Dirac Medal

For distinguished contribution to the study of physics.

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The Dirac Medal and Public Lecture

The Dirac Medal for the Advancement of Physics is awarded by the University of New South Wales, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP), to recognise distinguished contributions to physics. The Medal is presented at the accompanying Dirac Public Lecture, held approximately annually at UNSW.

The Medal and Lecture have their origins in a visit to UNSW by renowned physicist Professor Paul Dirac in 1975. During his visit, Dirac delivered a series of five lectures on the latest developments in physics. The lectures were subsequently published as Directions in Physics: Lectures Delivered During a Visit to Australia and New Zealand August/September 1975 (Wiley, 1978), edited by H. Hora and J. R. Shepanski, with a foreword by Sir Mark Oliphant.

Royalties from the publication were donated to UNSW and helped establish the Dirac Lecture and Medal, creating a lasting legacy from Dirac's visit. Almost five decades later, that legacy continues, with the Dirac Medal recognising distinguished physicists and the accompanying public lecture bringing their work to audiences at UNSW.

Since its establishment, the Dirac Medal has recognised some of the world's leading physicists, including Prof David Pines, Prof Brian Schmidt, Prof Lene Hau and Prof Susan Scott.

Nominations

Since 2018, the Dirac Medal has been open to external nominations. Nominations are considered by the Dirac Committee within the UNSW School of Physics, with selection based on:

distinguished contributions to physics; and

a demonstrated ability to communicate the significance and broader implications of their research through a compelling public lecture.

Nominations are welcomed for distinguished and sustained contributions across all areas of physics, including but not limited to theoretical physics.

Nominations and questions can be directed to the Chair of the Dirac Committee at:
E: diracmedal＠physics.unsw.edu.au

Dirac Medal Committee:

Prof Julian Berengut (Chair), Prof Susan Coppersmith, Dr Jesse van de Sande.

Applications close in July each year

Professor Paul Dirac

Professor Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac (1902–1984) was one of the founding figures of modern quantum mechanics and was awarded the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the development of atomic theory. His 1928 relativistic theory of the electron, now known as the Dirac equation, predicted the existence of antimatter and became a cornerstone of modern quantum physics.

Dirac visited UNSW in 1975, where he delivered five lectures that became the foundation for the University’s Dirac Medal and Public Lecture. His influence continues at UNSW today, including through https://www.diraq.com/ Diraq, the University spinout founded by Professor Andrew Dzurak to develop scalable quantum computers using silicon-based qubits. Diraq takes its name from Prof Dirac and is a regular supporter of the Dirac Medal and Lecture.