CURRICULUM VITAE:

Joel Gilmore

Name: Dr Joel Gilmore, BSc (Hons I), PhD (Physics)
Date of Birth: 30th April 1981
E-mail: gilmore@physics.uq.edu.au

Academic Achievements and Awards

PhD in Physics for research into minimal models of biological systems (2007)
Top-up scholarship for PhD from Condensed Matter Theory Group (2004)
APA Award for PhD study in theoretical biophysics, University of Queensland (2003)
University Medallist (2002)
Harriet Marks Bursary for the top student completing a Bachelor of Science degree (2002)
Bachelor of Science (Hons I) (2002)
Queensland Rhodes Scholarship finalist (2002)
Australia-at-large Rhodes Scholarship finalist (2002)
UQ Summer Research Scholarship (2001)
Dean's Commendation for High Achievement from University of Queensland (Each semester of 1999-2002)
Lions Award for Outstanding Service to the School at Kenmore SHS (1998)
Successful to third round of Lion's Youth of the Year award (1998)
Australian Student Prize recipient (1998)
OP 1 and straight VHA student on leaving high school (1998)
Best All-round Junior Boy award at Kenmore State High School (1996)
Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards at Kenmore State High School (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998)

Publications, conferences and workshops

J. Gilmore and Ross H. McKenzie "Spin-boson models for quantum decoherence of electronic excitations of biomolecules", submitted to Physical Review Letters (2004)
J. Riesz, J. Gilmore and P. Meredith, "Quantitative photoluminescence of broad band absorbing melanins: a procedure to correct for inner filter and re-absorption effects", submitted to Spectrochimica Acta Part A (2004)
Received $800 Student Travel Grant to Computational Biology Workshop in Perth (July, 2004)
Accepted to "Opportunities in Biology for Physicists" workshop in San Diego (2004)
J. Gilmore and R.H. McKenzie, "Quantum Decoherence of Electronic Excitations in Biomolecules Due to Solvent Interactions". Poster presented at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in Baltimore (2004)
J. Riesz, J. Gilmore and P. Meredith, "Quantitative Emission and Excitation Spectroscopy of Synthetic Eumelanin". Poster presented by J. Riesz at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in Baltimore (2004)

Academic experience

Visited the U.S.A. for 6 weeks in 2004, collaborating with researchers at
Centre for Biophysics at University of California , San Diego
Department of Physics, Princeton University
Beckman Institute for Biophysics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne
Will be visiting Oxford University later this year to meet with collaborators (2004)

Science Communication

UQ Physics Demo Troupe

Co-ordinator of the "UQ Physics Demo Troupe" (2002-present, with Jenny Riesz 2002-2006)

Performing demonstrations for university lectures, schools and community groups
Planning and organising shows, and coordinating with staff members and group leaders to tailor shows to their requirements
Training of performers to safely and entertainingly present the demonstrations
Obtaining funding for our group, and purchasing or building new equipment

Shows that I have performed in include

Volunteer performer of lecture demonstrations for first year physics subjects at UQ (2002-present)
National Science Week physics show at Kenmore State High School (2003)
Physics show for Tournament of the Minds finalists visiting UQ (2003)
Ran a full day of physics workshops for students at Ironside State School for National Science Week (2003)
Performed physics shows for students and general public at the Brainwaves Festival as part of National Science Week (2003)
Ran a fun demonstration of the physics behind common technology (e.g., optical fibres and lasers) for a Hastings Deering sales conference (2003)
Ran a "Physics of Sideshow Alley" workshop as a lead up to the "Ekka" for students at St Peter's Lutheran College (2003)
Physics show for the Sunnybank Baptist Church Youth program (2003)
Organised performances for the UQ Physics Club for Market Day (2003)
Physics show prospective Bachelor of Science high school students on Faculty Science Day (2003)
Physics shows and workshops for the Junior Physics Olympiad Winter school (1999-2003)

UQ PAIN Physics Student Society

Social Convener for UQ Physics Society (2000, 2001 with Jenny Riesz)

Responsible for organising and running physics talks, activities and competitions every Friday evening for one hour
Activities that I ran included:

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Making Fireballs in a Microwave
A Nim-playing Computer from Straw and Sticky Tape
Organised an overnight trip to Underwater World (2001), coordinating with Underwater World staff and promoting the trip
Organised a trip to Dreamworld (2000), arranging educational discounts and obtaining a "Physics Pack" to provide focus for our activities
Organising displays and publicity for the annual UQ Markey Day and other events
Department Liaison officer (2002,2003)
Provided a link between the Society and the Department, including arranging borrowing of equipment, booking rooms and obtaining supplies
Organiser of club displays, publicity and demonstrations
Guest speaker on a range of topics (2002-present)

Talks and Workshops

Invited to run a workshop at Kirwan State High School in Townsville (July 2004)
Guest speaker for the Brisbane Astronomical Society (2003-2004)
Master of Ceremonies at the Queensland Science Contest 2003 presentation ceremony
Guest scientist at the Brisbane Grammar School "Scientist in Residence" camp (2003)
Performer for Science in Action for visiting high school students (2001-present)
Ran "Gyroscopes" workshop for UQ Quasar Club (a physics enrichment group for Year 11-12 students) (2001,2004)

Teaching and learning activities

Tutor for first year physics and maths subjects at UQ (2000-present)
- Consistently receiving the highest student ratings, above 4.5 out of a possible 5
- Being enthusiastic, knowledgeable and approachable are my strongest ratings
Volunteer Tutor for Junior Physics Olympiad Winter School (1999-present)
Private tutor for high school students in physics and maths (1999-2002)
Author of freely available online textbooks in maths and physics (2001-present)

Leadership Positions

UQ Physics Demo Troupe co-ordinator (with Jenny Riesz) (2002-present)
Member of organising committee Junior Physics Olympiad Winter School for Year 10 students (2001-2004)
Executive Member of UQ Physics Society (2000-2003)
Founder and organiser of UQ Fire Twirling and Juggling club and instructor at weekly free training sessions (2001-2002)
Vice-President of Australian Unicycle Society (2001)
Member of Student Representative Committee for Maths and Physics (1999,2000)
Leader of school Choir and Barbershop Quartet, and recipient of Music Director's Award for Leadership (1998)
Vice-Captain at Kenmore State High School (1998)
Vice-Chairman of the Kenmore High Student Representative Council (1998)
Member of Kenmore High Student Representative Council (1995-1998)
School Captain of Kenmore South State Primary School (1993)

Other Activities

Avid swing dancer (2002-present)
- Attending classes three nights a week, and assisting beginner dancers
- Actively involved in promotional activities (e.g., such as filming for The Great South East)
- Member of the Swing Performance Troupe
Enthusiastic member of Canticum, a Brisbane choir (2004-present)
Magician (1995-1998)
- Performing shows at charity events, retirement homes and children's parties
Amateur actor in children's pantomimes at Brisbane Arts Theatre (1997-1998)

Statement on Science in Society

I love physics. Ever since I read my first popular science book on cosmology in primary school I've wanted to be a physicist, though all forms of science fascinate me. I find it a challenging field, but very rewarding - it's so satisfying when you finally solve the problem that's puzzled you for weeks, or when you learn the physics behind everyday events, from lightning strikes to lava lamps to the workings of the " Tower of Terror " at Dreamworld!

And yet so many students, from primary school through to university, perceive physics as being "too hard" or "nerdy". At displays run by the Physics Society at UQ, you often see people drawn in by interesting physics demonstrations, only to run away when they realise that it's a physics club - something considered too geeky to be seen around! I find it very worrying that potentially excellent physicists may be lost just because of the stigma associated with physics.

What can we do to change these perceptions? I think that too often scientists are pictured as old, doddery researchers in lab coats. The truth (usually, anyway!) is very different - many scientists are young, enthusiastic and doing research that is of interest not just to their scientific peers, but to the public at large. In particular, I know of one researcher who provides scooters to all his students, so they can get between labs more quickly! And when he talks about his research and the big questions he wants to answer, you can't help but be excited with him.

I think it is vitally important that students, whether at primary school or studying physics at University, see this side of physics as well. Instead of just being equations on a blackboard, it is important for physicists to communicate that their work is, above all, a study of the real world. It is relevant, interesting, cutting-edge and exciting to work on. We have to change students' perception that physics is only for the "brainiacs", and that it's as acceptable to want to be a physicist as it is to be a lawyer or a doctor. But most importantly, we have to get students excited about physics, and show that you can be passionate about your work without being a social outcast.

This, though, is only half the battle - we need to convince the general public of all of these things too. From my own experience, I find people are fascinated by the concepts of black holes and dark energy, and have a genuine interest in the latest advances in quantum computation, provided it's presented in an interesting way, something so many scientists seem to have trouble doing. Again, the key is to make science relevant and exciting, and make it accessible to non-scientists by avoiding jargon, complicated maths and assumed knowledge. Though it's just as important not to talk down to your audience, and thereby, perhaps, avoiding the most interesting parts!

What does all this achieve? By opening up science to the wider community, we are helping people to see its relevance and importance to the technological and economical growth of society. Perhaps governments will then be more inclined to increase funding, rather than cut it, and research that has no immediate commercial applications will be recognised as still potentially worthwhile.

I have a real passion for both physics and performing, and I love sharing my enthusiasm for physics with others. I want to continue doing research, because I enjoy it and find it rewarding, but I also want to continue being heavily involved with schools and the community, doing talks, workshops and science shows, to encourage new students to take up science as a career, and to communicate the latest results of science to the public. Hopefully, through the efforts of myself and others, we can raise the profile of science in the community and continue to produce the high quality scientists and science which have shaped so much of our world today.