Australian Institute of Physics

High school students throughout Queensland responded enthusiastically to Dr. Pegah Maasoumi’s infectious energy during her role as the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) John Mainstone Youth Lecturer for 2019.

The lecture tour took Pegah and her presentation, ‘My Organic Research’, to 12 Queensland schools across the Sunshine Coast, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Brisbane and Toowoomba, where she inspired and engaged the kids with her exciting research and her journey as a scientist.

Pegah talked to more than 600 students from Year 10 to Year 12, revealing the secrets behind foldable mobile phones, Ironman’s suit and next generation of solar windows. She told the story of her journey as a scientist and enlightened her audiences about the excitement and opportunities offered by a career as a physicist.

Pegah said: “No doubt, one of the highlights of my tour was the way students engaged with my research and story. The questions and ideas they shared during the talk, and all the promising feedback I got from their teachers, strongly suggest that they are considering science and physics as career path.

“I am also very happy to be an organic example for them that a physicist is not just an old man with fuzzy hair who works with forces. I like to think, they are now not picturing us as clumsy Big Bang Theory physicists but more of a capable Tony Stark version.

“Their questions totally blew my mind. One of the very common questions was, ‘why are we not using solar more?’ and ‘still our politicians insist on burning coal?’ That question for me was pure joy to see. Not only are we promoting and fostering future scientists, but perhaps smarter politicians and a better future for Australia.”

Pegah believes the tour was very successful and nothing can be more effective than exposing our kids to living examples and raising important questions.

“I am absolutely grateful for this experience and I would love to see one of those bright girls as a future John Mainstone Youth Lecturer.”

Pegah, who undertook the tour in her capacity as a postdoctoral research fellow at Exciton Science, based at the University of Melbourne, has been able to use her experience of working within the Centre to take the next step in her career, joining Swinburne University of Technology as a Lecturer in Project Management and Research Training and a Research Fellow in Organic Electronics and Energy in late 2019.