Hidden physicists

Like me, my friend Vincent Kargatis earned a PhD in high-energy astrophysics and worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland. Also like left the late 1990s to pursue career outside of astronomy—in his case, computer programming. Now, 23 years later, he manages team that ensures quality software produced by Oracle Utilities.Since I joined Physics Today 1997, I’ve been obliged keep up with developments physics nurture contacts physicists their close professional relatives. Still, neither nor think ourselves as any longer.Debbie Bard leads data science engagement group National Energy Research Scientific Computing (NERSC) Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Before then, she Imperial College London SLAC. She experimental particle Edinburgh University Scotland.Bard’s helps researchers who need supercomputers for analysis simulations. The job entails performing two translations: from what scientists into NERSC’s systems engineers can provide hardware do implement.“My work is very far actual physics,” told me email. “I’m mainly manager people projects these days. But if someone asks do, still answer ‘physicist.’ It’s pretty deeply ingrained me.”I learned about Spotlight on Hidden Physicists, an ongoing series articles Radiations, magazine Sigma Pi Sigma, honor society. Each article person degree who, Bard, Kargatis, went other things. range things wide. Among 37 hidden are jazz singer, Disney animator, Wall Street analyst, theologian.Kargatis qualifies physicist. Indeed, one kind or another form largest Radiations series. Computer also private-sector profession employs most physicists, according surveys conducted American Institute Physics’s Statistical Center. (AIP publishes hosts Sigma.)Sigma Sigma’s Physicists succeeds showing variety rewarding careers bachelor’s, master’s, choose themselves. High school seniors contemplating subject major be justifiably confident opens doors beyond itself.But when community contemplates it should careful. Although continues herself physicist, does not. When get together, we talk mostly music, food, wine occasionally physics. He not prime candidate becoming subscriber rejoining Astronomical Society.Of private sector, how many consider themselves physicists? don’t know, but hunch has whether they continue This past May Google announced its intention spend billions dollars build quantum perform large-scale, error-free calculations 2029. Out curiosity, looked Google’s jobs site. To accomplish ambitious goal, company sought recruit just six additional physicists.Two companies physics-flavored industries, IBM Tesla, had no postings physicists. That’s say either which were qualified. Tesla currently looking computer-aided engineering computational fluid dynamics. Some meet position’s requirements, so, too, applied mathematicians.If “hidden physicist” intended mean academia identifies physicist physics, some adjustment might needed. There could fewer them than expected.© 2021 Physics.