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What is it?
Physics by the Lake is a national summer school on theoretical condensed matter physics organised by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It consists of two weeks of high-quality lecture courses by experts in the field, as well as tutorials to give thorough training in solving real problems. There is also a series of after-dinner seminars.
This school is free for EPSRC-funded postgraduate students. A limited number of partial IOP sponsorships are available for other UK-based students.
When is it?
The lectures start at 9am on Tuesday 7th July and finish at 1pm on the last day. You should arrive sometime in the afternoon of Monday 6th July.
Where is it?
The school takes place at the University of Cumbria's Ambleside campus, in the heart of the picturesque Lake District, on the north end of Lake Windermere. On-site accommodation and the college's legendarily wonderful food are provided for all participants.
See the Location page for more information.
Who should come to it?
It is primarily aimed at Ph.D. students in theoretical condensed matter physics typically at the end of their first year. Theoretically-inclined experimental condensed matter physics students are also strongly encouraged to take part.
Who pays for it?
The EPSRC will cover full accommodation costs, and course fees for U.K. participants whose Ph.D.s are funded by one of its grants. In addition, Ph.D. students who are funded by University, College or other scholarships but who otherwise would qualify for EPSRC funding can also have their fees covered. A limited number of places with reduced fees can be offered to other UK-based students, through sponsorship provided by the Institute of Physics Theory of Condensed Matter group. Overseas students will typically be required to pay the full cost from their own funds.
What will happen during the school?
The lectures fall into two sets, core subjects and applications. The first set contains three courses each of which comprises six lectures and two tutorials. The second set is varied in length, style and subject matter.
The provisional set of courses for 2009 is:
Core subjects
- strongly correlated quantum systems (Dr Chris Hooley, University of St Andrews)
- statistical mechanics (Dr Richard Blythe, University of Edinburgh)
- electronic structure (Dr Martin Lüders, Daresbury)
Applications
- superfluidity and superconductivity (Dr Derek Lee, Imperial)
- mesoscopic physics and quantum coherence (Dr Andrew Armour, Nottingham)
- soft matter and complex fluids (Dr Mike Evans, Leeds)
- applications of statistical physics (Prof Peter King, Imperial)
- biophysics (Dr Sarah Harris, Leeds)
- physics of ultracold atoms (Dr Andrew Ho, Royal Holloway)
Details of 2009's courses are on the Lectures page. Further aspects and applications will be highlighted in a series of seminars.
How should I prepare for the poster sessions?
We will be holding two poster sessions during the school so that students can find out a bit about each other's research. Please bring a poster up to a maximum of A0 portrait size (84cm wide and 119cm tall). You will be informed at the school which of the two sessions you will present at: you will have an opportunity to give a one-minute verbal introduction to the whole group, so come prepared to say a few words about who you are and what you do.
What did previous students think?
Students who attended the school in 2008 reported that the following were the best things about the school:
- The variety of courses which have helped broaden my physics awareness.
- Talking to other students who work in similar areas to me. I am an experimentalist and it is good to exchange ideas with theory students.
- The most important thing was meeting with all other PhD students in this area.
- The friendliness and commitment of the lecturers, and their emphasis on making sure that we were getting a good understanding of the topics covered.
- The lecturers were very well prepared, the teachers were very good and helpful at the same time.
- The accommodation, food and setting were excellent.
There will almost certainly be someone in your research group or department - another student, or possibly even some of the lecturers - who attended a previous Physics by the Lake Summer School. Why not ask them what they got out of it?
Are lecture notes available?
For various reasons we can only offer students who have attended the school the opportunity to download lecture notes. Please go to the Resources page to access them.
I have a question that's not answered here!
If you have a general enquiry about the school, please direct it at Andrew-A [at] physicsbythelake.org. Any problems with the website should be aimed at Richard-B [at] physicsbythelake.org.
