• Question: what made you decide you wanted a career in physics?

    Asked by shannonfvk to Mike on 8 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Mike Lee

      Mike Lee answered on 8 Mar 2014:

      Hello!

      I’m not good at making decisions. I picked what I liked and what I was good at. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a physics career at the time of going to university. This is not an advisable strategy, but I’ve been a bit lucky and had an excellent time.

      Mike

Comments

  • Photo: Paul

    Paul commented on :

    Great question shannonfvk!

    Physics is the king of all science. Everything from medicine, biology, chemistry and engineering all comes down to physics. And who wouldn’t want a career in a field which can offer so many opportunities in so many different areas? It’s great!

    I was keen on chemistry, but the loud

    • Photo: Matthew

      Matthew commented on :

      Ha! I like your comment, Paul! (Though, of course, as one physicist to another, I might be a tad biased!)

      It reminds me of a quote from the great Ernest Rutherford:

      “In science, there is only physics. All the rest is stamp collecting.”

      🙂

      (There are several known variants of this quote, so I cannot say which is the version that actually came out of Sir Ernest’s mouth…)

  • Photo: Paul

    Paul commented on :

    ooops, got cut off!

    I was keen on chemistry, but the loud bangs and explosions during chemistry demonstrations at school really put me off. The hydrogen test with a boiling tube/lit splint still TERRIFIES me! :/