A series of mailing lists have been created to service the communication needs of Physics in the Australian community. This will facilitate the communication of material to members of the physics community interested in receiving information in designated areas.

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is a central email address to which you send information for distribution to people who have indicated an interest in receiving information in a particular field of interest.

For example, anyone interested in keeping abreast of developments in the field of SURFACE SCIENCE would subscribe to the PHYSICS-SURFACE mailing list (using the procedure outlined later in this document). Any announcements relating to the field of surface science can be directed to PHYSICS-SURFACE@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU and they will be automatically forwarded to everyone subscribing to that list.

At any time an individual can subscribe to a list or if they no longer want to maintain contact with a particular field, they can unsubscribe. The receipt of information is entirely voluntary - you will only receive it if you subscribe to a list.

While an extensive list of areas has been catered for, it is not expected to be exhaustive. If potential users request other specialist mailing lists in Physics then given some evidence of a demand for it, the appropriate arrangements will be made to extend the current service. Within the past few months some additional lists have been created to meet additional unique demand. If any mailing list is not used at all in a 12 month period or if there are no subscribers to a particular list then the need for that facility will be reviewed. All requests should be sent to John O'Connor at PHJOC@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU.

All lists will be unmoderated in the first instance on a trial basis. Thus messages will be forwarded without clearance from any middle person. If there is a need to moderate the messages, a system will be introduced.

How do I subscribe to a list?

To subscribe to a particular list called PHYSICS-XXXXX (where XXXXX is replaced by one of the topic areas listed below eg. TEACHERS, AUST, etc), send an email message to the address MAILSERV@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU and include in the body of the text the line; SUBSCRIBE PHYSICS-XXXXX

If at some stage you no longer wish to receive messages from that mailing list then send an email message to the address MAILSERV@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU and include in the body of the text the line UNSUBSCRIBE PHYSICS-XXXXX

If you are unsure what you can do, send a message containing the word help to mailserv@newcastle.edu.au.

HOW DO I SEND A MESSAGE TO BE BROADCAST TO EVERYONE ON A PARTICULAR LIST?

To send an email message to everyone on list PHYSICS-XXXXX, send or forward the message to PHYSICS-XXXXX@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU and it will immediately bounce out to all subscribers to the list.

CAN I GET ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIST?

As lists are created or changed, a message will be sent out to all users informing them of the changes. If at any time you wish to view the current lists available, send a request to MAILSERV@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU and include in the body of the text the line; INDEX. A complete list of the mailing lists at this centre will be returned by email.

The lists already established are:-

• PHYSICS-EMPLOYMENT
  Get your advertisement for an available position to the very phyisicists looking for employment. A valuable fast and directed avenue to publicise not only local positions but to draw attention to prospects overseas. It also provides a forum to discuss employment issues.
• PHYSICS-HOD
  At times it is useful to target all heads of physics departments at the universities around the country. This could be to seek information on policy in place in various departments or to request nominations for committees, medals or to provide information on forthcoming deadlines which are relevent to academics and students. It may also be relevent to extend this facility to heads of departments in CSIRO, ANSTO and similar organisations.
• PHYSICS-NSW
  A state focussed list to advise of meetings, talks, policy documents and branch news in NSW.
• PHYSICS-NUCLEAR-AND-PARTICLE
  The NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE list is aimed at keeping the nuclear physics community in Australia in touch with developments here and overseas.
• PHYSICS-PLASMA
  A special interest mailing group for the general area of plasma physics.
• PHYSICS-POSTGRAD
  A facility to encourage communication between postgraduate physics students at different universities. Also a forum to discuss issues of common interest.
• PHYSICS-SOLID-STATE
  The continued strength of the 'Wagga' series of solid state conferences demonstrates that there is a strong community of solid state researchers in Australia. This mailing list will facilitate communication between meetings.
• PHYSICS-STEP
  A mailing list for the Space Terrestial Energy Program research interest groups in Australia
• PHYSICS-SURFACE
  A forum to distribute information on current developments in the surface science community which spans Physics and Chemistry disciplines. Notices from the Surface Science Division of IUVSTA will be distributed over this list.
• PHYSICS-TEACHERS
  With the strong interest shown by teachers in the activities of the Australian Institute of Physics, this is a distribution network over which details of new articles and activities relevent to secondary and primary teaching of physics can be conveyed. It can also be a forum for developing policy with extensive input from a range of sources.
• PHYSICS-VACUUM
  The Vacuum Society of Australia grew out of a vacuum division of the AIP. It has now established itself as an independent society but with continuing links to the physics community. This mailing list will aid the rapid dissemination of material to this widespread community of vacuum users and specialists.
• PHYSICS-VIC
  A state focussed list to advise of meetings, talks, policy documents and branch news in VIC.
• PHYSICS-WOMEN
  This mailing list is established as a line of communication for the community of physicists involved in WOMEN IN PHYSICS aspects of the Australian Institute of Physics.

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This service is provided for and maintained by

D.J. O'Connor
Associate Professor
Head, Department of Physics
University of Newcastle
Callaghan, NSW 2308
Australia
Phone 61 49 215439
Fax 61 49 216907
Email : PHJOC@NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU
Check out their website at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/