New Statue in Edinburgh

[GlesgaeHibby]

If I was to ask most of you who you thought the 3 top physicists of all time were I'm sure you would mention Newton and Einstein. As to the third, I'm sure many would be struggling. In a recent poll of the 3 greatest physicists of all time Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell was awarded 3rd place. His work has been commemorated at long last with the unveiling of a new statue in Edinburgh. Maxwell was the architect of electromagnetic theory-without which we would have no mobile phones, satellites, tv's, computers and much more. He managed to successfully unify the theories of electricity and magnetism- a unifcation that is still to this day considered one of the biggest advances in physics. Indeed Albert Einstein, in 1931, said that Maxwell's work was the "most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton."
It was indeed Maxwell's work on the speed of light that inspired Einstein to postulate his theory of Special Relativity.

Considering the fact that most of the things we take for granted in the modern world have been possible only due to Maxwells pioneering work, it is tragic that in his home country knowledge of this great man is scarce. Physics departments in British universities face ever dwindling numbers and many have faced closure. This is shocking in a nation that has such a rich scientific history. It is not just physics, but also chemistry and mathematics face ever falling student numbers, but yet the government still won't act. The science industry is worth an estimated £70bn to the UK economy each year, but with graduate numbers dropping science industries will take their work abroad. The demand for physics graduates at the moment is far greater than the supply, and the story for physics teachers is even more alarming. Schools are being forced to employ engineers to fill the gap in physics teaching, as there is a severe shortage of physicists.

I am currently a final year physics undergraduate working on a project based within an optics research group. Research is being carried out into imrpoving optical devices in order to assist with better/earlier detection of cancer and into optical tweezers, tools which can be used to manipulate DNA and blood cells. This vital research is only going to dry up in the near future due to lack of numbers.

I felt the need to write this to make people aware of just how worrying a situation science in the UK is currently in. The government need to address this problem as a matter of urgency, and this problem needs to be tackled at the root. This, put simply, means a massive investment in science teaching to attract the highest quality science graduates to reignite kids interest in an area that is vital to the economy and improving the quality of life for people the world round.

James Clerk Maxwell would be turning in his grave if he could see us now.

[HibbyDave]

Well said!
Once you complete your studies, you will of course enter teaching instead of accepting a highly paid job with a major company desperate to utilise your skills?:wink:

[Ryan91]

Well said, there is a severe shortage of people who want to do Physics, I'm currently taking advanced higher physics but the number of people who are applying for physics in my year is shocking, as far as i am aware i'm the only person (out of more than 200) to be applying for physics at more than three universites.

[poolman]

If I was to ask most of you who you thought the 3 top physicists of all time were I'm sure you would mention Newton and Einstein. As to the third, I'm sure many would be struggling. In a recent poll of the 3 greatest physicists of all time Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell was awarded 3rd place. His work has been commemorated at long last with the unveiling of a new statue in Edinburgh. Maxwell was the architect of electromagnetic theory-without which we would have no mobile phones, satellites, tv's, computers and much more. He managed to successfully unify the theories of electricity and magnetism- a unifcation that is still to this day considered one of the biggest advances in physics. Indeed Albert Einstein, in 1931, said that Maxwell's work was the "most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton."
It was indeed Maxwell's work on the speed of light that inspired Einstein to postulate his theory of Special Relativity.

Considering the fact that most of the things we take for granted in the modern world have been possible only due to Maxwells pioneering work, it is tragic that in his home country knowledge of this great man is scarce. Physics departments in British universities face ever dwindling numbers and many have faced closure. This is shocking in a nation that has such a rich scientific history. It is not just physics, but also chemistry and mathematics face ever falling student numbers, but yet the government still won't act. The science industry is worth an estimated £70bn to the UK economy each year, but with graduate numbers dropping science industries will take their work abroad. The demand for physics graduates at the moment is far greater than the supply, and the story for physics teachers is even more alarming. Schools are being forced to employ engineers to fill the gap in physics teaching, as there is a severe shortage of physicists.

I am currently a final year physics undergraduate working on a project based within an optics research group. Research is being carried out into imrpoving optical devices in order to assist with better/earlier detection of cancer and into optical tweezers, tools which can be used to manipulate DNA and blood cells. This vital research is only going to dry up in the near future due to lack of numbers.

I felt the need to write this to make people aware of just how worrying a situation science in the UK is currently in. The government need to address this problem as a matter of urgency, and this problem needs to be tackled at the root. This, put simply, means a massive investment in science teaching to attract the highest quality science graduates to reignite kids interest in an area that is vital to the economy and improving the quality of life for people the world round.

James Clerk Maxwell would be turning in his grave if he could see us now.



Great post and a good story, must admit I didn't know that myself about JCM.



:top marks

[Ally]

JCM has a building named after him at King's Buildings. Bloody hate I do.

[GlesgaeHibby]

Well said, there is a severe shortage of people who want to do Physics, I'm currently taking advanced higher physics but the number of people who are applying for physics in my year is shocking, as far as i am aware i'm the only person (out of more than 200) to be applying for physics at more than three universites.

Where you applying for wee hibby? I can personally speak for Glasgow Uni, but Edinburgh, St Andrews and HW are good for physics in Scotland

[GlesgaeHibby]

Well said!
Once you complete your studies, you will of course enter teaching instead of accepting a highly paid job with a major company desperate to utilise your skills?:wink:

I would love to enter teaching but there are 3 big stumbling blocks;

1. Discipline is a major issue that is just not being tackled properly and will only get worse

2. Curriculum for excellence is a farce

3. The wages are a stumbling block. I'd have to spend another year studying and then start at roughly £21k when the average starting salary for physicists is greater than this

[Mibbes Aye]

If I was to ask most of you who you thought the 3 top physicists of all time were I'm sure you would mention Newton and Einstein. As to the third, I'm sure many would be struggling. In a recent poll of the 3 greatest physicists of all time Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell was awarded 3rd place. His work has been commemorated at long last with the unveiling of a new statue in Edinburgh. Maxwell was the architect of electromagnetic theory-without which we would have no mobile phones, satellites, tv's, computers and much more. He managed to successfully unify the theories of electricity and magnetism- a unifcation that is still to this day considered one of the biggest advances in physics. Indeed Albert Einstein, in 1931, said that Maxwell's work was the "most profound and the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton."
It was indeed Maxwell's work on the speed of light that inspired Einstein to postulate his theory of Special Relativity.

Considering the fact that most of the things we take for granted in the modern world have been possible only due to Maxwells pioneering work, it is tragic that in his home country knowledge of this great man is scarce. Physics departments in British universities face ever dwindling numbers and many have faced closure. This is shocking in a nation that has such a rich scientific history. It is not just physics, but also chemistry and mathematics face ever falling student numbers, but yet the government still won't act. The science industry is worth an estimated £70bn to the UK economy each year, but with graduate numbers dropping science industries will take their work abroad. The demand for physics graduates at the moment is far greater than the supply, and the story for physics teachers is even more alarming. Schools are being forced to employ engineers to fill the gap in physics teaching, as there is a severe shortage of physicists.

I am currently a final year physics undergraduate working on a project based within an optics research group. Research is being carried out into imrpoving optical devices in order to assist with better/earlier detection of cancer and into optical tweezers, tools which can be used to manipulate DNA and blood cells. This vital research is only going to dry up in the near future due to lack of numbers.

I felt the need to write this to make people aware of just how worrying a situation science in the UK is currently in. The government need to address this problem as a matter of urgency, and this problem needs to be tackled at the root. This, put simply, means a massive investment in science teaching to attract the highest quality science graduates to reignite kids interest in an area that is vital to the economy and improving the quality of life for people the world round.

James Clerk Maxwell would be turning in his grave if he could see us now.

Good post GH although I feel obliged to point out that JCM wouldn't be in a position to be turning in his grave if he could see us. In fact if he was turning, would we even be able to be certain he was in his grave? Mon the Heisenberg :greengrin

I vaguely recollect hearing an In Our Time about JCM a few years ago and it was compelling stuff, although in fairness I think they tend to cover the sciences very well.

TBH I sadly can't imagine the circumstances any time soon in which we would see a massive investment in science teaching. Part of me does wonder as well though whether there has been a diminishing in recent years of a sense of the public service ethic, that's not related directly to terms or conditions :dunno:

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

Who is the guy that is involved in the "Big Bang" experiment...that Large Hadron Collider thingy...is he not from Edinburgh :dunno:

[Ryan91]

Where you applying for wee hibby? I can personally speak for Glasgow Uni, but Edinburgh, St Andrews and HW are good for physics in Scotland

Applying to Glasgow (No 1 Choice), Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Heriott-Watt and Dundee

[--------]

Excellent OP, GH. We don't value our great men enough in this country.

Good that JCM now at least has a little public acknowledgement.




And on the same theme, though at the risk of being accused of hijacking....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Antarctic_Expedition

How many of us have heard of William Speirs Bruce? :cool2:

[GlesgaeHibby]

Applying to Glasgow (No 1 Choice), Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Heriott-Watt and Dundee

Good call, I'm obviously biased but I think its a good decision for a number of reasons.

1. First and second year labs have just been refurbished and are now great facilities
2. Research groups at glasgow are very strong and varied; Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Optics, Solid State, Gravitational Waves, Astronomy and so when you get to honours years you will be able to work closely on a project in a research group you're interested int
3. Teaching and research rated excellent
4. Gorgeous campus, new hub building about to be opened. 2 good unions
5 Glasgow Uni is on the up just now too, recently risen 10 places in world rankings to 73rd and is now in the top 1% of institutions worldwide

[GlesgaeHibby]

Excellent OP, GH. We don't value our great men enough in this country.

Good that JCM now at least has a little public acknowledgement.




And on the same theme, though at the risk of being accused of hijacking....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Antarctic_Expedition

How many of us have heard of William Speirs Bruce? :cool2:

I certainly hadn't, and what an interesting story. I think a lot of the problems come from the fact that TV churns out so much reality nonsense (big brother, im a celebrity, x factor, strictly come dancing) and people would rather watch this drivel than watch programmes that engage the mind.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Has science got a place in the post-modern world?

[Mibbes Aye]

Has science got a place in the post-modern world?

:agree: Good point.

I think the best solution would be a knockout TV reality show, something like "I'm An Academic Discipline, Get Me Out Of Here" where say a dozen different subject areas have to impress the viewing public or risk getting voted out of existence.

Personally I would love to see Lous Walsh coaxing an emotion-laden performance from philosophy or watch a VT of a tearful comparative religion recounting their troubled upbringing to a Sigur Ros soundtrack.

[Peevemor]

:agree: Good point.

I think the best solution would be a knockout TV reality show, something like "I'm An Academic Discipline, Get Me Out Of Here" where say a dozen different subject areas have to impress the viewing public or risk getting voted out of existence.

Personally I would love to see Lous Walsh coaxing an emotion-laden performance from philosophy or watch a VT of a tearful comparative religion recounting their troubled upbringing to a Sigur Ros soundtrack.

Would we get to see women in their scants?

[Mibbes Aye]

Would we get to see women in their scants?

I can't see how it would have any credibility if we didn't :agree:

[Phil D. Rolls]

:agree: Good point.

I think the best solution would be a knockout TV reality show, something like "I'm An Academic Discipline, Get Me Out Of Here" where say a dozen different subject areas have to impress the viewing public or risk getting voted out of existence.

Personally I would love to see Lous Walsh coaxing an emotion-laden performance from philosophy or watch a VT of a tearful comparative religion recounting their troubled upbringing to a Sigur Ros soundtrack.

A bit like that Python sketch where Mao Tse Tung, Lenin, Karl Marx and Che Guevara have to answer questions on football and the eurovision song contest?

Sing litta burdi sing!

[EskbankHibby]

JCM has a building named after him at King's Buildings. Bloody hate I do.

Talking of physics i'm sure Yoda could teach us a thing or two about the force :wink:.