Resources, Energy, Heartburn for Academic Physics

Academic physicists would do well to heed the advice given by John Rigden and James Stith. Physics alumni in all walks of life can be helpful to their former departments and to physics graduates. As a physicist who is now a professor of petroleum engineering, I have seen the benefits of alumni networking. I made the transition from studying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics to the fossil energy field using my computer modeling background.

Today, people are beginning to recognize the need to educate energy professionals, namely, people who can apply scientific knowledge to improve the overall use of energy. ¹ Energy professionals will need to understand fossil, nuclear, wind, and solar energy, hydropower, and biopower. A golden opportunity exists for educators with the vision to see and the courage to act. Physics departments could be among those at the forefront of the effort to place properly educated people in the energy industry, if academic physicists are willing to embrace a new goal: educating technical students to succeed as energy professionals in a multifaceted energy industry.