Physics: Frontiers• Experimental High Energy

Physics – Need: advanced lab and

instrumentation knowledge– Hottest lab: CERN on

Swiss/French border

• Theoretical High Energy Physics – Need: quantum field theory

(QFT), math, computer simulation, general relativity (GR)

– Hottest topic: String Theory

Physics: Frontiers 2• Observational Astrophysics

& Cosmology – Need: advanced lab &

spacecraft instrumentation knowledge

– Many hot topics: dark matter, galaxy formation, black holes, extrasolar planets...

• Theoretical Astrophysics & Cosmology – Need: QFT & GR,

simulation/modeling knowledge– Hottest topics: singularities,

dark matter, origin, string theory

Physics: Frontiers 3• “AMO” Physics

– Theory: Need: quantum, quantum electrodynamics, QFT, quantum optics, computer simulation, statistical mechanics

– Experiment: Need: quantum, advanced lab & instrumentation knowledge

– Hottest topics: Entangled states, quantum computing, laser/matter interaction,

exotic lasers

Physics: Frontiers 4

• Condensed Matter Physics – Theory: Need: quantum, stat.

mech., simulation/modeling knowledge

– Experiment: Need: advanced lab & instrumentation knowledge, characterization devices

– Hottest topics: nanoscience/technology, soft matter, biophysics, high Tc superconductors, etc…

Physics: Frontiers 5• Plasma Physics

– Theoretical: Need plasma dynamics, stat. mech., electrodynamics, fluid dynamics, simulation & modeling knowledge

– Experimental: Need advanced lab, instrumentation, plasma diagnostics

– Hot topics: instabilities, self-organization, fusion, space & astrophysical plasmas

Physics: Frontiers 6• Nonlinear & Complex

Systems – Theoretical: Need: nonlinear

dynamics, statistical mechanics, fluid dynamics, simulation/modeling knowledge

– Experimental: Need: advanced lab & instrumentation knowledge

– Hot topics: chaos control and application, self-organized criticality, granular systems, neural physics, much more...

Physics: Frontiers 7

• Anything you can think of... – Physics is applicable to anything in

physical reality, as far as we know!

– Physics theories and techniques are also applicable outside science

• Financial modeling• Systems analysis• Sports, biomechanics• Cognitive science, learning theory• etc…

Engineering: Subfields

• UIUC departments– Aerospace Engineering– Bioengineering– Civil and Environmental Engineering– Electrical and Computer Engineering– Computer Science– Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering– Materials Science and Engineering– Mechanical Science and Engineering– Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering

What the Engineers Say(UIUC departments)

• Aerospace Engineering– “Aerospace engineers design, analyze, model,

simulate, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, missiles, rockets, and the larger systems in which these vehicles operate.”

– (http://ae.engr.uiuc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=128

)

• Bioengineering– “Bioengineering combines the analytical and

experimental methods of the engineering profession with the biological and medical sciences to achieve a more detailed understanding of biological phenomena and to develop new techniques and devices.” (http://www.bioen.uiuc.edu/about.html)

What the Engineers Say 2• Civil & Environmental Engineering

– “Civil engineering is a profession that applies the basic principles of science in conjunction with mathematical and computational tools to solve problems associated with developing and sustaining civilized life on our planet. Some of the most common examples of civil engineering works include bridges, buildings, dams, airports, highways, tunnels, and water distribution systems.” (http://cee.uiuc.edu/programs/Undergrad/Default.html)

• Computer Engineering– “Computer engineering is a discipline that applies

principles of physics and mathematics to the design, implementation, and analysis of computer and communication systems. The discipline is broad, spanning topics as diverse as radio communications, coding and encryption, computer architecture, testing and analysis of computer and communication systems, vision, and robotics.”(http://ece.engr.uiuc.edu/freshmen/ce-curriculum.html)

What the Engineers Say 3• Computer Science

– “This curriculum is offered for students seeking a broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design, and applications of digital computers.” (http://cs.engr.uiuc.edu/undergraduate/programs.php)

• Electrical Engineering– “A list of the twenty greatest engineering achievements of

the twentieth century compiled by the National Academy of Engineering includes ten achievements primarily related to the field of electrical engineering: electrification, electronics, radio and television, computers, telephone, internet, imaging, household appliances, health technologies, and laser and fiber optics..”(http://ece.engr.uiuc.edu/freshmen/ee-curriculum-06.html)

What the Engineers Say 4• Industrial and Systems Enterprise Engineering

– “The General Engineering undergraduate program offers a wide variety of disciplines ranging from control systems and decision-making to mechanics and structures.

In the Industrial Engineering undergraduate program, students will learn how to create and manage systems that integrate people, materials and energy in productive ways.” (http://www.iese.uiuc.edu/ugrad/)

• Materials Science & Engineering– “MatSE undergraduates study an interdisciplinary field that encompasses

math, chemistry, physics, mechanics, and electronics. Students focus on one of five areas: biomaterials, ceramics, electronic materials, metals, or polymerswhile exploring properties and phenomena that span all classes of materials.”

(http://www.mse.uiuc.edu/undergradindex.html)

What the Engineers Say 5• Mechanical Science & Engineering

– “mechanical engineering affects all aspects of our lives and embraces many areas of specialization: automotive systems;

bioengineering; combustion and propulsion; design methodology and tribology; dynamic systems and controls; energy systems and thermodynamics; fluid mechanics; heat transfer; manufacturing and production; materials behavior and processing; and microscale and nanoscale phenomena and systems.” (http://www.mechse.uiuc.edu/content/about/academics/mechanical_engineering.php)

• Nuclear, Plasma & Radiological Engineering– “Nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering is

a branch of engineering that is concerned with the development and use of nuclear energy and radiation sources for a wide variety of applications in energy production, in materials processing and science, and for biomedical and industrial uses. ”(http://www.ne.uiuc.edu/curriculum.html)

Engineering: What’s that Field?

• Design engines for diesel trucks – –

• Develop a novel ultra-light material for use in manufacturing canoes – –

• Write a new computer operating system – –

Engineering: What’s that Field? 2

• Design new supercomputer architecture – –

• Develop a novel semiconductor – –

• Design a manufacturing system for an industrial shop floor – –

Engineering: What’s that Field? 3

• Design a new wastewater treatment system – –

• Design a robotic vision system for an automated lawn mowing system– –

• Model engineering systems for a large corporation – –

Engineering: What’s that Field? 4

• Design a radiation cancer treatment center for a hospital – –

• Design a quiet and more efficient supersonic transport airplane – –

• Prove theorems on the computational efficiency of a new optimization algorithm – –

Engineering: What’s that Field? 5

• Build models of military operations in a mock warfare scenario – –

• Design a new user-interface for a more friendly computer usage environment – –

• Design a new pole-vault pole – –