Lately, I have been contemplating hot topics in condensed matter physics and materials science that could be interesting for students seeking a suitable research group to carry out their PhD or B.Sc./M.Sc. research projects. I want to share my personal list with the readers of this blog. Disclaimer: Certainly, this list is incomplete and possibly highly subjective. Nevertheless, I do believe that it may serve as an inspiration for interested readers.
This blog is a platform for discussions on physics teaching in higher education. What are effective teaching strategies and creative ways to arouse students' enthusiasm for physics? A special focus lies on condensed matter physics and materials science. Most of the content is based on my personal experience, but I also try to offer a broader perspective of physics teaching.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Navigating nonlinear career paths -- a personal perspective
Today, I would like to share my personal motivation for studying physics and eventually pursuing a PhD. You will realize that my motivation has changed quite a bit over time, but I firmly believe that I always followed my heart and trusted my instincts. Perhaps the main takeaway from this blog post is this: Always follow your passion, stay open to new opportunities, and do not view shifting gears as a negative thing. I hope that my personal story will inspire some of the readers and encourage folks to chase their dreams. While many steps in my CV may seem logical and straightforward, I would state that, in some regards, my career has taken a nonlinear path.
My initial passion was astrophysics. As a kid, I was captivated by documentaries on German cable TV that dealt with black holes, supernovae, comets and the Big Bang. I also loved watching the science-fiction series "Stargate" and admired the role of the astrophysicist Dr. Samantha Carter, who could eloquently explain everything that is going on in the universe. In high school, physics was not necessarily my best subject, but I certainly did enjoy it. Other contendors for my future college major were computer science and electrical engineering, but ultimately I decided to pick physics. My decision was primarily driven by the hope to find answers to the big questions about the universe while still being able to secure a decent job in the future, since physicists appeared to be in reasonably great demand in the job market.
Friday, December 1, 2023
Augmented reality, computational physics, engaging students
Just in time for the weekend, here are a few brief items that contain interesting reads and food for thought on physics education:
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Some reflections on peer review
Peer review is a fundamental pillar of the dissemination and validation of scientific knowledge. A considerable portion of this process oper...
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This is a slightly modified version of an article that has appeared in the most recent Newsletter (September 2023 issue) of the IEEE Magnet...
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Over the course of this semester, I am taking over the advanced physics lab course at our Institute of Physics at Goethe University Frankfur...
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A few days ago, I came across the following blog post by Dr. Brokk Toggerson, a physics lecturer from the University of Massachusetts, Amher...