Christina's LIS Rant
Monday, June 19, 2006
Cosmic Variance: Why Study Physics? - The Results
Mark from CV asked for reasons to study physics.
# To gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that govern our universe and everything in it, while at the same time picking up a broad and eminently useful skillset–the ability to analyze and deconstruct problems, to effectively communicate solutions. [tom fish; see comment number 1. Very nicely put.]
# You get an excellent “Bullshit detector” and learn to see what is important. [Dimitri Terryn; see comment number 22. Straight to the point.]
# Because you want to succeed in (choose one):
business, law, medicine, education, engineering, politics. Or research in physics. [macho; see comment number 21; read the entire comment for the justification for this. Punchy!]
# There are lots of people in the world who can read and write well (despite much conflicting evidence in the blogosphere). There are far fewer who can think clearly. The world needs more of the latter. [gbob, see comment number 31. Indeed - it’s not just about learning facts.]
# There will never again be such a thing as scary math. On the other hand, nonrigorous math won’t scare you. When the metal meets the road, you can do back of the envelope calculations and clean them up if things pan out. [Fred Ross; see comment number 25. A nice complement to the first point about critical thinking skills.]
# The thrill of being on the brink of discovery is second only to being madly in love. [twaters; see comment number 33. Beautiful, and I couldn’t agree more.]
# You get to play with cooler, more expensive toys than your friends. [Spatulated; see comment number 13. Mostly for experimentalists, but still a fair point - the LHC is the World’s largest machine!]
# When you are referred to as a nuclear physicist or rocket scientist, it may not be a mere figure of speech. [citrine; see comment number 34. True, and see comment number 35 for how to use this.]
# Because the cows won’t launch themselves. [Stephen; see comment numb" ¶ 5:32 PM| |cites (technorati) |
# To gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that govern our universe and everything in it, while at the same time picking up a broad and eminently useful skillset–the ability to analyze and deconstruct problems, to effectively communicate solutions. [tom fish; see comment number 1. Very nicely put.]
# You get an excellent “Bullshit detector” and learn to see what is important. [Dimitri Terryn; see comment number 22. Straight to the point.]
# Because you want to succeed in (choose one):
business, law, medicine, education, engineering, politics. Or research in physics. [macho; see comment number 21; read the entire comment for the justification for this. Punchy!]
# There are lots of people in the world who can read and write well (despite much conflicting evidence in the blogosphere). There are far fewer who can think clearly. The world needs more of the latter. [gbob, see comment number 31. Indeed - it’s not just about learning facts.]
# There will never again be such a thing as scary math. On the other hand, nonrigorous math won’t scare you. When the metal meets the road, you can do back of the envelope calculations and clean them up if things pan out. [Fred Ross; see comment number 25. A nice complement to the first point about critical thinking skills.]
# The thrill of being on the brink of discovery is second only to being madly in love. [twaters; see comment number 33. Beautiful, and I couldn’t agree more.]
# You get to play with cooler, more expensive toys than your friends. [Spatulated; see comment number 13. Mostly for experimentalists, but still a fair point - the LHC is the World’s largest machine!]
# When you are referred to as a nuclear physicist or rocket scientist, it may not be a mere figure of speech. [citrine; see comment number 34. True, and see comment number 35 for how to use this.]
# Because the cows won’t launch themselves. [Stephen; see comment numb" ¶ 5:32 PM| |cites (technorati) |
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