The ability to work across interdisciplinary boundaries is a crucial skill for tackling problems in our modern world. With quantitative modelling becoming widespread across industry and traditionally qualitative sciences, physicists have a crucial role to play in applying their expertise broadly. In this unit, you will gain an appreciation for the unique skills and ways of thinking that have allowed physicists to contribute to a wide range of real-world problems. This unit contains two components: (i) a lecture and interactive problem-based group-tutorial component on interdisciplinary physics, complex systems, and artificial intelligence, and (ii) an interdisciplinary project-based component. For the project component you will work in small interdisciplinary groups, including students from other 3888 units, to tackle a real-world interdisciplinary problem. Through project-based learning, you will learn to leverage the diverse skills represented in your team, and develop skills in experimental measurement, numerical processing, and statistical modelling. Skills in identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data, and communicating your findings to diverse audiences are highly valued in modern research and by employers. In Semester 1 the majority of students will partner with DATA3888 peers to build a real-time brain-machine interface that uses machine-learning techniques to extract meaningful patterns from live physiological measurements. For example, using human brain or eye activity to control computer software (e.g., a simple game). In Semester 2 the majority of students will partner with CHEM3888 peers to propose, develop and analyse solutions to challenges in medical imaging, precision sensing or quantum information science using the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (e.g., What innovations are required to make magnetic resonance imaging more broadly accessible?). In both semesters a limited number of places are offered in Interdisciplinary Special Projects where students work with leading researchers from the School of Physics and another discipline on cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.
Unit details and rules
Academic unit | Physics Academic Operations |
---|---|
Credit points | 6 |
Prerequisites
?
|
(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922) |
Corequisites
?
|
None |
Prohibitions
?
|
PHYS3941 or PHYS3991 |
Assumed knowledge
?
|
None |
Available to study abroad and exchange students | Yes |
Teaching staff
Coordinator | Ben Fulcher, ben.fulcher@sydney.edu.au |
---|---|
Lecturer(s) | Ben Fulcher, ben.fulcher@sydney.edu.au |
Project supervisor(s) | Manisha Caleb, manisha.caleb@sydney.edu.au |