i think its normal/healthy to be casual about your job. Work to live not live to work. I used to be passionate about physics, but now that it is my profession I kind of see it as just that. I am much more interested in other things these days.
I am a serious engineer who likes casual dress. I work hard, but also play hard. I see the new generation having trouble with delayed gratification. What, me worry? Things will go on just fine after I’m dead!
I usually don't comment, but this really resonated with me.
I too remember the feeling of being the only one enthusiastic about physics among my classmates. In retrospect, I suppose this shouldn't be that surprising: of all the freshly minted physics masters, how many will actually be able to continue a career doing pure physics? Very few. For the many that aren't good enough to make the cut, it's probably a wise decision to treat physics as "just a hobby" or "just another job." That said, it never made sense to me to devote some of your most valuable years specializing in something that you will abandon in the end. What's the point? For many, it's not even the case that they are studying to better experience what it's like to do research and then make an informed decision if this is something they'd like to do.
Even in grad school, doing a PhD at an internationally well-ranked uni (your alma mater!), things didn't change much. Only at the postdoc level and later did things improve, when I got into a top place (in the US) in my field and met like-minded individuals. Really, it's only at the top places in the world where you will find a large fraction of your colleagues to be enthusiastic about physics and, relatedly, have guaranteed positions if they wish to continue in academica, in addition to being bright enough. But it's not like only people from the top unis can make it. However, as you observe, it is disheartening at the start, as you have to work against your environment to succeed in what everyone else is disinterested, etc.
I suppose the best pieces of advice on this are that you should network and cherish the connections with the few like-minded individuals that you meet, and that you should do your best to get your foot in the door at some of these top places. (Bringing you own money through a scholarship and having previous collaborations with professors from some of these top places are often some of the best ways of getting in, in case your publication record is not stellar yet.)
As an engineering manager, I’m committed to being the best in my field. That means long hours, and even in my free time, I’m reading about physics, vacuum systems, and pump technologies. Whether it’s during soccer or band practice, I’m often studying while my kids are on the field—and yes, people think I’m a bit intense, but I believe in living fully and creating value through knowledge.
This post made me reflect on how disengagement has become normalized. Society’s tendency to settle for the bare minimum is troubling—and I worry it will leave the next generation worse off than their predecessors. Social media, in particular, seems to be eroding the drive to engage deeply with anything real.
Have you ever considered forming an online study group of like-minded individuals?
Thank you for your thoughtful post—and for your book No-Nonsense Classical Mechanics, which I truly enjoyed. Please keep sharing insights like this. We need more of them.
It seems this is generational. Education and society has decreased the requirements of knowledge as we ascend school levels and we seem less inclined to be responsible for anything. This leaves a laissez-faire attitude which has multiplied with digital age. What you call casualness is a byproduct. There is more and I’m sure it’s complicated.
Amazing read, Jakob.
I felt the same exact way when studying Physics. You inspired me to pick up the books again. Thank you
i think its normal/healthy to be casual about your job. Work to live not live to work. I used to be passionate about physics, but now that it is my profession I kind of see it as just that. I am much more interested in other things these days.
I am a serious engineer who likes casual dress. I work hard, but also play hard. I see the new generation having trouble with delayed gratification. What, me worry? Things will go on just fine after I’m dead!
Hi Jakob!
I usually don't comment, but this really resonated with me.
I too remember the feeling of being the only one enthusiastic about physics among my classmates. In retrospect, I suppose this shouldn't be that surprising: of all the freshly minted physics masters, how many will actually be able to continue a career doing pure physics? Very few. For the many that aren't good enough to make the cut, it's probably a wise decision to treat physics as "just a hobby" or "just another job." That said, it never made sense to me to devote some of your most valuable years specializing in something that you will abandon in the end. What's the point? For many, it's not even the case that they are studying to better experience what it's like to do research and then make an informed decision if this is something they'd like to do.
Even in grad school, doing a PhD at an internationally well-ranked uni (your alma mater!), things didn't change much. Only at the postdoc level and later did things improve, when I got into a top place (in the US) in my field and met like-minded individuals. Really, it's only at the top places in the world where you will find a large fraction of your colleagues to be enthusiastic about physics and, relatedly, have guaranteed positions if they wish to continue in academica, in addition to being bright enough. But it's not like only people from the top unis can make it. However, as you observe, it is disheartening at the start, as you have to work against your environment to succeed in what everyone else is disinterested, etc.
I suppose the best pieces of advice on this are that you should network and cherish the connections with the few like-minded individuals that you meet, and that you should do your best to get your foot in the door at some of these top places. (Bringing you own money through a scholarship and having previous collaborations with professors from some of these top places are often some of the best ways of getting in, in case your publication record is not stellar yet.)
As an engineering manager, I’m committed to being the best in my field. That means long hours, and even in my free time, I’m reading about physics, vacuum systems, and pump technologies. Whether it’s during soccer or band practice, I’m often studying while my kids are on the field—and yes, people think I’m a bit intense, but I believe in living fully and creating value through knowledge.
This post made me reflect on how disengagement has become normalized. Society’s tendency to settle for the bare minimum is troubling—and I worry it will leave the next generation worse off than their predecessors. Social media, in particular, seems to be eroding the drive to engage deeply with anything real.
Have you ever considered forming an online study group of like-minded individuals?
Thank you for your thoughtful post—and for your book No-Nonsense Classical Mechanics, which I truly enjoyed. Please keep sharing insights like this. We need more of them.
It seems this is generational. Education and society has decreased the requirements of knowledge as we ascend school levels and we seem less inclined to be responsible for anything. This leaves a laissez-faire attitude which has multiplied with digital age. What you call casualness is a byproduct. There is more and I’m sure it’s complicated.