Durham University Department of Physics
Encyclopedia
The Department of Physics at Durham University in Durham
, England
, is a large Physics
and Astronomy
Department involved in both undergraduate teaching and scientific research. In the most recent subject review report by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education, the Department achieved maximum marks (24/24) and in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise the Department retained a Grade 5A rating. In addition, the Department's research into Space Science and Astrophysics was rated as number one in Europe and fourth in the world by Thomson Reuters from its Essential Science Indicators (1998–2008).
. Students are members of one of the 14 colleges in the city.
Each year the Department admits around 140 students for degrees in Physics
, Physics & Astronomy
and Theoretical Physics
. The current standard conditional offer given to a student taking A-Level examinations is A*AA, to include Physics
and Mathematics
.
Admissions are processed through UCAS
. In addition, an applicant must be accepted by one of the colleges
of Durham University
.
) Undergraduate courses in Physics
and Physics & Astronomy
, 4 year (Master's
) courses in Physics, Physics & Astronomy and Theoretical Physics
and also participates in Joint Honours and Natural Science programmes with other departments of the university. Taught and research based Master's degrees and research based PhDs
are available at Postgraduate level.
All research takes place within the department whilst teaching also takes place in various locations around the University. The department's equipment includes a suite of modern, computer controlled telescopes and a network of over 40 PC's for undergraduate use. Increasing use is made of the University's online learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO). All undergraduates in the department are entitled to membership of the Institute of Physics.
In addition the Department is involved with the Institute for Computational Cosmology, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, the Photonic Materials Institute, the Centre for Renewable Energy and the Biophysical Sciences Institute.
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, is a large Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
Department involved in both undergraduate teaching and scientific research. In the most recent subject review report by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education, the Department achieved maximum marks (24/24) and in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise the Department retained a Grade 5A rating. In addition, the Department's research into Space Science and Astrophysics was rated as number one in Europe and fourth in the world by Thomson Reuters from its Essential Science Indicators (1998–2008).
Location and admissions
The Department is situated on the University's Science Site, on the south side of the city of Durham, 2 miles from Junction 62 of the A1(M) and approx 5 minutes drive from Durham StationDurham railway station
Durham railway station serves the city of Durham on the East Coast Main Line. The railway station is managed by East Coast. Despite its small functional capacity the station is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line and is called at by many intercity services travelling the route.The travel...
. Students are members of one of the 14 colleges in the city.
Each year the Department admits around 140 students for degrees in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, Physics & Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
. The current standard conditional offer given to a student taking A-Level examinations is A*AA, to include Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Admissions are processed through UCAS
UCAS
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is the British admission service for students applying to university and college. UCAS is primarily funded by students who pay a fee when they apply and a capitation fee from universities for each student they accept..-Location:UCAS is based near...
. In addition, an applicant must be accepted by one of the colleges
Colleges of the University of Durham
This is a list of the colleges within the University of Durham. These colleges are the primary source of accommodation for undergraduates and graduates at the University, also providing bursaries and scholarships to students...
of Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
.
Taught programmes
The Department offers 3 year (Bachelor'sBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
) Undergraduate courses in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and Physics & Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, 4 year (Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
) courses in Physics, Physics & Astronomy and Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and also participates in Joint Honours and Natural Science programmes with other departments of the university. Taught and research based Master's degrees and research based PhDs
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
are available at Postgraduate level.
All research takes place within the department whilst teaching also takes place in various locations around the University. The department's equipment includes a suite of modern, computer controlled telescopes and a network of over 40 PC's for undergraduate use. Increasing use is made of the University's online learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO). All undergraduates in the department are entitled to membership of the Institute of Physics.
Members of staff
The Departments staff includes 24 professors, 6 readers, 8 senior lecturers, 9 lecturers, about 50 post-doctoral researchers and fellows and 90 PhD postgraduate students. These include:- ProfessorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Martin J Ward, Head of Department - Professor Richard Abram, Condensed Matter Theory
- Professor Charles Adams, Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Professor Patricia Ball, Particle Theory
- Professor Richard Bower, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
- Professor Martyn Chamberlain, Terahertz Physics
- Professor Shaun Cole, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
- Professor Chris Done, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
- Professor Ken Durose, Condensed Matter
- Professor David Flower, Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Professor Carlos Frenk, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
- Professor John Girkin, Biophysics
- Professor Nigel Glover, Particle Theory
- Professor Ruth Gregory, Mathematical Physics
- Professor Damian Hampshire, Condensed Matter
- Professor Peter Hatton, Condensed Matter
- Professor Professor Valya Khoze, Particle Theory
- Professor Tom McLeish, Condensed Matter
- Professor Andy Monkman, Organic Electronics
- Professor Simon Morris, Astronomy (Advanced Instrumentation)
- Professor Mike Pennington, Mathematical Physics
- Professor Tom Shanks, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
- Professor Ray Sharples, Astronomy (Advanced Instrumentation)
- Professor Georg Weiglein, Particle Theory
Research groups
The Department maintains five research groups:- Advanced Instrumentation
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Elementary Particle Theory
In addition the Department is involved with the Institute for Computational Cosmology, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, the Photonic Materials Institute, the Centre for Renewable Energy and the Biophysical Sciences Institute.