Talk for 1st year physics majors about careers in science

1. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
Physics in my future?
LIFE1001 Lecture 83,000,000 – Physics & Life Choices
Updated:17/10/2014 2:44 AM
Gonna try to sell you the reality rather than the dream…

2. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
Academia…
More than just boring old academics ranting away at blackboards…

3. The best bit: Mostly get to choose your own directions, work own schedule, travel.
LIFE1001
Academia… Dream or Nightmare?
Physics & Life Choices
Academia is 30% heaven and about 70% hell.
The biggest hell is the work-load: supremely ultra-competitive, takes lots of sacrifices.
This isn’t to discourage you, it’s to be honest about what you’re up against.

4. Some of you will turn left voluntarily, many of you will turn left by repeated games of
LIFE1001
The pointy end of the pyramid
Physics & Life Choices
musical chairs…
Taken from:
http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/
2014/10/03/the-postdoc-decision
Scientific Century, Royal Society

5. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
Don’t quit physics yet…
99% of the 96.5% who turn left have a job.
It is often really rewarding, pays more, and
involves less hours than academia. It’s
just not obvious to you yet.

6. “We are smart creative hard-working people, they are always in demand…”
“It's lucky most smart people have figured out that they can make more money risk
Designing physics-real
CGI for video games.
LIFE1001
Where my friends have ended up…
Physics & Life Choices
free by just getting a job.”
Director/CTO of
startup company.
Artist
Partner in own
consulting firm.
Science
journalist
Science
communication
Editor at
journal
Interface
design at
imaging co.
Meteorologist
Patents law
Share-trader
Simulation
development for
oil company.
Staff scientist w/
Rio Tinto.
Teacher
Production
engineer at Intel
Research scientist
with US Navy
Investment
strategist
Content
developer:
education co
Engineer with science
equipment co.
Software
writer
“Gentleman of
Leisure” (i.e., rich
& enjoying life).
Novelist/Author
Political Musician
advisor

7. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
Tips…
1. Do physics (and maths): advances your problem solving skills, pushes you further
into top x % of society where x
2. Avoid becoming too narrow too early. Diversify, keep your options open. What can
you learn that makes you different to everyone else?
3. Don’t become an equation monkey; work on your ‘soft’ skills also (e.g., writing,
presentation, managing people).
4. Focus on improving yourself: you don’t have to be the smartest kid in the class in
first year to be on top by end of honours. 
5. Work hard, stay positive. Resilience is an essential skill, especially in academia.

8. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
Tips…
6. Press your technological advantage…
Use it to see inside real life in science even…

9. LIFE1001
Physics & Life Choices
All that matters in the end...
Be nice people, have an awesome life.