INTER ACTIONS 2001

The New Physics Student

By Nicholas Fitzkee

Nicholas Fitzkee (B.S.’01 in physics with a minor in biology) is an Andrew Carnegie Scholar and was chair of the Carnegie Mellon Student Senate. He received the Cutkosky Award and a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Nick participated in numerous community service organizations including the Joyful Noise a cappella group. Following on his two years of undergraduate research in protein crystallography, Nick now studies biophysics at Johns Hopkins University.

In casual conversation, people often ask “What do you do?” expecting to respond, “Oh, that’s nice.” Physicists often receive less pleasant responses. Although their audience is typically flattering on the surface, saying something like, “Wow, I was never very good at physics,” the response may carry with it a sense that physicists are somehow less well rounded than people in other occupations. A new type of physicist is emerging that promises to shatter the preconceptions established by previous generations of scientists and nonscientists alike. The new physicist, while still passionate about physics, is becoming more aware of the world that physics describes. Carnegie Mellon is a The New Physics Student by Nicholas Fitzkee conducive environment for training such students.

Carnegie Mellon provides more than 100 activities in which interested students can participate. Although organizations like the astronomy club remain very popular with physics students, many physicists invest their time in other groups. Chris Schroeder, a senior, is a prime example of this. In addition to being an active member in the No Parking Players improvisational comedy group and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Chris helped to revitalize the cycling club and GOOOOOOAL, the soccer club. “I have always been encouraged to be more than a good student, to avoid making academic success my only goal in life,” Schroeder said, “and I am glad that I have received that encouragement.” Jon Foster, a recent graduate, also believes that it’s important to take up other interests. When he first came to Carnegie Mellon, Jon was a trombone major. Although he switched to physics, he pursued a music minor and continued to play in several performance groups throughout his senior year. These examples are becoming the norm rather than the exception as physicists pursue interests outside the classroom.

The new physics student is becoming more socially conscious. Twenty undergraduate physics majors volunteered to serve in the recently revitalized physics student advisory council (SAC). This SAC’s goal is to improve the life, both academic and nonacademic, of physics students at Carnegie Mellon. Throughout the spring semester, the SAC met weekly to discuss current issues and events in the department. Unlike most other SACs in the university, however, the Physics SAC was entirely organized and operated by the students who attended. Physics students are also becoming involved in student government, which serves the entire campus. For the first time in at least six years, physicists will hold two of the four seats allocated to the Mellon College of Science. Vito Fiore and Jonathan Anderson, who will fill the seats, were excited about the increase in participation. “It’s neat to see other physics majors filling the gap in MCS representation. Hopefully this will start a trend,” said Anderson.

Community service is also entering in to the new physics student’s daily life. Physics participation in service organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Circle-K, and Alpha Phi Omega has been on the rise recently as more prospective students graduate from high school with strong community service backgrounds. Speaking about his participation in Circle-K and Alpha Phi Omega, Schroeder said, “Service is mandatory. Volunteering can be fun, but I would still be dedicated even if it weren’t. If you think about how hard life is for some people and how easy it is for you, then helping others will become a necessity for you.”

At the heart of the movement toward the renaissance physicist at Carnegie Mellon has been the Carnegie Mellon Physics Department itself. I know that Professor Garoff’s research lies between physics and chemistry, and Professor Nagle’s lies at the boundary of physics and biology. Another key player in the department’s emphasis on well roundedness is Kunal Ghosh, the newly hired undergraduate advisor. Ghosh helped in the revival of the Physics SAC and met with many prospective students and their families this year.

But above all, the students make the difference in defining the new physics major. Their interests, combined with a department willing to encourage participation in outside organizations and in interdisciplinary research, contribute to changing current perceptions about physics majors. The stereotype of the single-sided physicist may eventually be eliminated. Physicists can hope that someday, when talking about their profession, the response will be, “Oh, that’s nice,” rather than the typical answer given today.