Ed Witten: From History Major to Physics Legend

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SUMMARY

Edward Witten, initially a history major with a minor in linguistics, transitioned into physics during his graduate studies despite lacking an undergraduate degree in the field. His diverse academic background included politics, economics, and mathematics, showcasing his broad intellectual pursuits. Witten's rapid mastery of physics and subsequent rise to a professorship in the discipline, with only seven years of experience, highlights his exceptional capabilities. His early life and academic journey are documented in various sources, including his Wikipedia page and personal homepage.

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  • Understanding of academic pathways in higher education
  • Familiarity with the field of physics and its sub-disciplines
  • Knowledge of the significance of interdisciplinary studies
  • Awareness of notable figures in theoretical physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the academic journey of Edward Witten through his Wikipedia page
  • Explore the impact of interdisciplinary studies on career paths in science
  • Read "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell" by A. Zee for insights on Witten's contributions
  • Investigate the admissions criteria for physics graduate programs
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Students considering non-traditional paths to physics, educators in the field of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the life and contributions of Edward Witten.

pivoxa15
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Does anyone know about Witten's early years such when he was in High School and University? He didn't even do physics as an undergrad and instead majored in history and minored in Linguistics. Apparently he tried other things after his BA like politics, economics and mathematics before finally settling into physics in grad school. How does someone be accepted into physics grad school without a physics undergraduate degree? How did he become a physics professor with only around 7 years of experience doing physics (presumably he had not done phyiscs in high school)?
 
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He is certainly quite amazing. I wonder how he was able to pick up physics so quickly. Why didn't he do it earlier? Why did he decide to drop out of the maths postgrad?
 
Why don't you ask him yourself:

witten@sns.ias.edu

If he is too busy to respond, ask one of his research buddies.

John G.
 
A. Zee, in the preface to his book Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell, tells the following story about Witten.

A. Zee said:
The genesis of this book goes back to the quantum field theory course I taught as a beginning assistant professor at Princeton University. I had the enormous good fortune of having Ed Witten as my teaching assistant and grader. Ed produced lucidly written solutions to the homework problems I assigned, to the extent that the next year I went to the chairman to ask "What is wrong with the TA I have this year? He is not half as good as the guy last year!"

I feel sorry for the guy who had to fill Witten's shoes.

Regards,
George
 

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