Dr Elaine Walker
BSc (Hons) Physics, PhD in Physics

I have been at Murdoch University, both as a student and eventually as an Academic since 1990. Although my degree is in physics I have a strong interest in renewable energy and my PhD was on the physics of some solar cell materials. I am also strongly involved in the Energy Studies department, both in an academic and support role.

I am lecturing in both the Physics and Energy Studies areas.

I am a unit coordinator for:

• PEN317 – Physics of Materials
• OSCI16 – General Physics
• PEN670 – Energy Efficient Buildings
• PEN673 – Environmental Architecture Dissertation

I lecture or have lectured in:

• PEN317 – Physics of Materials
• PEN120 – General Physics
• PEN152 – Principles of Physics
• PEN592 – Energy in Society
• PEN190 – Introduction to Energy Studies
• PEN530 – Advanced Topics in Physics and Nanotechnology: Theoretical
• PEN670 – Energy Efficient Buildings
• PEN587 – Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development

I also do tutoring and/or lab demonstrating for:

• PEN120 – General Physics
• PEN152 – Principles of Physics
• PEN317 – Physics of Materials

My areas of research interest are in the study of the valence bands of solar cell material using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger analysis. I also am interested in solar cells in general and other forms of renewable energy, including solar passive design and solar hot water systems.

In terms of research I am currently working on a paper comparing the XPS valence band of crystalline, amorphous, and hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Awarded SEIT Small Grant Scheme Grant for “Performance evaluation of different state-of-the-art and innovative clean hot water systems at different climatic conditions in Australia” in 2016

Noble Gas Core Level Interference in Photoelectron Spectroscopy of the Valence Band of Ion-Bombarded silicon, Vacuum Science of Australia Congress, Canberra, ACT, 1997.

I am a volunteer at the Perth Observatory in Bickley where I act as a telescope operator or viewing night host as the occasion demands, enabling outreach of astronomy to the public.

I was on the 2013-2014 committee of the Australian Institute of Physics (WA Branch) as an OCM. I am the vice-chair and treasurer on the 2014-2015 committee and Treasurer for 2016-present and on the Women In Physics subcommittee at National level.

I acted as a ‘Moodle Mate’ for the School of Engineering and Information Technology for 2013-2014 during the transition from the Blackboard LMS to the Moodle system. From then on I have still been acting as a Moodle Mate but am advisory only except for my own units.

I was a co-supervisor for  Craig Bowers who has submitted his PhD thesis on The Scientific History of the Perth Observatory from 1960 to 1993.

Journals

• Urmee, T., Walker, E., Arabzadeh Bahri, P., Baverstock, G., Rezvani, S., Saman, W., (2018), Solar water heaters uptake in Australia Issues and barriers, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 30, 2018, pages 11 - 23.
• Walker, E., Lund, C., Jennings, P., Cornish, J., Klauber, C., Hefter, G., (2004), Noble gas ion effects on the XPS valence band spectra of silicon, Applied Surface Science, 222, 1-4, pages 13 - 16.
• Walker, E., Lund, C., Klauber, C., Jennings, P., Cornish, J., Clare, B., Hefter, G., (1998), A Semi-quantitative study of disorder in argon ion-bombarded crystalline silicon using Auger lineshape analysis, Applied Surface Science, 126, , pages 265 - 272.

Conference

• Djordjevic, S., Baverstock, G., Walker, E., Urmee, T., (2014),Identification of the barriers for the slow uptake of solar water heaters in Australia,In: 52nd Annual Conference, Australian Solar Energy Society.