Comments on: On being a physicist

By: Michael Pravica

Michael Pravica — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:09:36 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Vokotich for your kind words!

Michael Pravica

By: Michael Pravica

Michael Pravica — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:07:21 +0000

Mr. Forthright:

One of the most important aspects of my arduous journey to obtain the Ph.D. is that it taught me much about myself, and my will to persevere despite incredible odds. Physicists tend not to be quitters. When I finished my thesis, a famous professor (Horst Meyer) from Duke University who had supervised a Nobel Laureate visited my lab and told me that he had tried to do what I did for my thesis for over 20 years.
The fact that I had to complete a Holy Grail for my Ph.D. thesis will be the subject of a future article.
You are correct that many physicists (including too many of my friends and fellow classmates) went to Wall Street to create new schemes to make money for bankers and other investors.

Thank you for your comments.

Michael Pravica

By: John Forthright

John Forthright — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:56:16 +0000

Professor Pravica,
How did find the will to continue science after dealing with the frustration of a holy grail project?
I think that the problem cannot be associated with not enough bright students going to study physics. Rather, too many physicists going to work for wall street firms punching numbers and creating new algorithms to make more money. Beware of the geeks with the numbers.

Thanks for the article

By: John Johnson

John Johnson — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:54:33 +0000

Very inspiring article. Thank you Professor Pravica.

By: Bozidar Vukotich

Bozidar Vukotich — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:21:30 +0000

This fascinating article by Professor Pravica should be read by everyone regardless of their walk of life. There is benefit for all in his well chosen lines particularly for those in power who could make a difference in the path this world is heading.

I wish Professor Pravica all the success in his future work towards a better world.