Physics is the discipline that addresses the most fundamental questions in science, from the very nature of matter to the origin of the Universe. Moreover physics is important to the economy of the nation; many past technologies have been based on research carried out in physics departments and the same will be true of developments in the future.

Bristol's School of Physics is well placed to address these challenges, with research strengths and a clear vision to pursue the newly emerging areas of nanotechnology, optoelectronics, high temperature superconductors, smart materials, quantum information, e-science and revolutionary instrumentation for probing biological systems at the molecular scale. Added to that, we are carrying out world class research in elementary particle physics, cosmology and a range of theoretical physics.