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Theoretical and Experimental Endeavours at the Boundaries of Physics, Chemistry & Biology

Researchers in the Department of Applied Mathematics work on a range of problems spanning many disciplines from chemistry to materials science to biology.
Despite the theoretical sounding name, roughly half of the work is experimental, providing empirical measurements which can be used to refine mathematical models of various systems.

The Department has an excellent international reputation for ground breaking research in a variety of areas including:

Theoretical modelling and direct measurement of the minute molecular forces between surfaces and the assessment of the properties of a variety of surfactants. The Department is a world leader in the design and construction of complex instruments to measure these forces and has sold its ANU-designed surface forces apparatus to over twenty-five laboratories around the world.
The flow properties of porous media such as oil-bearing rocks or paper. Improved understanding of the physics of such processes has applications ranging from the petrochemical industries to the design of bubble jet printer inks and papers. This work has lead to many industry collaborations and membership of the CRC for Functional Communication Surfaces.
The study of the enigmatic processes of long range ordering, which for example, enables animals like the sea urchin to construct a skeleton out of polycrystaline elements which collectively exhibit some single crystal properties. Biomineralisation has also many potential commercial applications such as the production of low temperature super ceramics as well as wider scientific implications such as the search for Martian life.
Complex fluids such as liquid crystals, the properties of polymers and the folding of DNA molecules.

There are numerous collaborative links, both within Australia and with groups in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and the U.S.A. Much more information is available on the research and history pages.

The Department has an excellent suite of laboratory facilities, including high-resolution x-ray tomography, atomic force microscopes, large and small angle x-ray scattering, neutron scattering, NMR and supercomputers.
See the instrumentation pages for more details.

Students are a vital part of the department's research and social activities. Prospective students are encouraged to visit and learn more about the theoretical, experimental, pure, and applied research projects in all of the above areas.