Notre DamePhysics

Careers in Physics: Not Just Equations Anymore

Knowledge acquired by careful observation -

by deduction of laws which govern changes– and by

testing these deductions by controlled

experimentation.

…science

3 Components of Scientific Thinking

(1) Empirical Evidence (empiricism)

(2) Logical Reasoning (rationalism)

(3) Skeptical Attitude (skepticism)

-- observation, measurement & data

-- process, objective thinking

-- self questioning, undogmatic

Solve Big Problems

Physics is the study and description of the structure and behavior of the physical universe,

fundamental to all physical sciences, both pure and applied -- astronomy, chemistry, geology and even biology. Physics contributes to the detailed description and understanding of basic phenomena.

….the science of matter and energy and their interactions

Specializations:

AstrophysicsAtomic PhysicsCondensed MatterBiophysicsFluid PhysicsParticle PhysicsNuclear Physics Statistical Physics

….all types of scientists (where do you fall?) consideration for use

quest forfundamental

understanding

pure basic research

(bohr)

use-inspired

basic research

(pasteur)

pure-applied

research

(edison)

no yes

yes

no

research inspired by:

curiosity particular things

(e.g. bird watching)

Pasteur’s Quadrant: BasicScience & Technological Innovation (Brookings Press, Washington DC, 1997), D.E. Stokes

…what can physicists do?

Everything !

• Strong Analytical Skill Set• Rigorous Curriculum• Multidisciplinary• Very Organized• Hard Working• Goal Oriented • Logical • Creative

Changing world around usGrowing importance to economyBig problems in our timesExciting questions in our times

Why Physics ?Why Science ?

Importance [1,2,3]

• Population Shifts (by 2020, Hispanics >17% andAfrican Americans ~13% of population)

• By 2050, >50% population will be non-Caucasian• World Population (by 2020 1.5 billion more people

mostly in Asia and Africa)

• Youth bulge (in 2020, >50% of world populationcould be <18 years old)

[1] Central Intelligence Agency, 2001, Longterm Global DemographicTrends (www.odci.gov/cia/reports/demo_trends_for_web.pdf).[2] United States Census Bureau, 2002, USCBN Population Projections(www.census.gov).[3] Summarized in Education the Engineering of 2020, NAE, 2005.

…the changing world around us

The way we do science will also change.

…growing importance of science

“….the biggest concern is that our competitive advantage, our success in the global markets, our economic growth, and our standard of living all depend on maintaining a leading position in science, technology and innovation. As that lead shrinks, we risk losing the advantages on which our economy depends.”

Rising Above the Gathering Storm

National Academy of ScienceNational Academy of EngineeringInstitute of Medicine

…global warmingPast 100 years, sea levels have risen 4-8 inches

Earth temperature hasrisen 1oF in last century

Greenhouse gases are emissions that riseinto the atmosphere and trap the sun’senergy, keeping heat from escaping.

US responsible for 20%of greenhouse gases (since ‘97)

Most emission attributed to US, fuels in cars and factories

Coal, nature gas, and oilproduces greenhouse gasesin excessive amounts

Damaging storms, droughts, and related weather phenomena cause an increase in economic and health problems. Warmer weather, more insects, such as malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

…disease

Cancer

Malaria (ID)

Diabetes

Stroke Heart Disease

Blindness

Niemann Pick (rare)

HIV

Permission: © Copyright 2006 SASI Group (University of Sheffield) & Mark Newman (University of Michigan): see web address: www.worldmapper.org

…energy

population

energy

nuclear

gas

coal

wood

wind

solar

…nanoscienceNanodevices

Nanophotonics

Nanohealth• adverse health effects• drug targeting• EHS (protection)

• communications• electronics• sensing/computing

• miniature electronics• medical devices• strong/light materials

space elevator

photonic crystals

asbestos Mercury

protection

radio-activity

…dark matter & dark energy dark matteris matter that does not interact with the electromagnetic force, but

whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter

We understand about ¼ of what makes up universe

Rotations curves of galaxies (most matter is not visible) Why study dark matter?

(1) How universe created

(2) How it will end

(3) Particles not yet discovered

Training in physics provides you with spectrum of opportunities

…career options in physics

academics medicine Intellectual Property Law

consulting

Wall Street

government entrepreneurshipgrad school

…graduate and professional schools

Question -- graduate or professional school ?

Advanced Degrees

Advanced DegreesTraditional (physics)Engineering ProgramsInterdisciplinary ProgramsEnvironmental

EnergyBioengineering

Professional DegreesMedical SchoolLaw SchoolBusiness School

…research careers

Gov’tLabs

Academia

Industry

Ph

ysic

s R

ese

arch

C

are

ers

.

...intellectual property law

.

patent examiner Patent specialistPatent Agent Patent Attorney

….medicine

Medical SchoolMedical DevicesNuclear MedicineImaging Radiation Magnetic Resonance Imaging

…financial physics

Modeling stock market (networks)Money flow (diffusion equation)Decision making (Monte Carlo)

Physicists wanted – apply within

The behavior of stock market is inherently so complex that no single variable can predict how the market is going to behave next or what would be its future returns - at least not on a regular and consistent basis over a long time. Given that the computing horsepower on Wall Street rivals NASA, the single variable, if it exists, would have been found already. But it hasn’t. The reality is that not only is market behavior a function of multiple variables but these variables are also interacting, and they do so imprecisely; the exact same data set at different times sometimes produces different results.

Unified Theory of Stock Market

…consulting

Use Analytic Skills

Technical consultingBusiness consultingComputer consulting

…high technology entrepreneurship

Start your own company!

…preparing yourself

…”T” shaped individual (interdisciplinary)

deep domain knowledgein core discipline

a

across disciplinesacross industriesacross functionsacross cultures

“Equals”more experienced

more adaptivemore collaborative

more creativesolutions to big problems

AdaptiveScientists

(Innovators)

chemistry physics biology mathematics engineering medicine

society health environment globalization energy culture ethics

business humanities law social science arts architecture languages

Look around the room, be perceptive, and list objects are green.

Mentally list green objects

Now close your eyes

Keep eyes closed Identify objects

that are blue.

Your Notre Dame Education

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes”

Quote by Marcel Proust

Look at world problems and opportunities with new eyes (science-rich knowledge).

…simply (silly) exercise

…unrecognized resources

Knowledge

State of the ArtFacilities

People

LiteratureAccess

Network

International

Alumni

Far Reaching Ideas

UniversityVast Resource

Space

…ESTEEM Uniqueness • Quantitative Methods• All Technology/Engineering/Science Case Studies• Innovation & Entrepreneurship Thesis

• Diverse Inaugural Class (30 students)

• Catholic Mission• Innovation Park at Notre Dame (Facility)

1. Executive Summary2. In-depth Technology/Science Functionality Description3. Technology/Science Readiness/Hurdles4. Competing Technologies/Science Survey5. Comprehensive Literature/Patent Survey6. Commercialization Plan (Appendix)

MechE, Civil, Environmental, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry,Science-Business, Preprofessional

0 100%

80%

Engineering Science

Law

…professional master of science degrees

Global HealthMedical Physics(Radiation & Imaging)

Financial MathematicsStatistics

PatentAgent

Intellectual Property (Agent Program)

…ask yourself some questions

What is my passion?What will make me want to get out of bed every morning?What problem do I want to solve in the world?If I were independently wealthy, what would I do?Do I enjoy research (problems no one else has solved)?Do I enjoy interacting with people?What do I value (family, hard work, etc.)?Can I work for someone else?Where do I want to be in 5-years, 10-years?What am I really good at?What are my unique qualities?What is my definition of quality of life?

…some questions to hand in today

Why Physics ?What career paths I have thought about ?Why am I unique ?Graduate School (Yes or No) Professional School (Yes or No) (Medicine, Law, Business, etc)This Class -- preferences

Short AnswersDo not put your name on it

Next Week (<45 seconds each) – Oral – 20 years from now, discuss your career accomplishments, and how physics playeda role (We are all friends in the is class)