and interests Dr Alfredsson Lecturer in Theory of materials Intensively computational research. I suspect she is the only theoretical physicist in UK to have hired and driven a digger as part of her research.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Internationally Outstanding Materials (GPA=3.05 in RAE-2008, =2nd). Applied Optics (Current ERC grant of £2.3 million). Planetary Science (working with NASA). Forensic Imaging (UK industry standard witness identification software, also in use internationally).

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Areas of weakness Astrophysics (GPA=2.2 in RAE-2008) but this was a small submission (3 people) in a subject where the average was around 30. No real subject weaknesses, but small groups and individuals in each group who do not perform at the required level in research. Research Equipment Replacement. Forensic Imaging: Very strong on impact and enterprise: Currently insufficient outputs to be included in REF.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Scope for collaboration Many staff, especially senior staff, have an established network of collaborators. Geography alone isn’t sufficient reason to begin working together, but where there is synergy collaborations can develop. For example we are developing closer links with RAL since the beginning of SEPnet. For younger staff, the SEPnet Ph.D studentships, the SEPnet conferences and the research priorities (LOFAR) have provided opportunities for collaborative research which they have taken up enthusiastically. This is growing, but does not happen overnight.