Professor Bill Spence
Professor of Theoretical Physics
Email: w.j.spence@qmul.ac.ukRoom Number: G. O. Jones Building, room 607
Profile
History/Appointments
2013-2019: Vice-Principal (Research), Queen Mary, University of London
2015-2018: Interim Director, Life Sciences at QMUL
2009-2012: Head of Department of Physics/School of Physics and Astronomy
2003-2008: Head of Theory Group/first Director of the Centre for Research in String Theory
2005: Professor of Theoretical Physics
2000: Reader in Theoretical Physics
1999: Lectureship, Queen Mary, University of London
1994-1999: Five-year Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Advanced Research Fellowship, Queen Mary, University of London
1992-1994: Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship, School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Australia
1991-1993: Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) Postdoctoral research associate, Imperial College London
1987-1991: SERC Postdoctoral research associate, Queen Mary, University of London, UK.
1985-1987: SERC Postdoctoral research associate, Southampton University, UK
Academic Qualifications
1985: PhD, Department of Mathematics, Kings College, University of London. Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 studentship.
1981: B. Sc., First Class Honours, Australian National University.
National appointments
2019-2022: UK national Research Excellence Framework 2021: Panel Member Unit of Assessment 10 Mathematics
2020-2021: UK national Research Excellence Framework 2021: Panel Member Unit of Assessment 9 Physics (outputs)
2012-2015: STFC Particle Physics Advisory Panel: consulation with UK research community and preparation of Roadmap for PPAN/STFC Council on future UK particle physics investment of ~£110M p.a.. Preparation of UK input to the CERN Council Strategy Group for the updated European Particle Physics Strategy.
2007-2009: STFC Particle Physics Grants Panel (Theory) (Chair 2008-9). Recommendations on the distribution of Rolling Grant funding for 2008-2013 totalling £27M.
2008: STFC Particle Physics Consultation Panel, 2008. Advice to the Research Council on the ranking of experimental physics programmes with funding totalling £110M.
Personal Homepage
Research
Research Interests:
Supervision
Public Engagement
Personal Homepage
Physics:
Popular science book - "Everything is Now: Revolutionary ideas from string theory". Taylor and Francis/CRC Press.
Articles/Op-eds
The Universities Superannuation Scheme’s Response to the Climate Emergency, Report written for DivestUSS, October 2022, 30pp.
Elite universities are falling short on their green promises, Times Higher Education, 19th April 2021 (register for free access). Text and links also available here.
(Opinions are those of the author. University policies may be found on the QMUL website.)