‘What subject do you study at uni?’ questions a friend, or perhaps a work colleague, or even better, an auntie at an Indian wedding.
My eyes lock into the inquisitiveness bubbling beneath their coy gaze. I try my best not to envision the consequences of my highly anticipated answer, considering its supposed ‘lethal’ connotations. Taking a deep breath, the words flow out of my mouth like a breath of fresh air,
‘Currently, I’m studying for a Bachelor’s in Theoretical Physics.’
What follows is a plethora of gasps, utter shock and sheer disbelief. And from this comical anecdote, what comes into question is... why do the general public picture physics as a daunting subject?
Historically, physics has been considered the black sheep of the well-renowned sciences. One could equate it to a multidisciplinary art form, interweaving mathematical techniques with an in-depth study of matter and energy. While logic is pivotal in understanding the phenomena of physical concepts, it should not be considered as barrier to pursuing this rich field of study. Rather, physics is an accessible gateway to pioneering the future. Its utility in our daily lives is crucial for humanity. As I have previously quoted, ‘it would be an aberration to imagine living in a world without the phenomena of physics. In fact, there would be no world that can exist without physics.’
As per human nature, we are curious beings. Dating back to Greek Civilisations, there was a firm belief ‘that the universe was harmonious and governed by elegant laws and equations’, which led to the earliest conceptions of Physics. This subject conceptualised the importance of the main elements of life, i.e., Earth, Fire, Water and Air. Hand in hand, these elements also contributed to the blossoming of physical definitions. For example, the ‘Archimedes screw’ constructed by Archimedes from his zooming into the buoyancy of liquids whilst taking a bath, defined modern hydroengineering, and enabled in stalling the armies of Rome in the first Punic War.
From this, the world of Physics has evolved into revolutionising the planet through various mechanisms. From thermodynamics to its unlikely applications in the medical field, the subject has enabled the augmentation of life expectancy and breakthroughs in talent. Its duality of being macroscopic (study of the universe) and conversely microscopic (nanoscience) only makes the subject attractive to employers in desperation of seeking a holistic individual.
Unfortunately, the accomplishments of physics are overshadowed by the cliched rhetoric of Physics being too hard. Notably, the Guardian published an article horrifyingly titled “Girls shun physics A-level as they dislike ‘hard maths’, says social mobility head”. The article criticised government commissioner, Katharine Birbalsingh, who boldly claimed that girls do not study Physics because they dislike ‘hard maths’. This is, in my eyes, a highly inaccurate statement. The mathematical concepts of Physics (e.g. fourier transforms, differential equations) may appear to be a never-ending sea of seemingly difficult concepts, but with time, dedication and understanding its greater application into defining groundbreaking physical concepts, the pain of the ‘hard maths’ is subsided.
In fact, several women have made outstanding contributions not only to the study of physics, but in improving the quality of life of the general public that seem to dash away from the idea of physics. One key figure is Marie Curie, who discovered the elements Radium and Polonium, which are popularly used in life-saving cancer treatment. Elevating the success of physical concepts can open the doors to many other young people with a penchant for immersing themselves in manifold knowledge to help the general public. Therefore, while physics may appear to be a daunting subject, in reality, it's a diverse and welcoming field of study to anyone. All it requires is a dash of resilience and a bowl of ambition to discover the chameleon-like subject at its different angles.
So, after the different types of people have exhaled their burning emotions towards my choice of study, with a gentle smile, I say, ‘I know it may seem difficult, but trust me, it’s incredibly interesting. Every newfound bit of information, whether it may be from a lecture, or my personal research truly increases my love of physics. I can show you just how cool physics is, if you’d like me to.’ And just like that, the fear that encompassed their faces washes away and in place, a newfound desire for the subject that shook them is ignited.