Comments on: Vacation! And a Small Competition

By: Why Study Physics? - The Results | Cosmic Variance

Why Study Physics? - The Results | Cosmic Variance — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 17:27:55 +0000

[...] It’s about time I reported on the small competition I initiated before my last trip. As a reminder, I said I’d like to construct a Letterman-like top ten list of reasons why undecided college students should seriously consider physics as their choice of undergraduate major. An important ground rule is that it is not my assumption that anyone choosing to become a physics major would intend to later go to graduate school and become a professional physicist, although they might. [...]

By: Cosmic Variance

Cosmic Variance — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 17:23:09 +0000

Why Study Physics? – The Results

I’m currently in England to attend the annual meeting of the Editorial Board of New Journal of Physics. I flew in on Thursday morning, watched England scrape a win against Trinidad & Tobago with friends in a pub in London that afternoon and…

By: Elliot

Elliot — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 02:07:14 +0000

oops…I guess I fell into the old stereotypes myself…my bad.

By: citrine

citrine — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 22:43:53 +0000

Elliot,

A few of us prefer, as a formal outfit, a jacket + skirt = (business) suit over tweed sports coat and slacks.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:36:56 +0000

twaters,

I believe physicsts don’t need any suits. Just a tweed sports coat and slacks.

By: Say Lee

Say Lee — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:33:25 +0000

Then there is econophysics …

By: citrine

citrine — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:58:39 +0000

candace,

It seems to me (based on the experiences of several female Physics friends and my own as well) that the converse you pondered upon hold true at a significantly lower rate.

In fact, if I want to get rid of a guy in a social situation I tell him that I teach Physics. (And I have it on good authority that I’m not by any means ugly, malodorous or in other way disagreeable.)

By: candace

candace — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 11:46:31 +0000

Because…
Chicks dig physicists.

This is supported by reams of evidence, from Einstein to Schroedinger to Feynman, not to mention a pub conversation last night where someone I’d just met declared that she’d only date physicists and musicians.

What was the first thing I noticed about my husband when we met? His astrophysics degree.

I’m working on my own physics degree, despite the fact that I’m not sure if it works the other way around — oh well. But the reason I do it is not for the allure, it’s more for the power trip. No other intellectual pursuit in my life has brought me so low, or lifted me so high. I’m in it for the ultimate thrill of pursuit.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 10:20:01 +0000

When people say about some task “It’s hardly rocket science”, you can respond with, “Yes, if it was, then it would be easy!”.

By: citrine

citrine — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:26:03 +0000

Attributes that would be seen as deficiencies in most people (lack of fashion sense, sub-par social skills etc.) confer a sort of reverse prestige on physicists.

When you are referred to as a nuclear physicist or rocket scientist, it may not be a mere figure of speech.