Physics Love

Posted on | February 18, 2007 | 5 Comments

I was browsing Nature’s (journal of general science – very prestigious to be published there) website and came across this article.

I’m not sure how long the link will stay up – the journal is weekly and the website changes accordingly. I guess it’s less about physics love and more about academia love. It definitely sounds tough to have a two academic career family. It’s funny, when I met my husband that first week or so of graduate school, that was the trajectory both of our lives were taking. Now, he’s aiming to enter finance and I’m trying to get a job in energy policy – so we’re both straying from physics academia and hopefully into jobs with many opportunities in many cities.

One of the least appealing aspects of academia for me has always been the lack of great universities in great cities. Now, I know there are the Harvards in Boston, the Stanfords in the bay area, etc, etc, but if you fail to get one of the coveted and desperately few spots at one of those institutions, you’re often stuck in the middle of nowhere at a middling place doing good work. I guess I just don’t love the field enough to sacrifice quality of life. It’s sad when the passions of childhood give way to the realities of adulthood, isn’t it?

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Comments

5 Responses to “Physics Love”

  1. YarnB
    February 19th, 2007 @ 3:16 am

    Connie, thanks for the note on my blog! I shouldn’t write about how bored I am should I??? I have just been doing so much entry lately and sitting on my butt!! Anyhow, yes I have heard all about you and how wonderful you are and I am sending you your yarn very soon, hopefully this week!!! I am glad to have your blog address! A physicist? Interesting!

  2. Veronique
    February 19th, 2007 @ 11:54 am

    I know so many scientist couples who have a very hard time finding jobs in the same city! This article really hit the nail on the head.
    I think NYC has enough universities to please anyone, but that’s just me…

  3. kylieps
    February 19th, 2007 @ 6:11 pm

    Hi Connie,
    Good article- I forwarded it on to Ko. Can’t wait to hear more about you going into energy policy. That sounds very rewarding!

  4. bernie
    February 26th, 2007 @ 8:22 pm

    Another thing is that academic pay is often so much poorer than other non-academic positions. This is true for physicists to physicians. There is great inequality in pay, as sports figures command 6-figure salaries and actors and actresses with (most of the time) barely beyond a high school education make millions as well. Yet, those who shape the future via research, new discovery etc. make hourly wages. But I’ll still always love the science. ( I was a Chemistry major)

  5. parikha
    March 12th, 2007 @ 10:08 am

    ugh, i totally hear you on the job location thing. why can’t there be more engineering schools/jobs in glamorous cities?! that’s actually part of what provoked me to ditch R&D altogether. i don’t want to settle in the middle of nowhere!

    thanks for your comment on my central park hoodie :) to answer your question, i made the smallest size.

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