What Physicists Do
Physics 123 Spring 2019
(First 5 weeks) Fridays, 6a (3:30-4:30), Olin 141 1 Credit; S/CR/NC
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is pleased to announce this year’s Physics 123 Line-up. “What Physicists Do” is our annual series of five lectures by invited speakers, many of whom are Carleton Physics alumni. It is intended to introduce students to a broad range of real-world physics and to give some perspective on the kinds of work done by people with a physics background. The course is open to all interested students who have taken PHYS 151; those considering a major in physics are particularly encouraged to enroll.
The presentations are in OLIN 141 on Fridays during 6th period (3:30-4:30pm). The only requirement, beyond attending five talks, is to read an assigned article beforehand and then to submit a short (one page) typed essay afterwards commenting on both the talk and the reading. Speakers will be available for informal discussions over refreshments afterward. Questions: Arjendu Pattanayak, Olin 337, x7166, arjendu@carleton.edu
May 3rd Sean Hollands, ’96
Practical solutions to theoretical problems – working as a Physicist in Industry
Modern technological advancement has changed our societal expectations requiring that we find new methods for expediting development. Historically, there were many more iterations between design and test before a product release. To be competitive in today’s market that is no longer possible as technology needs to be implemented nearly instantly. This has created an opportunity for organizations that specialize in helping companies ensure what they are working on will meet both the market needs and fulfill their goals. On a daily basis I get to interact with world leading companies that are developing products that change the way we live. Each of these companies relies on my team to enable them to do their job. Their product development cycle would not move forward without our assistance. In our hour together, I will share the story of how I ended up in the world of Applied Physics and will highlight some of the exciting things we get to work on and share how you can network your way into working with these companies after Carleton.