From being terrible at math to a quantum physicist - my journey

TL;DR

A humanities student becomes fascinated with science, overcomes struggles with math, and ultimately pursues a career in quantum physics.

Transcript

Hi everyone my name is Mithuna and I'm a third year PhD student studying quantum physics at the University of Cambridge. In this video I just wanted to explain how I got here since what I started off in high school I really wasn't into science. In fact I quite liked art. I mean you probably can't tell from the quality of my illustrations these days... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 The quality of teaching and the topics covered in science classes can greatly impact a student's interest and understanding of the subject.
• 💦 Overcoming struggles with a particular subject, such as math, is possible with determination and hard work.
• 🤗 Intuitive thinking and hand-wavy arguments in physics may not always be sufficient, and rigorous mathematical understanding can provide deeper insights.
• 🤗 Exploring different fields and being open-minded to new interests can lead to unexpected career paths.
• 🦾 Quantum mechanics and quantum computing offer unique and intriguing possibilities for understanding the fundamental nature of reality and computation.
• 🧑 Pursuing a passion for a particular subject can drive a person to achieve their academic and career goals.
• 👋 Good teachers and mentors can greatly influence and inspire students along their educational journey.
• 🦻 Sharing knowledge and explaining complex concepts through videos can aid in deepening understanding and inspiring others.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the narrator's interest in science develop?

The narrator's interest in science developed during high school when they had a great science teacher and started learning about cool scientific topics that made sense to them.

Q: How did the narrator overcome their struggles with math?

Despite being placed in a low-level math class, the narrator decided to take the highest level of math offered at their school. They sought help and eventually improved their math skills, even though it was still challenging for them.

Q: Why did the narrator switch their focus from physics to mathematics?

The narrator discovered pure mathematics during a course on abstract algebra. They found that it had elements they enjoyed about physics but was more rigorous. This sparked their interest in studying mathematics instead.

Q: What led the narrator to pursue quantum computing?

The narrator's fascination with the combination of quantum mechanics and information theory led them to choose quantum computing as the topic for their honours thesis. They wanted to explore the special logic of quantum mechanics that allows for faster computations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The narrator initially had a passion for art and humanities but became interested in science during high school.

• Despite being placed in a low-level math class, they worked hard to improve their math skills and pursued the highest level of math courses available.

• The narrator's interest in physics led them to explore abstract algebra and ultimately switch their focus from physics to mathematics.

• They discovered a love for quantum mechanics and quantum computing, which led to their pursuit of a PhD in quantum physics.