Can I be a good theorist without a degree in math?

[garra]

I wondered this when i saw that Robert Penrose its a physicist and a mathematician.
If i dont do a math physics degree I wont be effective?

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't know what a "math physics degree" is, but most theoretical physicists have degrees in physics.

 

[phinds]

I wondered this when i saw that Robert Penrose its a physicist and a mathematician.
If i dont do a math physics degree I wont be effective?

How hard do you think it would be to Google something like "who are the current leaders in theoretical physics" and then look up whether or not they have a degree in math? I did that and the result is easily obtained and definitive.

If you are going to go into science, you should learn how to do research.

 

[Vanadium 50]

How hard do you think it would be to Google something like "who are the current leaders in theoretical physics" and then look up whether or not they have a degree in math? I

While I agree with your point, here is one of thise cases where Google bobbles it. About a third of "the current leaders in theoretical physics" are dead,

 

[garra]

I don't know what a "math physics degree" is, but most theoretical physicists have degrees in physics.

I had a friend who was studying physics and math at uni. I was worried that my only physics degree wouldn't be enough

 

[Haborix]

Don't get too distracted by seeking credentials (e.g., this degree, that degree, this certification, that certification). Figure out what you want to do, see what you need to know to do it, and start learning.

 

[phinds]

I had a friend who was studying physics and math at uni. I was worried that my only physics degree wouldn't be enough

Which totally avoids any response to my statement.

 

[phinds]

While I agree with your point, here is one of thise cases where Google bobbles it. About a third of "the current leaders in theoretical physics" are dead,

Yeah, but before they died, they didn't have math degrees

 

[Vanadium 50]

Yeah, but before they died, they didn't have math degrees

Nor after, for that matter.

 

[Orodruin]

Nor after, for that matter.

Based on a quick Google search, many universities have procedures for awarding posthumous degrees.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Why not? I know of a few faculty awarded tenure after brain death.

 

[gwnorth]

I had a friend who was studying physics and math at uni. I was worried that my only physics degree wouldn't be enough

Having a formal double major or a major/minor in Physics and Math is less important than the actual math courses you've taken.

 

[robphy]

I wondered this when i saw that Robert Penrose its a physicist and a mathematician.
If i dont do a math physics degree I wont be effective?

I think you mean Roger Penrose,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Penrose ,
who has degrees in mathematics
and made substantial contributions in various fields involving mathematics, including general relativity.

 

[garra]

I think you mean Roger Penrose,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Penrose ,
who has degrees in mathematics
and made substantial contributions in various fields involving mathematics, including general relativity.

Yes. Im so embarrassed

 

[robphy]

Don't get too distracted by seeking credentials (e.g., this degree, that degree, this certification, that certification). Figure out what you want to do, see what you need to know to do it, and start learning.

Here are two theorists with non-traditional degree paths. (There are likely many others.)
Of course, these two are exceptional.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Witten
Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history and minor in linguistics from Brandeis University in 1971
PhD in physics from Princeton in 1976

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson
https://www.iop.org/physics-community/obituaries/freeman-dyson
https://www.ias.edu/sns/dyson
BA degree in mathematics from Cambridge in 1945
[no PhD]

 

[Demystifier]

Paul Dirac:
- electrical engineering degree 1921
- mathematics degree 1923

 

[martinbn]

It seems that it would be easier to list the physicists with a physics degree.

 

[Demystifier]

It seems that it would be easier to list the physicists with a physics degree.

You are right, a single link is enough:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_physicists

Of course, you didn't say only physicists with a physics degree.

 

[haushofer]

Actually, during my PhD I had a collegue who switched after his bachelor in Engineering to a one year master in theoretical physics and wrote a highly technical PhD thesis on a topic related to string theory.

Also, I ended up being an excellent theorist without a math degree

 

[Orodruin]

Also, I ended up being an excellent theorist without a math degree

Define ”excellent”, ”theorist”, and ”math degree”

 

[Bandersnatch]

Well, not to boast, but I'm theoretically excellent at maths, to a degree, myself.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Examples from 50+ years ago are not so relevant for the times of today. The time between today and when Dyson got his PhD is about the same as the time between when Dyson got his PhD and Maxwell.

As for Ed Witten, many people come to PF thinking they are the next Ed Witten. Not so many actually are.

 

[pines-demon]

The time between today and when Dyson got his PhD

Dyson never got a PhD.

 

[berkeman]

Dyson never got a PhD.

But he only missed by *this* much!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson

 

[haushofer]

Define ”excellent”, ”theorist”, and ”math degree”

I'll probably end up being disappointed, so let me keep my illusions