UCR-HS Counselor Workshop Harry W. K. Tom Chair, Physics and Astronomy Dept. UC Riverside December 2, 2009
Dec 19, 2015
UCR-HS Counselor Workshop
Harry W. K. Tom
Chair, Physics and Astronomy Dept.
UC Riverside
December 2, 2009
Welcome
UCR Physics and Astronomy DeptLeonid Pryadko, Outreach Committee Chair
Michael Horton (RCOE) Science Coordinator and AVID Coordinator
Richard Hall (SBCSS)Science/Environmental Education Coordinator
Maria SimaniUCR Alpha Center
Jing ShiChair, Physics Undergrad Advising Committee
Goals of Workshop
Find ways to Increase # HS students taking Physics up to State and National averages
Discuss the barriers to more Inland Empire HS student taking Physics
Create Motivational Materials and Provide Assistance to HS Counselors
Inform Counselors about UCR involvement with Physics teachers
Explore Other Ways UCR Physics can help
Why should we increase # of HS students taking physics?
10 Reasons Why High School Students Should Take Physics
Inland Empire HS Physics enrollments lag State by 2X and lag nation by 3X
1. Physics is a core science discipline
Physics with Biology and Chemistry are the 3 Fundamental “Core” Science Disciplines
Your view of the world, nature, and how things work are incomplete without a knowledge of physics…as incomplete as if you skipped biology or chemistry
Physics, more than the other 2 core sciences, uses mathematics and computing which give it a precision, predictive power, and simulation power, that are unprecedented in human history
All other science and engineering are based on biology, chemistry, physics and math—physics is required for all science and engineering majors in college
You are at an advantage if you have had a high school course in Physics
Physics should be the 3rd science course taken in HS
Physics is a CORE discipline: ALL science is based on 4 pillars: Math, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
UC requires 1 Life Science and 1 Physical Science and recommends a 3rd year of HS Science. Students are advised to take Biology, Chemistry…. 3rd choice should be PHYSICS.
Physics is accepted as 3rd science course by UC
Anatomy, Physiology, Earth Science are not core disciplines
2. Most modern technology involves physics.
Any technology involving electricity, magnetism, force, pressure, heat, light, energy, sound, optics, etc. comes from physics.
Basic knowledge required for products like fertilizers, drugs, plastics, and chemicals comes from chemistry and biology, these items have to eventually be manufactured, and manufacturing is dominated by physics-based technology.
3. HS Physics is the Gateway to Physics, Engineering, and Computing Jobs and Careers
Physics along with Biology and Chemistry are the 3 Core Science Discipline
All 3 use math, but Physics uses math and computing more
Engineering is based on Applied Physics
HS Physics begins training students in quantitative science, applied math, and problem solving
4. The job market for people with skills in physics is stronger than for skills in biology and chemistry
Engineers are applied physicists and comprise the second largest profession in America (second only to teaching) with about 1.4 million members. By comparison, there are about 600 thousand medical doctors and only around 100 thousand biologists.
STEM Careers are dominated by Physics and Computer
1.65M
3.1M
Engineering and Computer Science sectors > Life Science/Chemistry sectors
1.1M
0.7M
Compare to other sectors: earth science, social science, math
5. Physics is required in college level science—student is at disadvantage without HS Physics
1 year of college level Physics is required for all other science majors
At UCR Life-Science Physics is Calculus-based
It is a gateway to upper division majors in biology, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, entomology, biochemistry, mathematics, statistics
Example: HS Physics is Important for Life Science Majors
All College Science Majors require a minimum of 1 year of College Physics—in UC this is a Calculus-Based Physics Course
Life Science majors take:Freshman:
1 year of Calculus
1 year of General Chem
Sophomore:1 year of Organic Chem
1 year of Intro Biology
1 year of Physics (Calc based)
Junior:1 year of Biochemistry
Lower Division Requirements include Physics before moving into a specific biological major
Junior Transfer students must have completed Physics with a minimum GPA requirement
Success Rate in Physics 2 (for Life Science)
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.50
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
08W&08S (2B&2C) Mean vs 07F (2A) Grade
08W 2B Grade 08S 2C Grade
07F 2A Grade
Mea
n
6. Physics classes help polish the skills needed to score well on the SAT.
Physics classes provide practice in both algebra and geometry. These are the types of mathematics most likely to occur on the SAT.
To work physics problems, students must be able to read and comprehend short paragraphs then develop problem solving strategies from them. Physics helps develop both math and verbal skills.
Physics is a whole brain subject requiring students to use both right and left brain regions for translating complex verbal information into pictures and finally into mathematical models in order to solve problems.
7. College recruiters recognize the value of physics classes.
College recruiters tend to be favorably impressed by transcripts containing challenging classes like physics. They know it is relatively easy to attain a high GPA by taking a light course load. Some technically oriented college programs will deny entrance to students who have not taken high school physics.
8. A knowledge of physics is helpful for understanding the arts.
Physics is the science of sound and is needed for understanding how musical instruments work.
Physics is also the science of light and is key to understanding visual artwork including paintings, photograph, stage lighting, filmmaking, etc.
Even literary works have been influenced by physics. William Faulkner, for example, used the symbolism of time dilation in The Sound and the Fury. Many commonly used expressions in everyday language come from physics, including quantum leap, free fall, light years, black holes, resonance, and being on the same wave length.
9. Physics leads to a better understanding of politics, history, and culture because technology is so important.
Supply and use of water, energy resources, technology is the basis for civilization
Competition for Resources, Defense and Military technology have shaped history (iron age, bronze age)
Quantum Mechanics and Relativity 20th century
Global warming
10. Physics offers a deep and unique perspective in itself
Physics has set the “scientific method” and has the most stringent requirements for hypothesis and test of hypothesis. Physics theories are not only tested 1000’s of times but a single contrary experiment can force the change of a theory
Classical Physics fell from 3 experimentsPhotoelectric effect, black body radiation spectrum, spectral lines from atoms
The (Accelerating) Expansion of the Universe signals a new Physics to include Dark Energy and Dark Matter
Summary of STEM job future
1.5X more Physics-Related jobs than Life Science-related
3X more Computer-Related jobs than Life Science-related
Life Science and Chemistry jobs are 30% of STEM total
HS students who don’t take Physics are unlikely to pursue the majority (70%) of STEM careers
US Competitiveness: America Competes Act
First University Engineering Degrees, by selected country: 1985-2005
US has not increased number in 20 years, per capita Engineering BS has decreased despite Silicon Valley, Dot.com, Biotechnology
Population (millions)
Engineering BS/year (1000) % per capita
USA 304 67 0.02%
China 1330 450 0.03%
S Korea 49 75 0.15%
Japan 128 100 0.08%
UK 61 21 0.03%
Germany 82 12 0.01%
Physics Majors World Wide
Physics generates the enabling technology, i.e., invention of laser, transistor, integrated circuit, magnetic memory, xray tomography, MRI imaging, PET
Impact of US Engineering and Physics competitiveness
US needs to increase per capita Engineering and Physics BS production to sustain its #1 technology position in a world
Lack of US-trained engineers has forced hiring of large numbers of foreign-trained engineers. Engineering BS and PhD have excellent job prospects
Threshold for good positions is “lower” in Engineering/Physics than for Medical School
US HS Physics Enrollments
31% of Public HS seniors have taken Physics
Virtually 100% of Private HS seniors take Physics
Riverside County 2007-8Riverside Female Male
Ethnic Group
Intermediate Algebra
Advanced Math
1st Year Chemistry
1st Year Physics
9-12 Enrollment
Intermediate Algebra
Advanced Math
1st Year Chemistry
1st Year Physics
9-12 Enrollment
Total 9-12 Enrollment
AM IND 60 (13.3 %) 37 (8.2 %) 44 (9.8 %) 12 (2.7 %) 451 40 (10.0 %) 27 (6.8 %) 24 (6.0 %) 11 (2.8 %) 399 850
ASIAN 365 (20.8 %)
575 (32.8 %)
426 (24.3 %) 143 (8.2 %) 1,751 392 (20.8
%) 580 (30.8
%) 403 (21.4
%) 207 (11.0
%) 1,885 3,636
PAC ISLD 57 (19.7 %) 33 (11.4 %) 56 (19.3 %) 6 (2.1 %) 290 42 (13.7 %) 29 (9.4 %) 42 (13.7 %) 6 (2.0 %) 307 597
FILIPINO 309 (22.4 %)
378 (27.4 %)
308 (22.3 %) 83 (6.0 %) 1,379 307 (22.2
%) 310 (22.4
%) 277 (20.0
%) 114 (8.2 %) 1,386 2,765
HISPANIC 4,569 (13.6 %)
3,182 (9.5 %)
3,690 (11.0 %)
691 (2.1 %) 33,623 3,907
(11.1 %) 2,640
(7.5 %) 3,012
(8.5 %) 748
(2.1 %) 35,256 68,879
AFR AM 839 (15.3 %) 517 (9.4 %) 881 (16.1
%) 104 (1.9 %) 5,471 744 (12.8 %) 358 (6.2 %) 708 (12.2
%) 106 (1.8 %) 5,818 11,289
WHITE 3,654 (17.9 %)
3,536 (17.4 %)
3,314 (16.3 %)
709 (3.5 %) 20,371 3,391
(15.8 %) 3,274
(15.3 %) 2,934
(13.7 %) 1,112
(5.2 %) 21,407 41,778
MULT./NO RESP
181 (14.5 %)
175 (14.1 %)
212 (17.0 %) 35 (2.8 %) 1,244 166 (12.8
%) 163 (12.6
%) 168 (13.0
%) 51 (3.9 %) 1,292 2,536
County Total
10,034(15.5 %)
8,433 (13.1 %)
8,931(13.8 %)
1,783(2.8 %) 64,580 8,989
(13.3 %) 7,381
(10.9 %) 7,568
(11.2 %) 2,355
(3.5 %) 67,750 132,330
State Total 172,404(17.6 %)
140,317(14.3 %)
143,066(14.6 %)
50,137(5.1 %) 979,886 159,922
(15.5 %) 128,241
(12.4 %) 127,588
(12.4 %) 56,632
(5.5 %) 1,032,653 2,012,539
Riverside Physics Enrollment
USA: 31% of public HS graduates take Physics
CA State: 21.2% of graduates take Physics (5.3%X4)
Riverside: 12.6% of graduates take Physics (3.15%X4)
All Students:93% of State Average in Chemistry
60% of State Average in Physics
Female Students: 92% of State Average in Advanced Math
95% of State Average in Chemistry
55% of State Average in Physics
Male Students: 88% of State Average in Advanced Math
90% of State Average in Chemistry
64% of State Average in Physics
Slightly Lower for San Bernadino County
Enrollment by Ethnic GroupRCOE
38.5%
17.4%
7.4%
8.4%
Impact to IE Youth
3X lower access to high tech education, jobs, and careers than national average
Less competitive for better 4-year colleges which look favorably on harder college prep
Lack experience with quantitative science, applied math, physical intuition and technical problem solving
Quality of HS Physics teaching is lower because teachers do not teach Physics full time
Why College Bound need HS Physics
All Science and Engineering students must take and pass College Physics
Premeds-Biology majors need to take Physics 2nd year…at all UC’s Physics is Calculus-based
Engineers-Chemistry-Physics majors must take Calculus-Based Physics freshman year
Students are less likely to do well in College Physics if they have not taken HS Physics
Why College Bound needHS Physics
Non-science/engineering majors must take 1 Physical Science course—combined with HS Chemistry and HS Physics….barely sufficient for careers in technology sector in administration, sales, repair and service. HS Physics could be a significant fraction of total Physical Science education.
Female Student Enrollment
Physics Increases by Course
Physics as college prep
Physics Teaching Assignment
Teachers have more difficulty preparing when they are assigned primarily non-physics
What do Physicists do?
Explore new phenomena and seek new fundamental understanding (physics-academia-research)
Apply physics in new ways to other science and engineering disciplines (applied physics, biophysics, chemical physics, material science, academia-research)
Apply physics to solve real world problems (nuclear physics, biomedical physics, materials physics, device physics, environmental physics—research--industry)
What do Physicists do?
Use disciplinary skills in abstraction, model building, mathematics and computing to solve technical problems (production and manufacturing, stock market modeling)
Use physics knowledge for business, technical sales, patent law, science administration, and policy (science, education, defense, environmental)
Teaching at K-12 and higher levels
What Do Physics BS graduates do?
40% get immediate employment
36% in Physics/Astronomy Graduate School
20% in “other” Graduate StudyMedical/Dental/Health Professional
Law (especially business or patent)
Business (especially tech sector)
Engineering (Electrical, Material Science, Mechanical, Chemical, Aeronautical)
Chemistry & Physical Chemistry
Biochemistry/Biology/Biophysics/ Bioengineering
BS Initial Employment
40% get jobs immediately
BS Private Sector and Salary
What do PhD’s vs BS’s do?
AcademiaPh.D.’s teach at community colleges, state universities (CSU) and research universities (UC)
B.S. teach K-12
GovernmentPh.D.’s do scientific research at national laboratories (LANL), administer science programs as science specialists (NSF), serve as scientific experts in government agencies (DOE)
B.S. work as lab assistants in government labs, or serve in administrative roles in scientific agencies, or assist scientific experts in government labs.
What do PhD’s vs BS’s do?
IndustryPh.D.’s do scientific or engineering research (IBM, HP), provide intellectual property for companies, serve as technical managers
B.S. work as physicist/engineer on current projects, assist Ph.D.’s on research projects as lab assistants or technicians, work in technical sales or production and production management.
Physicist work in Academia, Government, Private Industry and High Schools
Skills used by Physics PhD’s
Getting a PhD/Permanent Job
BS degree 4 years
[MSc program: typically 2 years can be terminal degree or prep for PhD—can apply to PhD program towards end of completion]
PhD program: typical 6.5 years, 5-8 years range (theory shorter, experiment longer)
MSc is typically included along way in 2 years
Postdoctoral Research Position: 2-5 years of additional “post-PhD” training, depending on field and desired job
Initial Employment for PhD’s
Ph.D. Starting Salary & Sector
Reasons for taking postdoc
Initial Employment by subfield
Ph.D. salaries (median age)
Paying for a PhD degree
Almost all PhD granting programs in Physics provide financial aid
Teaching Assistantships (1-2 years)
Fellowships (1-2 years)
Graduate Research Assistantships (years 3-end)
Admission to a graduate program is essentially receiving a scholarship—provided you make satisfactory progress
Demanding undergraduate curriculum, good grades, GRE scores, undergraduate research participation/internships increase your chances
Job Sector Growth
Reasons to get a PhD at UC Riverside
Harry W. K. Tom
Chair, Physics and Astronomy Dept.
UC Riverside
Distinguished Faculty
29 FacultyJunior Faculty Awards
5 National Science Foundation Career Award
1 Sloan Research Fellow
2 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award
3 Dept of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Award
18 Full Professor HonorsAPS Panofsky Prize (High Energy)
Humboldt Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
9 APS Fellows
5 AAAS Fellows
Growing Graduate Program
Graduate enrollment has grown from 66 to 109 in last 5 years
Expected enrollment for Fall 2010 is 116 and Fall 2011 is 125.
Entering class ~24 students, 10 foreign, 14 domestic provides critical mass for student cohort, student breadth, national and international diversity and full graduate curriculum
Full Graduate Curriculum
29 graduate courses offered26 each year, 3 courses in alternate years
17 core courses (first year), and 12 electives
Ph.D. in Physics with Emphasis in 7 tracksNuclear and Particle Physics
Condensed Matter, Surface, Optical Physics and Biophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Environmental Physics
Materials and Nanoscale Physics
Astronomy.
Research Infrastructure/Activities
~$7M Extramural Grants/year
Support for > 20 Postdoctoral Researchers, 3-5 Research Scientists giving students 29 faculty and 25 additional PhD’s to train with
Weekly Dept colloquium and topical seminars bring outside physicists and astronomers to campus
Condensed Matter
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Astronomy
High Energy
Graduate Program Highlights
Outstanding Multidisciplinary Training and Research Opportunities
For Condensed Matter with UCR Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering with faculty from Chemistry and Engineering College
For Biophysics with UCR’s Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Bioengineering
For Environmental Physics with joint MSc program with UCR Environmental Science
Graduate Program Highlights
High Energy and Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics programs highly leveraged with international collaborations at LHC, RHIC, SLAC, Fermi Lab
Astronomy program well-leveraged with UC telescopes (Keck and future TMT), Southern California astronomy infrastructure, and access to SpARCS and COSMOS survey data
7. College success for virtually all science, computing, engineering, and premedical majors requires passing physics.
Engineering is largely applied physics.
Pre-medicine majors typically must take a 1 year course in Physics. About 25% of the science knowledge required for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is based on physics. Studies indicate that a high quality high school physics course helps significantly reduce the failure rate in college-level physics. Students themselves typically indicate that high school physics is a significant factor in their ability to handle college-level physics material.