Institute of Physics extends its reach to Wolverhampton

The University of Wolverhampton is opening a new centre of the Institute of Physics (IOP), to foster activities and awareness of the public at large in all the areas of Physics.

The Institute of Physics is a leading scientific worldwide membership society working to advance Physics. The opening of the Wolverhampton IOP centre will be celebrated with an inaugural lecture in a series of events to promote the science.

The first lecture will be given by a leading forensics expert outlining how a degree in Physics prepared him for the world of work.

David Wilkinson, Midlands Regional Officer for the Institute of Physics, will be giving a talk on ‘Medical to forensic research: it’s all the same physics’ on Wednesday 12^th December at City Campus in Wolverhampton.

David graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 2001 with a degree in physics with medical applications. He immediately went to work for the Home Office as a government science in what was then called the Police Scientific Development Branch. He became a project manager in the less-lethal weapons programme and ran the scientific assessment of TASER technology before its introduction to the UK in 2005. He then moved to drugs detection where he worked with University College London on a project using low-angle X-ray scattering.

In 2007 he became the Midlands Regional Officer for the Institute of Physics and has subsequently gained Chartered Physicist status and been appointed a visiting fellow at Nottingham Trent University. David is also a published science fiction author, with his second novel published this year.

Fabrice Laussy, Professor of Physics in the School of Sciences at the University, said: “We’re really pleased to offer our first Institute of Physics sponsored event – the first of a series of events which will really put the spotlight on the subject matter of physics which has been recently re-introduced by the University of Wolverhampton as a degree subject.

“Physics is the most multi-facetted of science, and the Wilkinson seminar will show how a degree in physics prepared David for work in all kinds of unexpected areas. Future lectures will further illustrate this point with topics spanning from formula 1 car (in January) to the connection between Astronomy and Art (in April). All events are open to the members of the public with an interest in the sciences.”

The FREE lecture will take place in Wulfruna Building (MA030), Wulfruna Street on Wednesday 12^th December from 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm, with refreshments available at the start of the evening. Book your place here.