Professor Richard Blaikie.
The Physics researcher has been a professor since his arrival at Otago 5 1/2 years ago, and says he will explain this evening why this is the right time for him to give his IPL.
Professor Blaikie's research journey began with a Physics honours project here at Otago in the late 1980s, took him to the University of Cambridge for his PhD, on to the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory as a visiting researcher, and then home to New Zealand for an academic career – first to Canterbury University and then back to Otago.
Professor Blaikie leads the Department of Physics' Nano-optics group. Alongside this work, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, he oversees all of the research and commercialisation activities of the University.
"I am looking forward to be able to weave stories about my personal development as a researcher into the forum, which is not normally possible in a technical presentation."
He says his research quest has always been to try to understand the ultimate limits of technologies that use the building blocks of our physical world: from single-electron memories to 'perfect' lenses that can inscribe patterns at close to atomic scales using a beam of light.
“I am looking forward to be able to weave stories about my personal development as a researcher into the forum, which is not normally possible in a technical presentation. The people that have influenced my research and my professional development will be given special mention here and there, as well as acknowledging all the fantastic students and researchers that I have worked with directly in my career to date.”
Like most academics preparing for their IPL, Professor Blaikie confesses to feeling rather nervous.
“I attend many IPLs and am always in awe of the effort and talent that our professors put into getting their presentations right for their audience.”
Come along:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Blaikie's IPL
There and back again: Adventures with atoms, electrons and light
Thu 17 Aug 2017, 5:30 to 6:30pm
Archway 4 Lecture Theatre and Archway 3 Lecture Theatre (overflow audience)
Drinks and nibbles at the Staff Club following the lecture
The lecture will also be livestreamed:
http://www.otago.ac.nz/its/services/teaching/streaming/otago466001.html