Physical Sciences is a dynamic School within the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA) committed to excellence in research and teaching. 

Many of the School’s disciplines and centres are internationally recognised and members of its academic staff are leaders in their respective fields. 
 

The School’s disciplines enjoy a reputation for combining high calibre, award winning research with innovative teaching and learning.  

Earth Sciences combines chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology to examine the interacting systems of the solid earth, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere as they evolve through time. Major areas of teaching and research include crustal evolution and metallogeny, mantle geochemistry, igneous petrology, palaeobiology, isotope sedimentology, palæoclimatology, palæoceanography and environmental chemistry. 

Mathematics is one of the oldest pure sciences but today also combines insights from mathematical theory with modelling and computational skills and the latest computer technology to solve problems in physical and biological science, engineering, information technology, economics and finance. Major areas of teaching and research include Algebra and Combinatorics, Applied Mathematics, Analysis, and Mathematical Physics.

Physics is a fundamental science dedicated to solving big questions such as “where did we come from?” that have puzzled mankind for centuries. At a practical level, physics embraces the study of basic natural laws and explains how and why things work on scales ranging from the cosmos to the tiniest sub-atomic level.

Our Vision and Mission

Our vision is to pursue excellence in all our activities and achieve national and international excellence in research and teaching.

Our mission is to:

1. Advance knowledge and understanding in our disciplines though basic and applied research;

2. Educate undergraduates to become scientists with an in-depth knowledge of their field of study, who are independent, creative and critical thinkers, can communicate effectively and act with ethical and social understanding;

3. Communicate with professional bodies and the community at large to enhance and progress our disciplines;

4. Accomplish our mission by working collaboratively within and across disciplines, and with scientists from both inside and outside the University.

Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence

The Centre for Quantum Computer Technology (led by University of New South Wales) is an Australian multi-university collaboration researching the fundatmental physics and technology of building, at the atomic level, a solid state quantum computer in silicon together with other high potential implementations.  The centre also conducts semiconductor research, including a sophisticated quantum measurement capability at ultra-low temperatures. 

Research Centres and Groups

The School is also affiliated and has links with the following:

Advanced Computational Modelling Group (ACMC)

Centre for Discrete Mathematics and Computing

Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science

Centre for Mathematical Physics

Centre for Statistics

Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM)

Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE)

ESSCC

The Ecology Centre (TEC)

Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation

VisLab

The Federation Fellowships are funded under the Australian Research Council's (ARC) National Competitive Grants Program. Federation Fellows are considered to be world-leaders in their chosen fields of research and the program is aimed at attracting some of the world's best research talent as well as offering opportunities for top Australian researchers to continue their work here.  The School has six Federation Fellowship holders:

Professor Kevin Burrage
Co Director
Advanced Computational Modelling Centre
Project: Stochastic modelling of genetic regulatory networks