Physics 1, 2, 3
Physics Matters catches up with three physics majors currently in their first, second and third year of study. They share valuable insights of their journey into physics.
I decided to take up Physics in university as I was intrigued by the many wonders and strange and sometimes counter-intuitive phenomena that physics brings and I want to learn more about them. The rigour of university physics is much more intense as compared to the days back in secondary and junior college. It requires a deeper understanding into the concepts and just relying on pure memorisation is not enough to do well.
However, I would say that this is what makes a physics degree worthwhile in a sense that you get much more than just the content that is being thought in the classroom. No doubt physics is a hard subject to study but the physics community is small and tightly knitted and there are many friendly people around—professors, lecturers, seniors and batch mates—who are here to provide us with the support when we encounter any difficulties or challenges. I wish that by the end of my physics journey, I will not only gain more insights into the world of physics but also develop my critical thinking and analytical skills which can then be transferable to many other fields in the future.
Ng Kian Ming, Year 1
Taking up a physics major was probably the biggest decision in my life so far. This is especially so as I had taken biology instead of physics in my Junior College days. The change of heart was innocently sparked while I was watching a movie about Stephen Hawking named “The Theory of Everything”. I was intrigued by the concept of black holes and singularities, and while many have remarked that my interest was initially based on “pop science”, I came to realise that I thoroughly enjoy understanding how the world around us works and the rigorous mathematics that accompany it.
Indubitably, the university physics education is a challenging one and one is required to have a strong foundation in math. However, I believe that if we take the time to digest our concepts and constantly clarify our doubts, the process will be much smoother. One also has to be willing to spend time on additional readings to have a full grasp of the concepts. However, I think it will be worth it in the end because along the way we pick up many skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, laboratory skills and coding. These will be useful in the future.
Ulfahtun Asyiqin Binte Mohd Shaimee, Year 2
After completing my national service, I was considering pursuing my undergraduate studies in Physics or Materials Science and Engineering. My primary consideration then was that I would like to be a researcher upon completion of my graduate studies. As such, I chose Physics as I felt the curriculum was better designed for learning the ropes of research. I believe that a physics education would let me gain a deeper level of appreciation for any physical phenomena being studied. Along the way, I would have many opportunities to improve my ability to solve difficult problems with the necessary mathematical tools and modelling techniques learned.
The NUS physics curriculum takes a very rigorous approach in grooming students! For me, I was on exchange in Tsinghua University, Beijing last semester. I took several physics modules where all the lessons were taught using Chinese. In spite of the language barrier, I felt that I was able to keep pace with the classes thanks to the depth and breadth of the material covered in NUS physics. Studying physics can be very tough at times. Often, I would take a break and exercise to clear my mind. Other times, I would seek out friends, seniors and lecturers for assistance on material that I am unable to grasp. At the end of the day, I strongly believe that a never-give-up attitude is essential to overcoming any challenges!
Teo Jian Ming, Year 3