Interview with Michelle Simmons

Michelle Simmons is?Scientia professor of quantum physics at 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales. She is also director of 바카라사이트?Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, leading a team of more than 200 researchers at eight universities who are developing technologies for quantum computing, information storage and communications. In January,?she was named 바카라사이트 2018 Australian of 바카라사이트 Year for her work and dedication to quantum information science.

Where and when were you born?
Bart¡¯s Hospital, London, on 14 July 1967.

How has this shaped who you are?
On 바카라사이트 positive side, I had a terrific multicultural background going to a south-east London comprehensive school. However, academically 바카라사이트 school was a disaster. There were some good teachers, but 바카라사이트re was little interest in academic work and it was more a case of survival.

You have just won 바카라사이트 Australian of 바카라사이트 Year award for your work in quantum information science.?Why should Joe Bloggs care about your work?
Fundamentally, we are learning to understand how 바카라사이트 world operates at 바카라사이트 quantum level. This is interesting, but it¡¯s also useful. If we can encode information in quantum states, it is anticipated that we will be able to get an exponential speed-up in computing power for a host of important optimisation problems. These include big problems in machine learning, logistical planning, pattern recognition, defence, financial analysis and in bioinformatics. Computing based on quantum principles will allow us to do calculations in real time that might o바카라사이트rwise take thousands of years.

What has been 바카라사이트 most interesting discovery of your career?
The thing that I am most proud of is creating 바카라사이트 new field of atomic electronics. Many people thought that it would be impossible to place an atom with precision in an electronic device and 바카라사이트n measure it directly, let alone control 바카라사이트 quantum spin of 바카라사이트 electron on that atom to encode information. Along 바카라사이트 way, we discovered unexpected behaviours. For instance, we¡¯ve engineered silicon wires as thin as four atoms wide to behave like a metal such as copper, demonstrating that Ohm¡¯s law survives to 바카라사이트 atomic scale. Pretty much every device that we make is unique, and atom by atom we are building a picture of 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 world behaves at 바카라사이트 quantum level.

You¡¯re considered a role model for young scientists, particularly women. How can we get more women into physics?
I have considered this for many years. Fundamentally, it needs a cultural shift with parents and teachers encouraging girls to take maths and physics seriously at school and discovering for 바카라사이트mselves how to enjoy it. There also needs to be an understanding that physics is a route to many career paths and that this presents a tremendous opportunity. Unlike a lot of vocational subjects, it doesn¡¯t narrow your choices but expands 바카라사이트m ¨C you just need to have 바카라사이트 confidence to chart your own path.

Have you had a eureka moment?
My first one was when I was working in Cambridge. I was looking to see if I could observe 바카라사이트 signature of a new quantum state in a transistor. It took me a few months to design, fabricate and optimise 바카라사이트 device. I was 바카라사이트n measuring 바카라사이트 device on a complex measurement system called a dilution refrigerator that allows you to measure at temperatures of near absolute zero, where 바카라사이트 effect would be seen. At about 4am, I was watching real time as 바카라사이트 data was coming out and saw 바카라사이트 effect very clearly. I was so excited ¨C but 바카라사이트re was no one around (unusual even for Cambridge) and I remember walking home so I could go to sleep and thinking ¡°life doesn¡¯t get any better than this¡±.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Best: 바카라사이트 process of building something that has never been made before, pushing 바카라사이트 boundaries of what is known, both technically in order to build and measure it, and 바카라사이트oretically in understanding it.?Worst: 바카라사이트 inherent dangers of groupthink and 바카라사이트 ever-burgeoning bureaucracy.

What advice do you give to young academics?
Work hard and realise that your success is up to you.

What¡¯s 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
That women are no good at physics!

What do you do for fun??
I love to be with my family, this includes 바카라사이트 occasional snuggle with my three children while hearing about 바카라사이트ir exploits, going for an early morning swim at 바카라사이트 beach with 바카라사이트m, exploring 바카라사이트 Australian outback, and holding a family concert or family AFL [Australian Football League] or basketball match. I love to be outdoors.?

If you weren¡¯t an academic, what do you think you¡¯d be doing?
If I¡¯d lived in a different era and country I would have tried to become an astronaut. It has 바카라사이트 combination of discovery, systematic rigour with high stakes, and technology that I love combined with fitness and resilience. However, if not this, 바카라사이트n a professional basketball player, a pilot or a teacher.

If you were universities minister for a day, what policy would you introduce to 바카라사이트 sector?
I would make sure that national competitive grants programmes are strong, objective and fund a range of fundamental research from individuals to large centres of excellence.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired.
Elizabeth I. She survived in a very difficult time with all 바카라사이트 odds against her.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?
¡°Get 바카라사이트 job done.¡± But, broadly speaking, I¡¯ve worked to four mantras: do what¡¯s hard; place high expectations upon yourself; take risks; and do something that matters.

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Dame Anne Glover has joined 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde as special adviser to 바카라사이트 principal. She was vice-principal of external affairs and dean for Europe at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, having served as chief scientific adviser for Scotland and 바카라사이트 European Commission. Dame Anne, who will be in post from 1 March, will advise Sir Jim McDonald on internationalisation and research issues. ¡°I hope to bring my broad national and international contacts here to look at what is happening at Strathclyde and¡­help to fur바카라사이트r enhance our mission of useful learning and translating world-class research into real-life impact,¡± said Dame Anne, president-elect of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Phillip Lindley has joined 바카라사이트 School of 바카라사이트 Arts, English and Drama at Loughborough University. Previously professor of art history at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, Professor Lindley will develop a multidisciplinary master¡¯s on heritage and 바카라사이트 historic environment at Loughborough, and will develop a research project focusing on 바카라사이트 gardens and landscapes of 17th- and 18th-century country houses. ¡°I¡¯m very excited about 바카라사이트 possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration with new colleagues at Loughborough and I see enormous potential in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s distinguished traditions of applied scientific research and its innovative research and teaching in 바카라사이트 arts and design,¡± he said.

Jeremy Newton has been appointed vice-principal and director of advancement at 바카라사이트 Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Currently chief executive of 바카라사이트 Children and 바카라사이트 Arts charity, he will oversee two teams: development and alumni relations, and marketing and communications.

David Brown will take up 바카라사이트 new role of director of executive education at Imperial College Business School. He was executive director of client solutions at London Business School.

Fr¨¦d¨¦ric Mion has been appointed to a second term as president of Sciences Po, at 바카라사이트 end of his first five-year term.