Physics or Engineering: Which Degree Will Help Me Create and Develop Technology?

[Future-boy]

Hi, i knowthere were surely enough of such threads.

Well, the problem here in the country i live in is that there is a clean seperation.
With a bachelor in physics you can't do a master in engineering.
I have lookd up several universities, but no chance.
Also vice-versa.

I like to understand but also to apply the knowledge, to research, to create and to develop. So technology in general.
The knowledge alone is not enough for me, it is what you make of it.

I could be interested in :

- Nanotechnology ( i know, this means much but also nothing, what i mean is not the optimization of materials, but all those things in those pop-science-world , nanobots etc...)

- Biophysics

- Molecular electronics /engineering

- Energy-technology (fusion-energy and so on)


But is Physics the right way to go?

I want applications, and not just some simulation or chalk on the board.

I just can't decide.

 

[Future-boy]

I don't know what the recent progresses are, actually.

But if the fundamentals are still not enough, there is not much to apply or to create.

I want the nanobots to become reality.

 

[Future-boy]

Are there any Biophysics Applications?

Or in "nanotechnology", is there anything else besides material, surface engineering?

 

[Future-boy]

Nobody?

:(

 

[Defennder]

It looks like the fields you're currently interested in are more engineering related than physics-related, though this probably differs depending on geography. You might want to see if your college offers hybrid majors such as "engineering physics" or "applied physics"

 

[Future-boy]

oh, thanks, first answer :) :

No there is the problem.
The country i live in.
And those few colleges that have "applied physics" are really unknown and have no or bad reputation, so almost no chance for me to get a master in a foreign country.

I was so surprised when i read several threads of other users what engineering master to choose after a physics bachelor and vice-versa.

Or actually...if i get a top bachelor in physics, and want to complete the master in USA for example, can i get an engineering master then?

I want to leave the current country anyways.

 

[Defennder]

Sure it's possible, just look up some the websites of some engineering grad schools in the US.

 

[Future-boy]

Meh, somehow i am really in a difficult situation.

I just can't decide.

So many interesting stuffs and i have to restrict it to a few.

But one thing is definitely sure.
I am not going to be theoretical phsyicist , perhaps as a hobby it is ok (just like Einstein , who did it in his free-time).

I want to be creative.
(Try to) invent new technologies.

The only question is, which way is the better one to pick to reach the goals.

 

[Future-boy]

One more question^^

In the US, which university has the best faculty for bio-nano-technology?

 

[Future-boy]

And to ask the other way round.

As an engineer, how possible is it to get in touch with (molecolar)nanotechnology without it being just material engineering?

 

[Future-boy]

Actually what i am aiming at is transhumanism, which is the frame.

 

[Future-boy]

Some hints? :(

 

[Future-boy]

What do you think of Cybernetics?

I read that they are the generalists among the engineers.

 

[Defennder]

Well the fields you're listing fall under the scope of majors such as electrical and computer engineering, I'll say it leans more to electrical/electronic since you're more interested in biomedical engineering. This probably differs by country, but biomed engineering is considered more of a grad specialisation than a bachelor's degree.

 

[Future-boy]

Hm the optimal course i can think should atleast contain the following lectures:

Maths +(Bio)informatics +
Biophysics + Condensed Matter physics + Solid state physics
+ electrical engineering + mechanical engineering
+ chemistry

But i couldn't find anything like this, not in the country i live in (Germany...).

Actually i am fine if Molecular Nanotechnology as a course would be offered...

 

[Choppy]

It sounds like you're trying to squish advanced concepts into a general program. You can't start with biophysics, for example. You need to begin with basic physics and biology and work your way up.

With such a diverse range of interests, you should look for a program that starts out fairly general with courses in physics, math, biology, and chemistry and perhaps one that would also allow you to easily tranfer to an engineering program. Once you experience these subjects at a university level, you'll be in a better position to decide which science or engineering field you'll enjoy.

If you decide then, to pursue physics for example - don't worry about a fancy title like "honours nanotechnobabble" - just do an honours physics degree. You can select a sub-specialty once you get into graduate school.

 

[Future-boy]

Yeah, i know basics are maths , physics, chemistry and some biology.

The problem is that i need to decide now for a bachelor course.
As i mentioned, once i get a bachelor in science (physics for example), the way for a master in engineering won't be existing anymore.

Now, i am really trying hard to look up every university here and try to find the curriculum and the specific courses.
Some "unknown" universities here are actually offering a more versatile programm than the "top" unis here.

Also there is a problem with the reputation of the university i study in, i think.
To apply for a master in a foreign country, the name plays a big role.

What do you think?

Is it harder to gain knowledge from engineering stuffs or pure science stuffs?

I need to learn besides courses anyways to give me a broader perspective.

The question is which way.
More engineering at uni and read pure scientific books to teach it myself or the other way round?

Thanks for any advice :D

 

[chroot]

Nothing you've said indicates you're interested in a physics degree. I'd say you should start with some kind of an engineering or materials science degree. You're not going to be a researcher in "bionanotechnology" (a field which does not exist in any meaningful form today) without a Ph.D., so plan ahead: choose a curriculum which can lead you to a Ph.D.

- Warren

 

[Howers]

I like to understand but also to apply the knowledge, to research, to create and to develop. So technology in general.
The knowledge alone is not enough for me, it is what you make of it.

I want applications, and not just some simulation or chalk on the board.

I just can't decide.

Sounds like engineering is your calling. Most of physics can't be applied. Once you get into the deep theories, they will remain on paper for quite some time.

But one thing is definitely sure.
I am not going to be theoretical phsyicist , perhaps as a hobby it is ok (just like Einstein , who did it in his free-time).

Einstein was not a theoretical phycist "as a hobby". His degree was in physics and he studied physics theory all his life. He was employed as a patent clerk because he could not find a teaching post. His education, and his free-time, was devoted to physics.

If you want to attempt to model the world around you with math, the way Newton and Einstein did, then that is physics. If you want to apply this knowledge to technology, that is engineering.

 

[Future-boy]

Yeah, that was an over-statement.
What i meant is that he actually did what he wanted to do in his "free-time".

I think i will def. go into the the direction of engineering.

I mean, assuming that i would be a great theoretical physicist.
I won't see any technologies in my life-time that will use the theory if it is even possible.

The only question i ask is actually.

Do we have all fundamentals for nanotechnology, so that is "only" a matter of engineering or do we lack major knowledge.

http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm
How far away are we from the 3rd stage actually?

Well anyways, in Germany there is a more clean separation between science and engineering.
Unfortunately nanoscience/technology is devoted to science.

Or i have to wait one more year and apply for the ETH Zürich (the MIT of Europe ^^) where Nanotechnology is definitely devoted to engineering.

 

[Defennder]

Are you sure grad schools in Germany only accept specialised Bachelors in those respective courses and disallow cross-overs from related fields? I did a quick search on Google and Wikipedia and could find this particular Master's program in the Biotec Centre of the University of Dresden:

Admission[/PLAIN] Requirements

The educational requirements for all applicants are a Diploma degree or a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification in physics, biophysics or engineering (nanotechnology) with minimum overall German grade of 2,5 or equivalent ("good")
Please note that from most countries (including India, China...) a minimum of a 4-year BSc degree or 3-year BSc degree plus 1-year MSc degree is required as a minimum (i.e. a minimum of a 4-year study duration)

Since the language in the Master's programme is English, non-native speakers must demonstrate competence in English by a
TOEFL: required level 550 points paper-based (213 points computer-based)
IELTS: required level 6.0
certificates of other tests of equivalent standard will also be considered
A proof of good knowledge in the fundamentals of physics including mechanics, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics and quantum theory as well as basic knowledge in chemistry and biology

Granted this is for international students, but I don't suppose they would treat native Germans any differently.

 

[WhiteKnights]

This is a hugely interdisciplinary field. Material Engineers with need to fabricate and design the nano materials, while an electrical engineer would work on on making it robotic and a biologist or biological engineer would have to make sure your body doesn't rape it or it doesn't rape your body.

 

[Astronuc]

One could look at the possibility of a physics/engineering double major. If one is interested in nanotechnology, then a physics and materials science double major might the thing.

As for studying in the US, I recently read statistics that indicated about 40% of MS degrees and the majority of PhD's awarded in the US go to foreign students. I've had a few people in industry indicate to me that they prefer to hire foreign students since they appear to be smarter and work harder than graduates from US undergrad programs.

 

[Future-boy]

@Defennder:
Yeah, this would be the only university that offers this possibility.

But i don't know.
As Eric Drexler said MNT is an engineering field in the first place.
But today we are far from that state...
I don't like it that today it is mostly about some optimization of materials.

http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm

The 4th state would be wonderfull.

 

[Defennder]

As said earlier by others, graduate fields such as nanotech is an interdisciplinary field which requires students from many related fields. So I do not think it's true that grad schools anywhere in the world offering nanotech would limit their intake to that of a single discipline. And anyway that random grad college I posted earlier was really random; it was the first grad school website I found whose admissions page was translated to English. So I don't see how it's likely that I stumbled upon the only university (with some name recognition) who offers this grad discipline for various undergrad degrees.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't like it that today it is mostly about some optimization of materials.

Well, tough.

The fact of the matter is that today "transhumanism" and Drexlerian nanotechnology is at best science fiction and at worst a pipe dream. You aren't going to get a degree in transhumanism any more than you would get a degree in time travel or in antigravity.

Today, the work that's going on in nanotechnology revolves around nanofabricated materials. This is a necessary (but hardly sufficient) requirement for the sort of self-replicating robots that Drexler describes. You can work on it or not, as you chose, but that's where the field is today - you can advance it or not, again, as you choose.

I really don't know what to tell you. You say you are interested in applications, which would suggest engineering, but your messages show not a hint of realism or practicality, which are key elements of engineering. I don't see you being happy in either profession.

 

[Mihael]

Hi, i knowthere were surely enough of such threads.

Well, the problem here in the country i live in is that there is a clean seperation.
With a bachelor in physics you can't do a master in engineering.
I have lookd up several universities, but no chance.
Also vice-versa.

I like to understand but also to apply the knowledge, to research, to create and to develop. So technology in general.
The knowledge alone is not enough for me, it is what you make of it.

My interested was likely similar with you, I am taken engineering as my degree..
But now I was a bit regret, because I find physics theory could be a lot fun compared to study materials and machines stuff all the time.
Even I like applications too, studying physics can be also enroll to technology research/develop but not just necessary for engineering.
However I was more prefer in theoretical works.

What I saw that in your stories, I think you are more concern in practical works, therefore engineering may be is your way to go.

 

[Future-boy]

I study to see whether the visions of Drexler are realisable or just will stay dreams.

Anyways, i limited things a bit now.

- Physics (Bio-Nano-physics)
- Biotechnology (Molecular Biotechnology/engineering)
- Biomedical engineering
- Micro - Nano-systems/technology
- MNT

If i go for engineering i definitely want to study something like this as Master:
http://www.micronano.ethz.ch/

Well in Europe i think there won't be a better choice, since the ETHZ is called the MIT of Europe. Really interdisciplinary and even at education level.

Unfortunately, i can't apply anymore for a bachelor and have to wait for 1 more year to start college. (Deadline was around April there)

 

[Future-boy]

Sorry to bump the thread.

I think i have decided now. I will go for a bachelor in physics trying to get in touch with bionanophysics and biomolecular engineering.

Later i can still work in the engineering fields hopefully.

I want to get a profound basis first.