Mike Wheatland
@manicule.bsky.social
180 followers 110 following 27 posts
Professor in physics and Associate Dean, Education in the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. Solar astrophysicist and owner of spinning things. Views expressed here are my own.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
manicule.bsky.social
Such a worry -- physics underpins science. If students don't choose to study fundamental subjects like physics, will Australia continue to be a leader in science?
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
taramurphy.bsky.social
Participation in Australian high school #Physics is declining!

The proportion of Yr 12 students studying physics fell from 14.9% in 2015 to 12.1% in 2023; gender ratio unchanged.

(Luckily this hasn't impacted the number of students studying Physics @sydney.edu.au, but it is a broader issue).
aip.org.au
The 2025 Year 12 Physics Participation Report Card, released today by AMSI and the AIP, reveals a decline in high school physics enrolments across Australia, and persistent gender gaps.

Media release: www.aip.org.au/resources/Do...

Full report: www.aip.org.au/resources/Do...
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
phyphox.org
A smartphone is not all that different in shape from a skateboard, in Australia, they are willing to take risks, and so “The mobile phone as a free-rotation laboratory” was born, www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~wheat/paper... (for tl;dr, there is a video via the DOI link). 2/3
www.physics.usyd.edu.au
manicule.bsky.social
The Faculty of Science student awards 2025. Science is amazing and our students are the future which is more
amazing still.
@sydney.edu.au
@sydneyphysics.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
taramurphy.bsky.social
In an era that is very cynical about higher education, it's great to see students from a range of cultural and educational backgrounds working together, sharing their experiences and recommending books to read. Both on campus and online.

(Credit to @manicule.bsky.social and Tristram Alexander)
manicule.bsky.social
This week I helped graduate 165 students (including 24 PhDs, one supervised by me, and 10 university medallists). Congratulations to James and all of the graduates! @sydney.edu.au @sydneyphysics.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
taramurphy.bsky.social
I am super excited to be hosting the incredible Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com presenting "The End of Everything" at the University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au

Join us on July 10 to learn about five ways the Universe might die!

Registration is free...

www.sydney.edu.au/engage/event...

⚛️ #Astronomy ⚛️
Katie Mack: The end of everything
www.sydney.edu.au
manicule.bsky.social
Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah in Bilpin.
Highly recommended!
They have giant Redwoods, and so much else.
manicule.bsky.social
That's the Wilkinson axis!
manicule.bsky.social
Here's the question I am answering.
manicule.bsky.social
The yo-yo trick -- which way will it roll? A PHYS1001 demo. @sydney.edu.au @sydneyphysics.bsky.social
manicule.bsky.social
It's a little messy at the moment. 🙂
manicule.bsky.social
Laura Driessen from @sydneyphysics.bsky.social Raising the Bar at Hermann's Bar @sydney.edu.au
manicule.bsky.social
Welcome University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au to Bluesky!
sydney.edu.au
We heard that you were talking about us on Bluesky so here we are 👋
Multiple screenshots of previous Bluesky posts that have tagged the University of Sydney.
manicule.bsky.social
There are three UG students doing a research project to model the dance. They've worked out the equations of motion and next they will numerically solve them. @sydneyuni.bsky.social
manicule.bsky.social
A rolling spherical neodymium magnet with a maximum surface field of 8000G. It experiences a torque due to the Earth's magnetic field and does a little dance. #physics
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
manicule.bsky.social
A lecture demonstration from the PHYS1001 lecture today @sydneyuni.bsky.social @sydneyphysics.bsky.social
manicule.bsky.social
Hi @physgal.bsky.social I am a physicist at the Uni of Sydney, this is me: www.sydney.edu.au/science/abou.... Please add me!
Reposted by Mike Wheatland
manicule.bsky.social
Lecture 1 in PHYS1001 for 2025. A great turn out with 300+ students. I am explaining the Tippe Top and the Euler disk. @sydneyuni.bsky.social @sydneyphysics.bsky.social

youtu.be/Bf82WQaLQD8
PHYS1001 Lecture 1 extract
YouTube video by Mike Wheatland
youtu.be
manicule.bsky.social
A packed Faculty of Science Welcome Week event at the Seymour Centre today -- wonderful to meet the new students @sydneyuni.bsky.social