Happiness in learning and seeking knowldage. What do you think?

[lisab]

Sorry for asking but can you explain to me why women are drawn to chemistry? I have wondered about that for a long time and I figure that since you made the switch for some reason you might be able to answer. I mean, most I know go to finance or programming, haven't heard about anyone going to chemistry.

Actually, I did switch but the other way. I was a chemistry major, and as part of that I had to take a year of physical chemistry. I totally loved it, and decided to go in that direction.

There were other factors, but basically I abandoned chemistry and pursued physics until I had my degree in it.

But then in the employment market place, I found chemistry jobs were much more abundant than those that were more physics-related, so I used those skills for my career.

I really don't know why chemistry attracts women...it was about 50/50 male/female when I was in it (some 20+ years ago). It does help to walk into a class and see a reasonable mix of genders, because it's never totally comfortable to be the odd one out. For example, can you imagine how a guy would feel in a class of nearly all women - like, a guy studying nursing, for example?

Also, I don't know how representative my experience was, but chemistry students were much friendlier and more social.

 

[Leptos]

I am a 61yo retired mechanical engineer, I study at least five hours everyday. -snip-
[...]
Because of my widespread interests, I tried to have a guiding goal, currently it is Origins such as: origin of the universe, Milky Way, Solar System, Earth, Life, and Humans.
Studying is like a hobby to me.

You sound just like my uncle, he's almost your age and he's a mechanical engineer working for the government. He had the same job for decades but it pays very nicely and he has short hours so he gets to spend time in the morning exercising and reading, and he comes home by 4-5 PM. He's extremely well read and he seems very happy with his life.

Sorry for asking but can you explain to me why women are drawn to chemistry? I have wondered about that for a long time and I figure that since you made the switch for some reason you might be able to answer. I mean, most I know go to finance or programming, haven't heard about anyone going to chemistry.

In general I think a group of physics/math students are a little different from those who are interested in chemistry/biology. I recall a study that was done that showed that the average student of math/physics scored highest on the autism spectrum quotient test whereas biology students scored the lowest(in fact, they scored below the average for society). The average physics/math student falls into the anti-social range for the autism spectrum, but I'm not sure what to think of that.

 

[AlexES16]

You sound just like my uncle, he's almost your age and he's a mechanical engineer working for the government. He had the same job for decades but it pays very nicely and he has short hours so he gets to spend time in the morning exercising and reading, and he comes home by 4-5 PM. He's extremely well read and he seems very happy with his life.


In general I think a group of physics/math students are a little different from those who are interested in chemistry/biology. I recall a study that was done that showed that the average student of math/physics scored highest on the autism spectrum quotient test whereas biology students scored the lowest(in fact, they scored below the average for society). The average physics/math student falls into the anti-social range for the autism spectrum, but I'm not sure what to think of that.

Does your uncle have a family(wife, kids)? I will be ME.