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| Picture from Okinawa island in Japan |
I want to share my perspective on research, particularly in basic science.
I’ve noticed that many renowned scientists, especially physicists, often choose research problems that fascinate and excite them. Interestingly, many of these scientists also have a deep interest in the humanities and arts. They dedicate their resources and efforts to these pursuits, ultimately publishing their findings. Along the way, they develop quantitative and analytical tools or physics-based models to better understand the problems they are investigating. For example, I recently attended a talk by a well-known physicist from the UK who was studying literature from the medieval era. I approached the talk with curiosity but found my interest waning as it progressed, likely due to my limited understanding of literature. However, what really lingered with me was the question: Is this an important problem to study? Should leaders in the field of physics invest their time and resources in such research? Of course, it is entirely within their right and wisdom to choose their research topics.
As an early-career researcher and physicist, what captivates me are problems that are not only intellectually beautiful but also have a significant impact on society.
I am conflicted about whether we should study physics as an art form or as a discipline that generates meaningful contributions to science, engineering, and life in general.
Coming from a developing country, I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to study and conduct research at premier institutions. In my home country, numerous pressing issues need attention—such as infection control, disease, social issues, geopolitical conflicts, climate change, unemployment, and poor policy and resource management. As a physicist, I’m unsure how to address these challenges, but I am educating myself to study and understand cross-disciplinary problems. At this point, I recognize that these problems are incredibly difficult to solve. However, solving them could bring happiness to the faces of millions.
So, the question that drives me now is: How can a physicist contribute to the creation of knowledge while also using that knowledge to tackle society’s most challenging problems?
Right now, I find myself deeply inspired by work in applied physics and anything that can create tangible value for society. One of my recent encounters is using physics based quantitative methods to study biology, stock-market and climate science.
PS: These are my personal views.
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