Careers in Science and Engineering

1. Regina High School Career DayThursday March 22, 2007 Careers in Science and Engineering Dr. Robert Merlino Department of Physics and Astronomy The University of Iowa

2. Science vs. Engineering, what’s the difference? • goal of science is to discover the composition and behavior of the physical world – the “laws of nature” • the basic objective of engineering is to design (INVENT) useful things • scientists discover new science; engineers apply science to design useful things • the training of scientists and engineers is similar, both learn basic science, but scientists training goes beyond the basics to the frontiers of knowledge

3. physics and engineering (examples) • John Bardeen discovered how semiconductors work, electrical engineers used this to make radios, TVs, . . . computers . . . • Hertz discovered radio waves, Marconi invented wireless communication • Roentgen discovered x-rays, engineers make x-ray machines used in hosptials • Physicists discovered nuclear magnetic resonance; engineers design MRI systems • Sometimes there are many years between discovery of the science and the application • some discoveries may have no practical application

4. Science vs. Engineering • engineering is neither better or worse than science, it is different • scientists try to advance knowledge beyond what is already known • engineers study applied subject areas that are specifically useful in designing things. e.g., strength of beams and the performance of engines • most engineers are qualified for useful work without reaching the Ph. D., but most scientists attain a Ph. D. • there is a direct path from undergraduate engineering degree to a career in engineering • engineers usually pursue their professional license • in science the Ph.D. is a sort of license to do research

5. Scientists in industry • there is no definite line between science and engineering – you will find many physicists working in industry • biophysics • plasma TV systems • fiber optics and lasers • high-tech management • finance and marketing • MRI physicists (health physics) • quality engineers

6. aerospace engineering agricultural engineering biomedical engineering chemical engineering civil engineering construction engineering electrical engineering manufacturing engineering materials engineering nuclear engineering environmental engineering mechanical engineering computer engineering industrial engineering Branches of engineering

7. Positions held by physics alumni EngineeringHealth Physics Business/managementUniversity Faculty • Consultant, Lockheed Martin • Physicist, U.S. Army • Consultant, Rail Co. • Advisory Engineer, Westinghouse Electronic • Systems Group • Senior Engineer, Marine Corps • Test Pilot, U.S. Navy • Physicist, Naval Air Warfare Center • Senior Scientist, University of Virginia • Radiation Oncologist, Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD • Financial Analyst, American Hospital Supply, Corp.

8. CFO, Dennys, Inc.. • Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh • Professor of Pediatrics, Temple University • Radiology, Duke University Medical Center • Assistant Professor, Physics, Villanova University • Radiologist, Richmond Medical Imaging Associates • Pilot, U.S. Navy • Technical Director, E.G.&G. • Program Manager, U.S. Army • Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh • Manager, Interet Inc. • Physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory • Program Manager, Vitro Corp.

9. Staff Engineer, Hawaiian Electric Co. • President, Maui Electronic Co., Ltd. • Heath Physicist, Radiochemist, U.S. Navy • Nuclear Engineer, Bechtel Power • Consulting Physicist • Health Physicist, Digital Systems Research • Territorial Manager, Ross Laboratories • Accounts Underwriter, Kemper Insurance • Vice President, Cigna International • Scientist, SES • Research Associate, DuPont Imaging Systems • Case Manager, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy • Senior Physicst/Systems Analyst, The John Hopkins University • Functional Manger, Hewlett Packard • Civil Engineer, Sinclair Oil Corp. • Vice President, Licensing , Wyeth-Ayert Laboratories • Engineer, GTE Fiber Optics Communication

10. Manager, Network Equipment Technologies • LCDR, U.S. Navy • Director if Research, IatroMed, Inc. • Director of R&D, LaJolla Technology, Inc. • Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Kentucky • Development Engineer, Reed Research, Inc. • Test Engineering Manager, Du Pont • Dean, Sangamon State University, Springfield Il • Technical Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Physicist, Cornell Aero. Labs • U.S. Sales Manager, AT&T Paradyne • Consultant, Arthur Anderson & Co.

11. Director, Bell Atlantic • Professor of Astronomy, Villanova University • Sr. Principal Engineer, Computer Sciences Corp. • Asst. Professor of Physics, Temple University • Electronics Engineer Honeywell Electro OpticsPresident, California University of PA • Project Engineer, New Jersey Dept. of Transportation • Field Engineer, Ultratech Stepper • Engineer, Lockheed Martin • Electronics Engineer, USAF • Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Wright State University • Assistant Scientist, Leeds and Northrup

12. What to do now to prepare for careers in science and engineering • take re-algebra, algebra, advanced algebra and pre-calculus courses • take every available science course- physical science, biology, chemistry and physics • for physics careers readThe Elegant Universe, by Brian Greene A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking Flying Circus of Physics, by Jearl Walker • get involved in science fairs, extracurricular science clubs • find a mentor – someone (teacher or professor) who can help you and answer questions about things that intrigue you about science

13. What do University professors do? TEACHING • I teach a large lecture class (300) for mostly freshman –The Physics of Everyday Experience- How things work – Mon Wed Fri 11:30 – 12-30 • I spend at least an hour before each class preparing demonstrations to illustrate the principles found in our common experiences • On Tues and Thus mornings I meet individual students to answer questions, provide help, etc • I advise graduate students who are working toward their MS and PhD degrees

14. Research • I conduct experiments in plasma (ionized gases) physics in my lab • Both undergraduates and graduate students work with my as part of a team • I write research proposals to federal agencies to get the money to do the research • I spend lots of time writing reports on the experiments that we perform – these reports get published as articles in journals read by other scientists • I attend research conferences where I present our results to groups of scientists who can offer feed back and criticism • I am usually in my office M-F, 8:30 – 5:30, but I spend a good deal of time in the evenings and weekends reading articles about the work of other scientists.

15. ASTRONOMY Rosette Nebula

16. Comet Hale-Bopp

17. Naturally Occurring Plasmas

18. High Voltage Outdoor Plasma

19. Neon lights are a plasma !

20. Aurora Over Chippewa Falls, WI Brett Walker, Nov. 5, 2001

21. I T E R

22. A plasma lurks inside every fluorescent lamp ! The fluorescent lamp shown has part of the phosphor removed to reveal the blue glow of the plasma inside.