This report comes with a new author this year, as Prof. John Storey stepped down as Head of School at the end of 2004, after six years in what was his second term in this position. Having learnt after just five months in the job what a demanding and often thankless task the role of Head of School is, I must express my admiration for John’s obvious high levels of dedication and commitment to the School. Moreover, he must be acknowledged and thanked for the leadership he amply showed as Head, both in making difficult decisions when they were needed, and in undertaking numerous new initiatives. Indeed the publication of this Annual Report each year, show-casing the School’s achievements, is just one such initiative!

For this, our 2004 report, we have chosen a ‘people’ theme for the cover, with a montage of shots of many of our staff and postgraduate students. As a new Head of School this has particular significance to me, since I have rapidly become well aware that all staff – both academic and general – as well as our students, have an integral part to play in the success and well-being of the School. In particular, as well as having many ‘high flyers’ in our School (whose contributions quite rightly dominate this report), we also have many ‘quiet achievers’ who provide the all important support for our research and teaching activities. The day-to-day running of our OH&S systems, the operation of our teaching laboratories and maintenance of their aging equipment, and the continual provision of ‘demonstrations’ for inspiring our first year lecture classes, are just a few key examples of the outstanding efforts of those in this latter category.

As evidenced by the contents of this report, 2004 was a year in which the School more than maintained its reputation as a ‘high achiever’ in the areas of teaching, research, and linkages with the national and international physics communities. A particular highlight was the award of the 2004 Australian University Teaching Committee’s Award for Physical Sciences to Prof. Joe Wolfe. Joe also distinguished himself in research through being awarded the French Acoustical Society’s International Medal for his outstanding work in the area of music acoustics. The School was also very pleased to have its refurbished First Year ‘Alpha’ Laboratory and adjacent flexible learning space and courtyard/barbeque areas completed and come into operation.

Finally, the School has always operated in a changing senior management environment, and 2004 was no exception. At the beginning of the year, Prof. Michael Archer took over as the new Dean of the Faculty of Science, bringing much needed new energy and direction to the faculty. However, Prof. Rory Hume resigned as Vice-Chancellor in April, which was a great pity given his interest in the School and the constructive interactions he had had with many of its research groups and staff. Prof. Hume’s successor is Prof. Mark Wainwright, who was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and had previously been the Dean of Engineering and Acting Dean of Science at UNSW. In addition to these changes, the School continued to operate with a significant financial deficit – a situation which is unsustainable and which looms as its greatest challenge in 2005 and beyond.

Professor Warrick Couch
Head of School
May 2005