Is Physics Education Adapting to a Changing World?

OCT 01, 1994

A survey of educators finds little evidence that physics training is broadening in response to current shortages of jobs and research funds.

DOI: 10.1063/1.881421

Werner P. Wolf

The future of education, research and employment in physics has been under much discussion lately. Contrary to many glowing predictions in the mid‐1980s, physicists graduating today face a severe shortage of jobs. Recalling comments such as one made by Malcolm Beasley and Lawrence Jones (PHYSICS TODAY, June 1986, page 36) that “It appears that the overall demand will more and more exceed the supply in the coming decade” reminds us just how much the situation has changed. Many solutions are being proposed. Articles relating to jobs and offering employment advice proliferate in the publications of our scientific societies. The situation is similar in other countries.

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References

1. S. Tobias, APS News, April 1994, p. 8.
2. W. P. Wolf, in Proc. Int. Conf. on Postgraduate Education of Physicists, P. J. Kennedy, K. Vacek, eds., Int. Committee on Physics Education, U. of Edinburgh, Scotland (1981), p. 123.

More about the Authors

Werner P. Wolf. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.