J M O’Meara Department of Physics University of Guelph

J M O’MearaDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of Guelph

But What Can I But What Can I DODOWith A Physics Degree?With A Physics Degree?

How is studying physics How is studying physics useful?useful?

► Physics plays a central role in addressing Physics plays a central role in addressing major societal issuesmajor societal issues

e.g.e.g. global warming/climate change, pollution, global warming/climate change, pollution, energy sources, disease therapies, ...energy sources, disease therapies, ...

► A knowledge-based economy requires a A knowledge-based economy requires a scientifically-literate workforcescientifically-literate workforce

Employability Skills 2000 +(Conference Board of

Canada)•the fundamental skills you need in the workplace:communication: “use relevant scientific knowledge and skills to explain or clarify ideas”

information management: “access, analyze and apply knowledge and skills from various disciplines (e.g. ... science, technology mathematics...)”

Employability Skills 2000 +(Conference Board of

Canada)•the fundamental skills you need in the workplace:numeracy: “make estimates and verify calculations”

problem solving: “readily use science, technology, and mathematics as ways to think, gain and share knowledge, solve problems and make decisions ”

Employability Skills 2000 +(Conference Board of

Canada)•additional skills needed:

Be Adaptable

Learn Continuously

Work with Others

Fundamental Employability Fundamental Employability SkillsSkills

Problem solvingProblem solvingUsing numbersUsing numbers

Managing informationManaging informationLearning continuouslyLearning continuouslyWorking with othersWorking with others

Being adaptableBeing adaptableCommunicatingCommunicating

2121stst Century World Century World““I believe that a solid education in physics I believe that a solid education in physics

is the best conceivable preparation for is the best conceivable preparation for the lifetime of rapid technological & the lifetime of rapid technological & social change that our young people social change that our young people must expect to face. The undergraduate must expect to face. The undergraduate physics major is the liberal arts physics major is the liberal arts education of the 21education of the 21stst century! century!””

►David Goodstein, CaltechDavid Goodstein, Caltech

ProfilesProfileshighlighting the highlighting the ‘unconventional’‘unconventional’

By degree....By degree....After a B.Sc.After a B.Sc.

Steve BellSteve Bell

After an M.Sc.After an M.Sc. JJ JJ OffiongOffiong

After a Ph.D.After a Ph.D. Erin Erin NivenNiven Mark StaleyMark Staley

Steve BellSteve BellEducation:Education:► Hons. B.Sc. in Physics, Hons. B.Sc. in Physics,

Minor in Computer ScienceMinor in Computer Science► Class of ’96, University of GuelphClass of ’96, University of Guelph

Current Employment:Current Employment:► Lighting Technical Director, Lighting Technical Director,

PDI|DreamworksPDI|Dreamworks

What does Steve do?What does Steve do?► works with programmers to put ‘virtual works with programmers to put ‘virtual

lighting’ in the shots of animated lighting’ in the shots of animated moviesmovies

How did Physics prepare Steve for this work?How did Physics prepare Steve for this work?► there is a lot of problem-solving involved, there is a lot of problem-solving involved,

“which transfers pretty well”“which transfers pretty well”► ““having an idea of how light works tends to having an idea of how light works tends to help”help”

Steve’s successSteve’s success

JJ OffiongJJ OffiongEducation:Education:► Hons. B.Sc. in Physics, Hons. B.Sc. in Physics,

McMaster, ’96 McMaster, ’96 ► M.Sc. in Physics, M.Sc. in Physics,

University of University of Saskatchewan, ’99 Saskatchewan, ’99

Current Employment:Current Employment:► Defence Scientist,Defence Scientist,

Operational Research Operational Research Division, Dept of Division, Dept of National DefenceNational Defence

What does JJ do?What does JJ do?► uses mathematical and computational uses mathematical and computational

tools to synthesize informationtools to synthesize information► advises decision makers on solutions advises decision makers on solutions

to key operational problemsto key operational problemsHow did Physics prepare JJ for this How did Physics prepare JJ for this

work?work?► the application of the scientific the application of the scientific

method to real-world problemsmethod to real-world problems► practical mathematical trainingpractical mathematical training► problem solving skillsproblem solving skills

Erin NivenErin NivenEducation:Education:► Hons. B.Sc. in Medical Hons. B.Sc. in Medical

Physics, McMaster, ’96Physics, McMaster, ’96► M.Sc. in Health M.Sc. in Health

Physics, McMaster, ’98Physics, McMaster, ’98► Ph.D. in Medical Ph.D. in Medical

Physics, McMaster, ’03Physics, McMaster, ’03

Current Employment:Current Employment:► Radiation Safety Officer,Radiation Safety Officer,

University of GuelphUniversity of Guelph

What does Erin do?What does Erin do?► ensures compliance with safety ensures compliance with safety

regulationsregulations► provides recommendations on sources, provides recommendations on sources,

equipment and techniquesequipment and techniques► collects dosimetric datacollects dosimetric dataHow did Physics prepare Erin for this How did Physics prepare Erin for this

work?work?► knowledge base in radiation physicsknowledge base in radiation physics► rapid assessment of problemsrapid assessment of problems► effective communication across effective communication across

disciplines disciplines

Mark StaleyMark StaleyEducation:Education:► Hons. B.Sc. in Physics, U of T, ’86Hons. B.Sc. in Physics, U of T, ’86► M.Sc. in Physics, U of T, ’88 M.Sc. in Physics, U of T, ’88 ► Ph.D. in Physics, U of G, ’95 Ph.D. in Physics, U of G, ’95

Current Employment:Current Employment:► Director of Core Engine Director of Core Engine

Development,Development,CIBC World MarketsCIBC World Markets

What does Mark do?What does Mark do?► manages a team of programmers, manages a team of programmers,

analysts and mathematicians to analysts and mathematicians to develop risk models for the trading floordevelop risk models for the trading floor

How did Physics prepare Mark for this How did Physics prepare Mark for this work?work?

► the training in applying mathematics the training in applying mathematics to to ““an uncertain set of data” has an uncertain set of data” has helped Mark to excel in this fieldhelped Mark to excel in this field

The Bigger PictureThe Bigger Picture

From the American Institute of Physics

So, what can you So, what can you DODO with a with a Physics degree?Physics degree?

... ANYTHING YOU WANT!... ANYTHING YOU WANT!

jobs requiring:- problem solving skills - intellectual curiosity- numeracy - adaptability- communication skills- team work

- time management

Web ResourcesWeb Resources►www.cap.ca/careers/www.cap.ca/careers/

►www.vector.cfee.org/english/login.phpwww.vector.cfee.org/english/login.php

►www.spsnational.org/cup/www.spsnational.org/cup/

►www.aip.org/aip/careers/careers.htmlwww.aip.org/aip/careers/careers.html

► careers.iop.orgcareers.iop.org