Physics Department News

It is with great sadness that we report Robert's death.  Robert came to the Department as Peter McMillan's research student in 1972 and remained here pursuing research in x-ray absorption spectroscopies thereafter.  He became a lecturer in 1978 and a Reader in 2002, retiring from ill-health in 2007.

Many generations of students as well as staff will remember his great passion for physics and his determination only to do the very best physics, which he continued to do until very recently.

 Our heartfelt condolences go to Robert's family.

Malcolm Cooper

Many Congratulations to Rachel Edwards on winning an Independent Researcher Grant of more than one million pounds from the European Research Council against fierce competition across Europe and in all subject areas. Her 5 yr fellowship for Rachel will also provide Research assistance and PhD studentships.

The recent discovery of three extrasolar planets by Peter Wheatley and
colleagues in the WASP (Wide Angle Search  for Planets) consortium  has been
rated in the top 10 science discoveries of 2007 by Time Magazine and CNN!
The three planets are about the size of Jupiter but are too hot to support
life because they orbit too close to their sun.

The Time Magazine account can be found at http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686252_1690945,00.html.