What do flying frogs have to do with carbon atoms?

Not much, unless you are 2010 Physics Nobel Prize winners Andrei Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. The pair used a frog to demonstrate the unique properties of a new substance called graphene - a layer of carbon atoms just one atom thick.

Physics theorist John DobsonPhysics theorist and lecturer at Griffith University Professor John Dobson has been travelling the state enlightening high school students and teachers about the discovery of graphene and this week gave a lecture at CQUniversity in Rockhampton.

The lecture involved demonstrations and discussions relating to the rich variety of physical ideas, technologies and concepts flowing from the discovery of graphene.

Professor John Dobson researches many-electron quantum physics and nanoscience in the Queensland Micro and Nano Technology Centre, and also teaches physics at all levels at Griffith University.

He obtained his undergraduate degrees at Melbourne University and his doctorate at the University of California. He has also worked at Cornell University (USA), University of Paris and Ecole Polytechnique (France).

The tour was sponsored by the Australian Institute of Physics.