Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
From news@gel.ulaval.ca Tue Jan 10 20:01:42 1995
From: leblancm@gel.ulaval.ca (Mario Leblanc)
Organization: Universite Laval
Subject: Re: Nuclear Engineering or Nuclear Physics or Physics?

Dear Mike,

Here is some advice, which clearly is biased. Let me introduce myself
briefly, so that you can judge whether you can relate to my own experience.
I got a bachelor's degree in engineering physics, followed by a Master's
degree in electrical engineering (doing some experimental work on the subject
of antennas in plasmas, hence my interest for this group). This led me to
six years of engineering work in industry, where I contributed to the
development of military radio equipment. I am now in the third and hopefully
final year of my Ph. D. studies in electrical engineering, and I look forward
to a career involving a mixture of teaching, research, and consulting work
for the industry.

You mention a potential interest in research, possibly fusion research.
You should be aware that, in order to do such work, an advanced degree is
almost mandatory. Take a look at recent issues of IEEE Transactions on Plasma
Science, and check the biographical notes in there. This does not mean you
have to pursue your studies right after graduation: a few years of industrial
work can be beneficial, but it is good to consider the benefits of that not
only in terms of money, but also in terms of continuing education. In other
terms, a job where you learn 'those things they never told you in college' is
something worth looking for.

Your worry about 'academic type degrees' is a legitimate one, but what
makes you a 'practical' or 'theoretical' person is your own state of mind
rather than your environment. And never forget that technological innovation
(a highly fashionable word these days but by no means something new) takes a
lot of basic science: those industrialists that don't understand this basic
truth are in for surprises, sooner or later.

My advice in a nutshell, is to pick a field of study that will expose you
to things you consider interesting. In my case, I was interested in electrical
engineering as a profession, but my great interest in optics made me choose
engineering physics, which was closer to my idea of learning things that can
not possibly become obsolete.

I would be very happy to discuss this matter further with you. Please
e-mail directly.
Mario Le Blanc

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In article o71@mojo.eng.umd.edu, princemike@aol.com (PrinceMike) writes:
> I'm looking for some advice pertaining to my major in college. I've
> completed the first two years of an engineering curriculum and now must
> decide on a major before I transfer to a four-year school.
> My current line of thought goes like this: If I get an nuclear
> engineering degree I could probably work in industry(nuclear power plants)
> or research just the same. I am kind of drawn to doing fusion research,
> not neccessarily cold fusion though. The work currently being done at
> Princeton seems very intersesting. But would a degree in physics or
> nuclear physics be more beneficial there? My fear is that if I get one of
> these academic type degrees than I'll be less attractive to industry and
> be stuck doing research even if I find out I don't enjoy it ten years down
> the road. This question is made harder given the decreased financial
> support of research and the proprosed elimination of the Energy Department
> all together by the new Congress.
> I should note that I am a graduate of the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion
> program so I do have some background in the engineering line of work.
> Any advice?
> Mike H.
> PrinceMike@aol.com
>