Staff profile

Pippa Petts is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Durham University. She founded and leads the Physics Education and Scholarship (PhES) section, establishing a structured academic community focused on both scholarship and research in physics education.

Originally trained as a nuclear physicist, Pippa completed an MPhys and a PhD in Experimental Nuclear Structure at the University of York, specialising in gamma-ray spectroscopy. She subsequently worked in the nuclear industry for several years, developing expertise in radiation detection and measurement. That experience now underpins her ongoing work in inclusive, technology-driven innovation in physics education.

Her current research focuses on transforming student learning through immersive technologies, including Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), alongside inclusive laboratory teaching methods. Her recent work, “Developing Augmented Reality (AR) Teaching Tools for Undergraduate Physics – The Virtual Optical Table”, is currently in press for publication in a Springer volume (expected August 2025), following peer-reviewed selection at the EPEC-GIREP 2023 international physics education research conference. Her work in this area has also been selected for development as a REF2029 Impact Case Study.

Pippa holds Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), and Chartered Physicist (CPhys) status as a Member of the Institute of Physics (MInstP). She contributes to sector development through roles including membership of the 2024 QAA Benchmark Panel for Physics, her elected position on the Institute of Physics Higher Education Group, and regular engagement with national and international pedagogic communities. She also served on the organising committee for ViCEPHEC 2023, hosted at Durham.

• Nuclear Physics
• Physics Pedagogy
• Laboratory teaching methods
• Augmented Reality
• Virtual Reality
• AI

• 2024: External Examiner – University of Liverpool (Physics Programmes): External examiner for physics degree programmes at the University of Liverpool, providing specialist advice on curriculum redesign to 20-credit structures and supporting the development of educational research within the department.
• 2024: Mentor – Disabled in STEM International Mentoring Programme: Provided strategic mentoring for early-career STEM researchers globally, supporting accessibility and career development in academia.
• 2024: Member – QAA Benchmark Panel for Physics (2024–25): Selected to contribute nationally to the 2024/25 revision of the Subject Benchmark Statement for Physics, shaping sector standards across UK higher education.
• 2023: Host Co-Organiser – ViCEPHEC 2023: Co-organiser of the 2023 ViCEPHEC national physics education research conference, promoting inclusive and sector-leading practice in STEM pedagogy.
• 2022: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA): Awarded Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (SFHEA) in recognition of sustained leadership and impact in higher education teaching and learning.
• 2021: External Examiner – University of Hull (Physics Programmes): External examiner for undergraduate physics programmes, with special advisory input on programme redesign and educational research mentoring.
• 2021: Durham University Teaching and Learning Awards: Shortlisted for outstanding contribution to innovative and inclusive physics education at Durham University.
• 2020: Durham Women Making a Difference: Named as a Durham Women Making a Difference at the 2020 awards to coincide with International Women's Day.
• 2019: Chartered Physicist (CPhys): Awarded Chartered Physicist (CPhys) status by the Institute of Physics, recognising excellence in physics practice and professional standards.

Conference Paper

• Petts, P. L., Swift, G. P., & Nightingale, S. C. (2021, December). Evaluation of Student Understanding of Uncertainty in Level 1 Undergraduate Physics Laboratories. Presented at 10th International Conference New Perspectives in Science Education
• Clement, E., Gorgen, A., Dijon, A., de France, G., Bastin, B., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Butler, P., Delahaye, P., Ekstrom, A., Georgiev, G., Hasan, N., Iwanicki, J., Jenkins, D., Korten, W., Larsen, A., Ljungvall, J., Moschner, K., Napiorkowski, P., Pakarinen, J., …De Witte, H. (2014, December). Onset of collectivity in Sr-96,Sr-98 studied via Coulomb excitation. Presented at INPC 2013 - INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR PHYSICS CONFERENCE, VOL. 1
• Clement, E., Goergen, A., Dijon, A., de France, G., Bastin, B., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Butler, P., Delahaye, P., Ekstrom, A., Georgiev, G., Hasan, N., Iwanicki, J., Jenkins, D., Korten, W., Larsen, A., Ljungvall, J., Moschner, K., Napiorkowski, P., Pakarinen, J., …De Witte, H. (2013, December). Onset of collectivity in neutron-rich Sr and Kr isotopes: Prompt spectroscopy after Coulomb excitation at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. Presented at FISSION 2013 - FIFTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NUCLEAR FISSION AND FISSION PRODUCT SPECTROSCOPY ILL; CEA DSM \& DAM; CNRS IN2P3; ENSICAEN; GANIL
• Lebhertz, D., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Salsac, M. .-D., Beck, C., Michalon, A., Rousseau, M., Marley, P., Glover, R., Kent, P., Hutcheon, D., Davis, C., & Pearson, J. (2009, December). New decay branches of the radiative capture reaction C-12(O-16,gamma)Si-28. Presented at CAPTURE GAMMA-RAY SPECTROSCOPY AND RELATED TOPICS
• Courtin, S., Lebhertz, D., Haas, F., Beek, C., Hutcheon, D., Jenkins, D., Lister, C., Marley, P., Michalon, A., & Salsac, M. .-D. (2009, December). A New Decay Path in the C-12+O-16 Radiative Capture Reaction. Presented at FUSION 08
• Petts, A., Butler, P., Grahn, T., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Bruyneel, B., Cederkaell, J., Clement, E., Cocolios, T., Dewald, A., Eberth, J., Fraile, L., Fransen, C., Hornillos, M. G., Greenlees, P., Goergen, A., Guttormsen, M., Hadynska, K., Helariutta, K., Herzberg, R. .-D., …Zielinska, M. (2009, December). Lifetime Measurements and Coulomb Excitation of Light Hg Nuclei. Presented at CAPTURE GAMMA-RAY SPECTROSCOPY AND RELATED TOPICS
• Lebhertz, D., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Salsac, M. .-D., Beck, C., Michalon, A., Rousseau, M., Marley, P., Glover, R., Kent, P., Hutcheon, D., Davis, C., & Pearson, J. (2009, December). Radiative Capture Process at the Coulomb Barrier: the Resonant C-12+O-16 Case. Presented at NUCLEAR STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS `09

Journal Article

• Cramman, H., Arenas, B., Awais, R., Balaban, C., Cropper, C., Dennis, F., Finch, K., Gray, H., Hall, A., Kitchen, G., Norman, K., O’Driscoll, L., Petts, P., Petri, S., Robson, J., Rosenburgh, A., Shields, L., Swift, G. P., & Vaughan, H. (2024). Post-16 students’ experience of practical science during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on students’ self-efficacy in practical work. Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2, 39-69. https://doi.org/10.62512/etlhe.14
• Wrzosek-Lipska, K., Rezynkina, K., Bree, N., Zielinska, M., Gaffney, L., Petts, A., Andreyev, A., Bastin, B., Bender, M., Blazhev, A., Bruyneel, B., Butler, P., Carpenter, M., Cederkall, J., Clement, E., Cocolios, T., Deacon, A., Diriken, J., Ekstrom, A., Fitzpatrick, C., …Wood, J. (2019). Electromagnetic properties of low-lying states in neutron-deficient Hg isotopes: Coulomb excitation of Hg-182, Hg-184, Hg-186 and Hg-188. The European Physical Journal A, 55(8), Article 130. https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2019-12815-2
• Clement, E., Zielinska, M., Gorgen, A., Korten, W., Peru, S., Libert, J., Goutte, H., Hilaire, S., Bastin, B., Bauer, C., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Bruyneel, B., Butler, P., Butterworth, J., Delahaye, P., Dijon, A., Doherty, D., Ekstrom, A., Fitzpatrick, C., …Wrzosek-Lipska, K. (2016). Spectroscopic Quadrupole Moments in Sr-96,Sr-98: Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Neutron-Rich Strontium Isotopes at N = 60 (vol 116, 022701, 2016). Physical Review Letters, 117(9), Article 099902. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.117.099902
• Clement, E., Zielinska, M., Peru, S., Goutte, H., Hilaire, S., Gorgen, A., Korten, W., Doherty, D., Bastin, B., Bauer, C., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Bruyneel, B., Butler, P., Butterworth, J., Cederkall, J., Delahaye, P., Dijon, A., Ekstrom, A., Fitzpatrick, C., …Wrzosek-Lipska, K. (2016). Low-energy Coulomb excitation of Sr-96,Sr-98 beams. Physical Review C, 94(5), Article 054326. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.94.054326
• Clement, E., Zielinska, M., Gorgen, A., Korten, W., Peru, S., Libert, J., Goutte, H., Hilaire, S., Bastin, B., Bauer, C., Blazhev, A., Bree, N., Bruyneel, B., Butler, P., Butterworth, J., Delahaye, P., Dijon, A., Doherty, D., Ekstrom, A., Fitzpatrick, C., …Wrzosek-Lipska, K. (2016). Spectroscopic Quadrupole Moments in Sr-96,Sr-98: Evidence for Shape Coexistence in Neutron-Rich Strontium Isotopes at N=60. Physical Review Letters, 116(2), Article 022701. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.022701
• Bree, N., Wrzosek-Lipska, K., Petts, A., Andreyev, A., Bastin, B., Bender, M., Blazhev, A., Bruyneel, B., Butler, P., Butterworth, J., Carpenter, M., Cederkaell, J., Clement, E., Cocolios, T., Deacon, A., Diriken, J., Ekstroem, A., Fitzpatrick, C., Fraile, L., Fransen, C., …Zielinska, M. (2014). Shape Coexistence in the Neutron- Deficient Even-Even Hg182-188 Isotopes Studied via Coulomb Excitation. Physical Review Letters, 112(16), Article 162701. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.112.162701
• Bauer, C., Behrens, T., Bildstein, V., Blazhev, A., Bruyneel, B., Butterworth, J., Clement, E., Coquard, L., Egido, J., Ekstrom, A., Fitzpatrick, C., Fransen, C., Gernhaeuser, R., Habs, D., Hess, H., Leske, J., Kroell, T., Kruecken, R., Lutter, R., Marley, P., …Wiens, A. (2012). Prolate shape of Ba-140 from a first combined Doppler-shift and Coulomb-excitation measurement at the REX-ISOLDE facility. Physical Review C, 86(3), Article 034310. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.86.034310
• Lebhertz, D., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Jenkins, D., Simenel, C., Salsac, M. .-D., Hutcheon, D., Beck, C., Cseh, J., Darai, J., Davis, C., Glover, R., Goasduff, A., Kent, P., Levai, G., Marley, P., Michalon, A., Pearson, J., Rousseau, M., Rowley, N., & Ruiz, C. (2012). C-12(O-16,gamma)Si-28 radiative capture: Structural and statistical aspects of the gamma decay. Physical Review C, 85(3), Article 034333. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.85.034333
• Robinson, A., Khoo, T., Seweryniak, D., Ahmad, I., Asai, M., Back, B., Carpenter, M., Chowdhury, P., Davids, C., Greene, J., Greenlees, P., Hauschild, K., Heinz, A., Herzberg, R. .-D., Janssens, R., Jenkins, D., Jones, G., Ketelhut, S., Kondev, F., Lauritsen, T., …Zhu, S. (2011). Search for a 2-quasiparticle high-K isomer in (256)Rf. Physical Review C, 83(6), Article 064311. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.83.064311
• Marley, P., Jenkins, D., Davies, P., Robinson, A., Wadsworth, R., Lister, C., Carpenter, M., Janssens, R., Jiang, C., Khoo, T., Lauritsen, T., Seweryniak, D., Zhu, S., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Lebhertz, D., Bouhelal, M., Lighthall, J., Wuosmaa, A., & O'Donnell, D. (2011). High-resolution spectroscopy of decay pathways in the C-12(C-12,gamma) reaction. Physical Review C, 84(4), Article 044332. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.84.044332
• Seweryniak, D., Khoo, T., Ahmad, I., Kondev, F., Robinsou, A., Tandel, S., Asai, M., Back, B., Carpenter, M., Chowdhury, P., Davids, C., Eeckhaudt, S., Greene, J., Greenlees, P., Gros, S., Hauschild, K., Heinz, A., Herzberg, R. .-D., Janssens, R., Jenkins, D., …Zhu, S. (2010). Bridging the nuclear structure gap between stable and super heavy nuclei. Nuclear Physics A, 834(1-4), 357C-361C. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2010.01.039
• Marley, P., Jenkins, D., Pattabiraman, N., Robinson, A., Wadsworth, R., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Lebhertz, D., Lister, C., Carpenter, M., Zhu, S., Seweryniak, D., Wuosmaa, A., Lighthall, J., & O'Donnell, D. (2008). HEAVY ION RADIATIVE CAPTURE OF C-12+C-12. International Journal of Modern Physics E, 17(10), 2040-2043. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0218301308011057
• Lebhertz, D., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Salsac, M. .-D., Beck, C., Michalon, A., Rousseau, M., Jenkins, D., Marley, P., Glover, R., Kent, P., Hutcheon, D., Davis, C., & Pearson, J. (2008). RESONANT RADIATIVE CAPTURE AND MOLECULAR STATES IN Mg-24 AND Si-28. International Journal of Modern Physics E, 17(10), 2044-2048. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0218301308011069
• Jenkins, D., Fulton, B., Marley, P., Fox, S., Glover, R., Wadsworth, R., Watson, D., Courtin, S., Haas, F., Lebhertz, D., Beck, C., Papka, P., Rousseau, M., Sanchez i Zafra, A., Hutcheon, D., Davis, C., Ottewell, D., Pavan, M., Pearson, J., Ruiz, C., …Moon, S. (2007). Decay strength distributions in C-12(C-12,gamma) radiative capture. Physical Review C, 76(4),