It’s Science Week in Ireland, and to maintain that scientific momentum, this week’s career memes take a closer look at the role of physicists.
What they do: The subject of physics is vast, so physicists will usually specialise in a sub-category of physics under applied physics (such as astrophysics, molecular physics or nuclear physics) or theoretical physics, which is more abstract.
Physicists’ ultimate goal is to help explain the physical world around us and advance science and industry.
To do this, physicists will research physical phenomenon, devise hypotheses, conduct experiments and draw conclusions from their findings.
What they don’t do: Work in labs all of the time or just teach the subject.
Educational requirements: Most careers in physics require graduate-level education, especially in theoretical physics.
Required skills: Strong analytical, numerical, reasoning, communication and problem-solving skills, along with computer skills to work with specific software programs.
Salary: Physics graduates can expect to earn an average annual salary of €54,000, according to UCD School of Physics.
