- #1
FeDeX_LaTeX
Gold Member
- 437
- 13
Hello;
My physics teacher told me that there is a huge decline in the number of physicists. He stated that, for every 100 people who graduate to become physicists, 700 retire. Is this true, and is this a reason for not pursuing the field? I don't want to study a degree in physics and then find out 20 years later I'm completely redundant and have to work in finance. I think my physics teacher is trying to start a 'revolution' and I want to make sure that, before I go to university to study physics and decide on my life, I am makng the right decision. I have already decided that physics is my favourite subject, but I am worried that it is my teacher that has 'inspired' me in a way, and that my choice to study physics at university has been very much influenced by him. For example, he even believes that one day one of us could win a Nobel Prize of some sort (which will likely never happen).
My question is, is physics a truly horribly declining industry that, for a younger generation, it is pointless pursuing as you will be left without a job and in an industry that is struggling to keep itself alive?
Thanks.
EDIT: I would also be interested to know why, if you chose physics as a career path, why you chose it. Was it for the money? The interest? Or a combination of both? What do you like about what you do, what you study? Your lifestyle as a physicist?
My physics teacher told me that there is a huge decline in the number of physicists. He stated that, for every 100 people who graduate to become physicists, 700 retire. Is this true, and is this a reason for not pursuing the field? I don't want to study a degree in physics and then find out 20 years later I'm completely redundant and have to work in finance. I think my physics teacher is trying to start a 'revolution' and I want to make sure that, before I go to university to study physics and decide on my life, I am makng the right decision. I have already decided that physics is my favourite subject, but I am worried that it is my teacher that has 'inspired' me in a way, and that my choice to study physics at university has been very much influenced by him. For example, he even believes that one day one of us could win a Nobel Prize of some sort (which will likely never happen).
My question is, is physics a truly horribly declining industry that, for a younger generation, it is pointless pursuing as you will be left without a job and in an industry that is struggling to keep itself alive?
Thanks.
EDIT: I would also be interested to know why, if you chose physics as a career path, why you chose it. Was it for the money? The interest? Or a combination of both? What do you like about what you do, what you study? Your lifestyle as a physicist?
Last edited: