Degrees in Science (& Physics)

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3

NUI, Galway

Degrees

in Science

_{in Science}

(& Physics)

_{(& Physics)}

College of Science

National University of Ireland, Galway

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The world has changed ….

………..it has become FLAT !

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Three Recent Convergences

• Communication

– Everything is connected, mobile, digital, RFID…….

• Technologies

– Scientific disciplines are increasingly converging towards a multidisciplinary framework

• People

– 3 billion new people have just stepped on the world stage from China, India, & the former Soviet Union

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The Challenge for Science & Technology

in the Western World

• Numbers

– Not enough people doing it

• Ambition gap

– The ambition of those in the west does not

compare with those in the east

• Education gap

– There are not enough people doing higher

degrees (MSc, PhD) to sustain the future

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The Future

Predictions are difficult….

• ….But everyone is in agreement on the

existence of Knowledge-based Economies.

• A knowledge-based economy is where …

– Ideas and know-how are most influential

– Replacing materials and other physical resources.

• Our perspective….

– Is that Science (and Physics in particular) plays a

very important part…

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NUI Galway

• In Science, Engineering, and Technology,

NUI Galway has:

– A College of Engineering

– A College of Medical and Health Sciences

– A College of Science

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The

Faculty of Science

_{Faculty of Science}

@NUI Galway

_{@NUI Galway}

• Offers entry to:

– Un-denominated Bachelor of Science (GY301) – Denominated Bachelor of Science programmes

• Internationally recognised

– Work placement in some programmes – Option to study in Europe for a semester – Well-equipped laboratories – linked to

research groups

• Generic skills also developed through

projects and assignments

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U

ndenominated Science Entry

_{ndenominated Science Entry}

• Provides the opportunity to learn more about various branches of science before specialising in a specific subject.

• Wide choice of subjects in years 1 and 2

• Leads to specialist degrees in: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Geology,

Mathematics, Mathematical Physics

(Applied Maths), Microbiology, Physiology, Zoology.

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Biological Sciences

U

Undenominated Sciencendenominated Science

• Anatomy…form and structure of living organisms

• Biochemistry…study of chemical changes in living organisms

• Botany…study of plant life of primary importance to human population • Microbiology…impact of microscopic organisms on life

• Pharmacology …effects of drugs on living organisms

• Physiology…functions of the body, its tissues, cells and fluids

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Earth Ocean Sciences

U

• Earth Ocean Sciences… physical process and their affect on the planet

• Geology… formation of the planet and its physical resources • Geophysics…Application of physics to investigate Earth and its

planetary neighbours

• Hydrology…interrelationships of ground water and geological materials and processes

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Mathematical Sciences

U

• Mathematics… developing mathematical descriptions of complex systems

• Mathematical physics… application of mathematics in modelling physical phenomena

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Physical Sciences

U

• Chemistry…composition and structure of materials, liquids, gases

• Physics…understanding the basic structure of matter and energy.

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Denominated

Science Entry

_{Science Entry}

Provides the opportunity to focus on a subject of personal interest from year 1:

– Physics & Applied Physics (GY315) – Physics with Astrophysics (GY317) – Physics with Medical Physics (GY316) – Biomedical Science (GY303)

– Biotechnology (GY304)

– Biopharmaceutical Chemistry (GY318) – Earth and Ocean Science (GY314) – Environmental Science (GY308) – Marine Science (GY310)

– Health and Safety Systems (GY313) – Computer Studies (GY306)

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Entry Requirements

• A laboratory science subject

Most courses assume little prior knowledge.

(DON’T WORRY if you don’t do Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computing, etc., in Secondary School )

• English, Irish, Mathematics and European Language

• Specific mathematics requirement for

– Physics with Astrophysics

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Any questions ?

Slides that follow describe research, and physics degrees at NUI Galway in more detail

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Science

Faculty

& Research

• National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science –

Links to Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology, etc.

• Environment Change Institute –

Links to Physics, Microbiology, Earth & Ocean Science, etc.

• Regenerative Medicine Institute –

Links to Biochemistry, Microbiology.

• National Centre for Laser Applications (Physics) • Marine Research Institute

• National Diagnostic Centre • Applied Optics (Physics)

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Research at Physics, NUI Galway

Has its finger on the pulse

• Environmental physics, investigating global warming • Developing photonics, the new electronics

• Implementing new technologies in healthcare, through medical physics

• Astronomy, understanding the universe

• Exploiting computational power, developing insights using computer simulations

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Dept. of Experimental Physics

Largest Department in Faculty of Science • Student numbers….typically

• ~140 undergraduate physics students in years 2,3, & 4 • 50 postgraduate students

• Staff numbers

• 30 Research engineers and scientists

• 15 Academic Lecturers, 6 Technical support

Undergraduate programmes in • Physics & Applied Physics • Physics with Astrophysics • Physics with Medical Physics

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Why study Physics ?

• Physics is a fundamental cornerstone of all the sciences:

– Cosmology & particle physics:

• Largest and most energetic scales

– Nano-technology, quantum physics,

• Smallest and lowest energy scales

– and everything in between.

• Helps us begin to understand the workings of the physical

world at all scales of distance and time.

• Understanding is the key to new technologies.

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How to study Physics

Entry to Physics through Undenominated science

allows broadly-based training in science with

transfer to Physics programmes after Year 1

Entry to Physics through Denominated

programmes in

• Physics & Applied Physics

• Physics with Astronomy

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Physics & Applied Physics

• Combines aspects of a traditional physics degree with Industry-orientated topics

• Courses in electronics and computing, radiological, environmental, medical physics.

• Opto-electronics and Applied Optics content is increasing, reflecting the growing importance of optics in all of these areas, and in

industry.

• More traditional physics topics include electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, solid state physics and relativity

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Physics

• A more research orientated, traditional physics programme (including radiation physics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and relativity)

• Also provides training in a range of technical skills, including computational physics, solid state physics, and modeling.

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BSc in Physics

with Medical Physics

• Medical Physics involves the application of physics and physical methods to problems in medicine.

• New four year honours B.Sc. Degree in Physics with Medical Physics, (NQAI level 8).

• The programme will combine essential core physics modules, with medical physics, chemistry, mathematical science, biology and anatomy.

• Graduates will be qualified to proceed to professional medical physics, work in medical device industry or progress other physics degrees

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Physics with Astrophysics

In Physics with Astrophysics, astrophysics is taught along

with other “physics” courses in every year, and mathematics

& computing are an integral part of years 1 through 3.

Practical experience is given, in the on-campus observatory,

and on a 3rd year field trip to Loiano Observatory in Bologna,

Italy.

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Physics with Astrophysics - Careers

In Galway we have cutting-edge research in star formation,

gamma-ray astronomy, exo-planets, fast astrophysics,

computational astrophysics & astronomical instrumentation

Many graduates take up research – so far 13 out of 23

graduates are studying for higher degrees in Galway, Europe

and the USA.

Graduates have exactly the same employment opportunities

as other “physics” graduates.

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Education Through Physics - A

Future-Proofed Qualification

All of our physics degrees provide a training in basic science

physics

mathematics

computing

problem solving

This will never go out of date – it is just as relevant to the

“new” technologies of tomorrow as it is today

Physics graduates will be well placed to take advantage of

new opportunities as they arise

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Employment Prospects for

Science

& Physics

Graduates

• Industry – esp. Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Medical Devices, Electronics, Computing, Petroleum Sectors.