Fusion - The Open University Physics & Astronomy Society
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Site Last Updated : 6th July, 2010

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What is Fusion? | History | Merchandise | What is the Institute of Physics? | What is Nexus?

Colliding Particles

Click here to see a short film about Adam Davison, a PhD student at University College London, and the work he is doing at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Switzerland, with his supervisor, Jon Butterworth, and other colleagues in London and Paris. The latest update (Nr. 4) has just been released.

New Ladies' T-Shirts Available!

Click here to go to our Merchandise page for more info on our new T-shirt design.

New Level 3 Courses

Click here to download Silvia Bergamini's presentation given at the 2008 Science Revision Weekend about the proposed new courses S382 and S383.

Fusion on MyIOP

Robert Ley has started a "Fusion" network on MyIOP, the new IOP social networking site. Click here and log in using your IOP username and password, then browse "Networks" - you will find it near the end of the list.

Physics and Astronomy Lectures Around the UK >

The list is regularly updated, with details of many talks to be given by Jonti Horner, Barrie Jones, John Zarnecki and other OU lecturers during 2009. Now showing events right through to October!

OU degrees meet Chartered Physicist requirements

If OU students wish to progress to Chartered Physicist after they have completed their degree, they are required to follow a new scheme for accreditation.

Job Opportunities for Physics graduates

We have been asked to mention these job opportunities in Milton Keynes and Leicester.

FUSION AGM - 2011

The Fusion AGM weekend in 2011 will take place on the 22nd and 23rd of January in Bristol.

It will take the usual format –
Saturday - Am – talks/lectures
Pm – AGM, followed by the guest lecture by
Dr Haley Gomez of Cardiff University
Evening – meal at a local restaurant
quiz – Jim Grozier will be asking the questions, and as it is the 10th anniversary of Fusion some (but not all) will be about the history of Fusion – so dig out your old newsletters!
Sunday am – an event, yet to be arranged, followed by lunch in a local hostelry.

Fusion supplies the Saturday lunch, but members need to arrange accommodation and pay for the Saturday evening meal and Sunday lunch.

If you are interested in this event contact Dwyn on

Events E-mail

Fusion Weekend Hits Target

Oxford lab tour: accelerator

John Ward showing some Fusion members how the accelerator works.

The 2009 Fusion Weekend, held in Oxford on 24th/25th January, was a great success. On the Saturday morning, about 20 Fusion members were taken on a fascinating tour of the Oxford teaching laboratories by John Ward, Oxford's Head of Laboratory Services; then after lunch, the eighth Fusion AGM was held, and a new committee elected. The meeting was attended by the OU's Head of Physics & Astronomy, Nick Braithwaite, and a motion to change the name of the society to "Fusion - the Open University Physics & Astronomy Society", following the demise of the OU Society for Astronomy & Planetary Science (OUSAPS), was passed unanimously.

Following the meeting, the OU's Barrie Jones gave a lecture entitled "Planets & Life Beyond the Solar System". And after a hearty dinner, participants were ready for the Maria Griffiths Challenge Quiz, which featured a variety of questions, many with a physics theme; there was also a song lyrics round, after which Maria sang the answers to an appreciative audience! Dwyn Padfield then took up the challenge to pose next year's quiz, at an as yet undecided location.

Dwyn's Challenge

Dwyn Padfield throwing the gauntlet (actually a woolly glove) at Maria Griffiths after the quiz.

Sunday saw a tour of Oxford, which finished up with a visit to the town's Museum of the History of Science, after lunch at the Turf Tavern, reputedly the oldest pub in Oxford.

Sunday Lunch

Lunch at the Turf.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities


There are undergraduate research opportunity schemes at various institutions in the UK and USA which are aimed at giving undergraduate physics students a taste of research, prior to commencing a postgraduate degree.

Schemes exist at Trinity College Dublin, Imperial College London and Leicester University  

There is also the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) located at Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

And of course the CERN Summer Student Program no longer has an age limit ...

Alternatively, try contacting your local university, as there are often ad-hoc opportunities for research experience.

Why join FUSION?
  • Supported by the OU's Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • Affiliated to the Institute of Physics and OUSA
  • Regular Newsletter
  • Events and visits to places of interest
  • Revision and course preparation weekends
  • Exchange of views and experience
Join Nexus as well!
FUSION - The Open University Physics & Astronomy Society is affiliated to NEXUS, the student branch within the Institute of Physics.
On joining the Institute as a student member, you also become a member of NEXUS.

Nexus

The Nexus News magazine is sent out to student members. It contains everything from interviews and competitions to humour and occasionally physics! Contributions always welcome.

Cool Fusion Available Now!
FUSION Maxwell T-Shirts Yes, you can look cool too, with the Fusion Sweatshirt, or Fusion T-Shirts featuring Einstein's, Maxwell's or Schrödinger's famous equations. Click for details.

What is Fusion?

FUSION was formed in 2001 by students who recognised the need to create a society for Open University students and graduates whose primary interest is in physics. It now has over 400 members.

As a member of FUSION you will receive a regular newsletter with articles and reviews provided by fellow students and professional physicists, event updates and news from the OU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Past FUSION events have included visits to Culham Science Centre, Mullard Radio Observatory, Jodrell Bank, Bletchley Park, Sellafield and many more.

As a member of NEXUS you can attend lectures and meetings held by your local branch of the Institute of Physics, and take part in NEXUS activities such as trips to CERN.

You can find out about post graduate research opportunities or even help to influence the University on its choice of future courses. Gain a wider range of student contacts to help with a particular problem, or maybe meet to discuss ‘natural philosophy’ over a pint at the local pub.

With its sponsorship of Revision and Preparation Weekends, FUSION adds to your OU experience by bridging the gap left by distance learning. In addition, associate membership of Fusion is open to anyone with an interest in science and the aims of the Society.

We are delighted to announce that FUSION membership is now also available to part-time students at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Send in your application Form now.

Institute of Physics

What is the Institute of Physics?

The Institute of Physics is a professional body and learned society, established to promote the advancement and dissemination of a knowledge of and education in the science of physics, pure and applied.

The Institute has a world-wide membership and is active in:

  • Scientific publishing and electronic dissemination of physics
  • Providing support for physicists in all professions and careers
  • Providing support for physics in schools, colleges and universities

The benefits of Institute membership

  • A copy of Physics World every month, to keep you up to date on the latest events, research and jobs in physics.
  • Discounts on all books and journals produced by Institute of Physics Publishing.
  • Use of PhysicsWeb, a source of Physics Links, Jobs, Electronic Journals and your own portable email address!
  • Branch Lectures at locations around the country on a variety of physics topics.
  • Professional Support - upon graduating, you can apply for Associate Membership (and use the letters AMInstP after your name) - and enrol in their Professional Development Scheme to gain Chartered Physicist Status.

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