WHY TAKE PHYSICS Caroline Le Dain Burgess Faculty

WHY TAKE PHYSICS? Caroline Le Dain Burgess Faculty of Science Mc. Master University carolineledain. burgess@gmail. com

Outline WHAT I WON’T TALK ABOUT � � Stats (jobs, employment rate, salary) Static picture of the past WHAT I WILL TALK ABOUT � My Sources � High School Physics � University Physics � � � Physics in Level I and Beyond Physics versus Engineering B. Sc. In Physics � Versatility and Dynamism � Career Paths

My Sources � � � Dialogues with high school math and science teachers and students through outreach Conversations with high school students and parents at OUF and Mc. Master Open Houses Dialogues with undergraduate and graduate students in Science (including coop students) Dialogues with alumni (including Faculty of Science Career Nights) Dialogues with faculty in Science Member, Mc. Master Student Experience Task Force

Why Take High School Physics? Benefits � Problem solving with math � Requires and encourages discipline, time management, practice and perseverance � Can’t cram for it � Admission requirement for Engineering and several entry level programs in Science � Admission requirement (or equivalent) for most Honours Science programs that start in 2 nd Year (e. g. Honours Biology) Barriers � Weak math skills (familiarity versus mastery) � Perception that it is “hard” � GPA anxiety related to university (or med school) admission

University Physics? Benefits � More problem solving with math (+ computer programming) that can be applied to many fields � Encourages discipline, time management skills, perseverance (takes time to learn and to gel) � One full year of physics (with lab) is the standard for many med schools and other programs in the Medical, Health and Life Sciences � Many can do “easy” you stand out when you demonstrate that you can do “hard” Barriers � Weak math skills � Requires a certain level of commitment, discipline, time management skills, perseverance � GPA anxiety (getting into med school)

Physics or Engineering? Similarities � Problem solvers with strong math skills � Easy to move between disciplines at the undergrad and grad level � Many physicists hold “engineering” jobs (except those that require a “Professional Engineer” designation) � Both degrees lend themselves to interdisciplinary fields Differences � Engineering: more pragmatic , “real world”, approach to problem solving, more proscribed program, fewer electives, less flexible career options � Physics: more first principles, fundamentals approach to problem solving, more math, more electives, more flexible career options

Physics B. Sc. Transferable Skills Program � Math � Problem solving: world– math –world � Scientific computing (programming) � Modeling of complex systems � Lab skills (instrumentation) � Data analysis Summer Research � Research lab skills, experimental design, more data analysis, more programming, working in a team, reports, papers, presentations, conferences Coop opportunities � Same as above plus industrial and government environments, networking, possibility for travel Complements (electives) � Math � Computer Science (programming) � Astronomy � Biology � Biochemistry � Chemistry � Material Science � Electronics � Optics � Geology � Economics � Philosophy � English (writing) � Finance � Business and many more….

Careers with a Physics B. Sc. CAREERS IN PHYSICS � � � � Optics and Photonics Electronics/Instrumentation Nanotechnology Acoustics Energy Materials science (e. g. microelectronics at Intel, IBM, etc. ) Telecommunications Aerospace Medical Imaging Nuclear energy Geophysics and seismology Biophysics Meteorology and many more… NON-PHYSICS CAREERS � � � � Computer programming Software development Web design Insurance (risk analysis) Banking Technical writing Scientific reporting Armed Forces and many more…

Careers with Physics B. Sc. + GRADUATE SCHOOL � � � � � Physics, Astrophysics, Biophysics, Geophysics, Medical Physics Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering Applied Mathematics Chemistry Meteorology Neuroscience Systems Biology Medicine(MD/Ph. D) Economics … PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL � � � Medicine Dentistry Law Teaching Financial Mathematics Business

Emerging Fields � � � Energy and Environment (from climate modeling to fuel-cell design, biofuels) Self-assembly at all scales (e. g. the cell membrane) Origins of life Bioengineering and Bio-inspired Engineering Drug delivery and implantable diagnostics Anticipatory medicine Bioinformatics, tracking/modeling disease spread Reconstructing ancient organism and ecosystem function from fossil record Bringing quantitative methods to descriptive fields (e. g. psychology, sociology) Biomechanics – sport (and injury) as biophysics Ecology as economics and vice versa Essential skills needed to solve all of these problems are learned in a physics undergraduate program

The Take Home � � � Facts can be picked up from anywhere, including the web, relatively quickly “World-Math-World” skill is universally useful (now and in the future), but takes time, discipline and practice to learn, so is rare Physicists have the necessary math and computer programming from a B. Sc. 62% of Ontario workers have PSE Many can do easy, you stand out when you demonstrate you can do hard

Thank you