Can Returning to Academia Reignite a Former Consultant's Passion for Science?

AI Thread Summary
A user, who completed their degree in 2007 and has since worked in management consulting and finance, is preparing to pursue a PhD in particle physics by September 2024. They are developing a study plan that includes both intensive study and revisiting lighter material. The user recalls a talk about qualities necessary for being a good scientist, possibly a theoretical physicist, which emphasized the need for selfishness in pursuing scientific work, even at the expense of personal relationships. They remember a specific anecdote about a poorly dressed physicist who was initially overlooked until his expertise became apparent. The user is seeking help to identify the talk, which they believe is available in both text and video formats online. They later share links to what they think might be the correct sources for the talk.
ateixeira
Messages
19
Reaction score
10
I finished my degree in 2007, drifted away into management consulting and the financial world. Now in 2024 I decided to return and do a PhD in particle physics (lattice QCD and mesonic physics to be more exact.)

Hence I defined a study plan to get me into basic shape until September. Besides this hard study I also like to review some more light matter and the other I remember a talk that I read way back and I would like to read again. The problem is that I only remember bits and pieces on it.

I will share these bits and pieces with you. Maybe one of you can glue up these fragmented memories and know what I am talking about and guide me to it.
  1. The topic was what you need to do to be a good scientist (maybe it was about being a good theoretical physicist but I honestly don't remember)
  2. The talk existed in text form and also in video form on youtube
  3. One of the things that the orator mentioned is that one need to be selfish. He even said that he hoped that his wife wasn't listening because plenty of time he had to neglect her to good work in science and hence he was being selfish with her
  4. He also mentioned a physicist that was really good but dressed poorly that nobody gave him any credence until they listened for a couple of minutes and realized he really knew what he was talking about.
This is it. This is all I remember. I even have the name of the guy on the tip of my tongue but I just can't get it out so that I can do a very basic google search and I find the talk I am talking about.

If you have any ideas of what the talk is please share it here and I will see if it is the one or not.

Thank you in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
TL;DR Summary: What topics to cover to safely say I know arithmetic ? I am learning arithmetic from Indian NCERT textbook. Currently I have finished addition ,substraction of 2 digit numbers and divisions, multiplication of 1 digit numbers. I am moving pretty slowly. Can someone tell me what topics to cover first to build a framework and then go on in detail. I want to learn fast. It has taken me a year now learning arithmetic. I want to speed up. Thanks for the help in advance. (I also...
Hi community My aim is to get into research about atoms, specifically, I want to do experimental research that explores questions like: 1. Why do Gallium/Mercury have low melting points 2. Why are there so many exceptions and inconsistencies when it comes to explaining molecular structures / reaction mechanisms in inorganic and organic chemistry 3. Experimental research about fundamental Quantum Mechanics, such as the one being followed by Hiroshima university that proved that observing...
guys i am currently studying in computer science engineering [1st yr]. i was intrested in physics when i was in high school. due to some circumstances i chose computer science engineering degree. so i want to incoporate computer science engineering with physics and i came across computational physics. i am intrested studying it but i dont know where to start. can you guys reccomend me some yt channels or some free courses or some other way to learn the computational physics.
Back
Top