Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2005 APS April Meeting
Saturday–Tuesday, April 16–19, 2005; Tampa, FL
Session T5: Oh, the Places You Will Go, Interesting Careers in Physics |
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Sponsoring Units: FGSA Chair: Lindley Winslow, University of California-Berkeley Room: Marriott Tampa Waterside Grand Salon G/H |
Monday, April 18, 2005 1:30PM - 2:06PM |
T5.00001: What Can You Do with a Physics Education...in Addition to Becoming a Professor Invited Speaker: Physics professors have often said that an education in physics will prepare you for just about anything. Certainly, the numerical and computer skills of physics students are widely known. The broad mathematical skills of physicists regularly lead to positions throughout the financial or engineering world, and the computer skills are a basis for employment in essentially all areas. However, these are features of all technical educations. What a physics curriculum provides as well, through the understanding of classical and quantum physics, is the basis for a quick understanding of the essential features of the world around us, and the devices we use to negotiate that world. This talk will discuss examples of how physics arguments have influenced a number of major government programs by providing decision makers with a simple and clear yet technically sound understanding of the underlying issues. In addition, examples of current problems in Defense that are subject to active research and debate will be discussed. The talk will conclude with a description of qualities and qualifications needed for a physicist to successfully transition to becoming an analyst. \\ Cynthia Dion-Schwarz, Ph.D., (George Mason University, B.S. Physics and Mathematics, 1988, University of Maryland, Ph.D. Physics, 1995) is an Assistant Director in a technical studies and analysis research organization serving the Department of Defense. She has also worked in the Pentagon as a Science Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Before transitioning to a career as a defense analyst and technical manager, she conducted Astrophysics research at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Naval Research Laboratory. She has published over 50 articles in both physics- and defense-related venues, is an officer in the American Physical Society/Forum for Industrial and Applied Physics, and has won numerous awards for research and community service. [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, April 18, 2005 2:06PM - 2:42PM |
T5.00002: Doing physics on the nearest planet, or the next one over Invited Speaker: Spaceflight produces a steady supply of physics problems. Recent research at the Kennedy Space Applied Physics Laboratory includes topics as diverse as the active shielding of cosmic radiation, the cratering of Martian soil by landing rockets, re-entry physics, and numerous imaging and detection techniques. Even something as simple as extracting water from a space shuttle thermal tile requires new thinking about physics. Often a concept must be formulated, developed and delivered to operational status within just a year or two, and so it helps to have a broad understanding of nature. My own career began in systems engineering for the Space Shuttle navigation systems and slowly developed into full-time research specializing in theoretical statistical mechanics. The key to making this transition was to identify some problems that would need to be solved and then to position myself as someone who could solve them. That strategy, along with a lot of patience and sincere effort, has allowed me to move into a very satisfying career as a full-time scientist. I hope to share some of the excitement of doing physics in the space program and where it is headed, both on Earth and on Mars, and how you might use the same strategy to create a physics career on your own nearest planet. [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, April 18, 2005 2:42PM - 3:18PM |
T5.00003: Invited Speaker: |
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