Physics Society.

[IWMP]

Wondering... Should I consider returning to education... It's just a floating idea. Not going to go apply on a whim because it kind of feels like it might be a whim.

University has taught masters in engineering. Various types but I'm not sure I'm interested in the specific ones. They have a mechanical engineering course but that would mean returning to industry. The research they do doesn't appeal to me... However the physics department has research that does interest me but they don't have taught masters. It is research masters by thesis. And I'm not very good at lots of writing and it's kind of more getting on with it on your own. But I do have an advantage in that one of the areas they are working on, I do have industry knowledge and that could lead to further research. But I'm not sure what you need for that and the fees aren't exactly clear on that. It just mentions a thesis fee which is fine but doesn't mention tuition fees. But do research masters have tuition fees? The fees would be covered by student finance (I believe) anyway so that isn't a worry but it is confusing. I have emailed to ask who is working on the area I am interested in. I have a feeling it is a different department because it's physics simulation research. I'll see if I can find some papers. Get to know what they are doing in more detail.

I did really well on my engineering free elective at uni and have engineering experience. So an engineering masters would be doable and useful but I'm still in that place where I don't know where to go next and I'm not feeling hugely excited at the idea.

[IWMP]

Ok, I'm pretty sure thesis and I would not get along. I did find the fees for the research masters and they are significantly less and there are additional qualifications that come with but I'm terrible at deadlines and looking at the research for the area that piqued my interest, I'm not confident enough given that I have been a SAHM for 9 years. That left two options. Medical engineering or mechanical engineering taught MSc. I liked the medical engineering but long term, I couldn't find many job opportunities during a quick job search, whereas mechanical engineering, I know there are jobs everywhere. I have already worked with six sigma lean methods so that's not going to be alien to me.

So the next step is to book one of the open day events while reading more of what they get up to and see if I'm just whimming or if I really want to.

[IWMP]

Emailed the university to ask about the timetable of the masters course. Thinking to apply depending on what the university time looks like. I would be able to cycle to uni. But if lectures run into the evenings I don't think I'd be able to commit.

I did ask who led the semiconductor research but I quickly realised that the person who worked with that was no longer there and they emailed back saying it was that person and that that course is no longer available.

[Chap]

I am reading this thread with my fingers crossed that you will make a reality of these plans!

There is a large demand for people with advanced engineering qualifications, and in my view the engineering approach to science is a great way to learn, and to use what you have learned in ways that create good things for all of us.

Oh and since you are in the UK, may I mention that the CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering is a woman (Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE):

https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/who-we-ar ... committees

Get in there and win!

[IWMP]

I am reading this thread with my fingers crossed that you will make a reality of these plans!

There is a large demand for people with advanced engineering qualifications, and in my view the engineering approach to science is a great way to learn, and to use what you have learned in ways that create good things for all of us.

Oh and since you are in the UK, may I mention that the CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering is a woman (Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE):

https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/who-we-ar ... committees

Get in there and win!

Thanks. Booked in for the open day. Also started writing notes on statistical process control. Going to need to spend the full summer studying because I'm worried I'll be mentally out of shape. I think the open day will help me decide if I'm ready. I haven't heard back about the timetable scheduling.

[Gadianton]

Interacting Weakly Massive Particles?

[Gunnar]

Interacting Weakly Massive Particles?

I see what you did there! But, shouldn't that be Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs)?


by the way, there is a growing consensus that WIMPs might not actually exist, after all.

Copilot
For decades, scientists have grappled with the mysterious concept of “dark matter,” an invisible substance that supposedly constitutes about three-quarters of the matter in the universe. However, recent research has cast doubt on its existence.

Dark Matter: A Brief Overview

Dark matter is a theoretical form of matter that doesn’t emit, absorb, or reflect light. It was proposed to explain the gravitational behavior of galaxies and galaxy clusters.

The prevailing theory suggests that dark matter interacts weakly with other matter, making it difficult to detect directly.
One popular candidate for dark matter is the WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle), which could resolve several astrophysical and cosmological problems related to dark matter1.
Evidence Against Dark Matter?

An international team of scientists published research in the Astrophysical Journal suggesting that dark matter might not exist after all.
They observed tiny discrepancies in the orbital speeds of distant stars in more than 150 galaxies. These discrepancies reveal a faint gravitational effect, known as the “external field effect” (EFE), which cannot be explained by dark matter theories.

Instead, the modified Newtonian dynamics theory (MOND) predicts this effect. It implies that our scientific understanding of gravity might be incomplete, and pure mathematics could explain galaxy behavior without invoking vast clouds of dark matter2.

In summary, while dark matter remains a fascinating mystery, alternative explanations like MOND challenge its existence. The quest to understand the universe continues!

[IWMP]

Interacting Weakly Massive Particles?

<3
Sounds like that describes me well. Haha. Tired and overweight.

[IWMP]

So I was told to contact end of July about doing the masters and received the same response. Only undergrad engineering degrees are being considered. Perhaps they have too much response. I don't really see the appeal to do a research masters in Physics. Not very good at writing so thesis work would be very difficult.

[Chap]

So I was told to contact end of July about doing the masters and received the same response. Only undergrad engineering degrees are being considered. Perhaps they have too much response. I don't really see the appeal to do a research masters in Physics. Not very good at writing so thesis work would be very difficult.

i.e you were told that the course was no longer available. Have you tried looking at the Open University?

There are three Engineering linked Masters here:

https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/res ... %20masters

This might suit you:

MA/MSc Open
This innovative masters degree allows you to create a personalised course of study across a range of academic disciplines.