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

Looking Glass Universe
5 Mar 201912:09
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRMithuna, a third-year PhD student in quantum physics at the University of Cambridge, shares her inspiring journey from being a high school student more inclined towards humanities to becoming a quantum physicist. Initially not interested in science, a great teacher and the book 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson sparked her interest in science. Despite struggling with math, she pursued it rigorously, eventually discovering her passion for physics and later, pure mathematics. Her academic path took a turn when she took a course in abstract algebra, which led her to appreciate the rigor of mathematical thinking. Mithuna's fascination with quantum mechanics grew as she explored its foundations, leading her to focus her research on quantum computing and information. Her story underscores the importance of being open-minded about interests and abilities, emphasizing that with practice, one can excel in various fields.

Takeaways
  • 🎨 **Art to Science**: Mithuna started as an art enthusiast and humanities student in high school, showing interests can change and develop over time.
  • 🔬 **Science Realization**: A great teacher and engaging topics in science class at age 16 sparked Mithuna's interest in the simplicity and explanatory power of scientific laws.
  • 📚 **Influence of a Book**: 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson played a pivotal role in Mithuna's decision to become a physicist.
  • 🧮 **Maths Challenge**: Despite being placed in a low maths level, Mithuna's determination led to taking the highest level of maths in school against her teacher's advice.
  • 🔄 **Logic in Maths**: Mithuna discovered a love for maths through a fantastic teacher in her final year of high school, realizing the beauty of using simple rules to solve complex problems.
  • 🚀 **Physics to Maths**: Mithuna's journey took a turn towards pure maths after finding joy in abstract algebra and information theory, showing the interconnectedness of subjects.
  • 🧲 **Quantum Mechanics**: Initially excited by quantum mechanics, Mithuna later felt disillusioned by the focus on mathematical formulas rather than problem-solving in her physics courses.
  • 📈 **Abstract Algebra**: Taking a challenging course in abstract algebra, despite being unprepared, led to a deep appreciation for pure maths and a shift in focus from physics to maths.
  • 🤔 **Understanding Quantum Mechanics**: Mithuna's attempt to explain quantum mechanics without maths made her realize the depth of her lack of understanding, prompting a dedicated period of study.
  • 💻 **Quantum Computing**: Mithuna's interest in quantum computing was piqued by the combination of quantum mechanics, information theory, and computing, leading to her honors thesis topic.
  • 🌟 **Open-mindedness**: Mithuna's story emphasizes the importance of being open-minded about potential interests and the power of practice in developing skills and passions.
Q & A

  • What was Mithuna's initial interest in high school?

    -Mithuna initially had a strong interest in art, English literature, and learning a second language, identifying as a humanities student.

  • What sparked Mithuna's interest in science?

    -Mithuna's interest in science was sparked at the age of 16 when she suddenly understood what was going on in her science class, possibly due to a great teacher or interesting topics.

  • Which book by Bill Bryson did Mithuna read that influenced her decision to become a physicist?

    -Mithuna read 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson, which inspired her to become a physicist.

  • What was Mithuna's initial attitude towards math?

    -Mithuna was initially not good at math and was placed in one of the lowest levels of math classes in high school.

  • How did Mithuna's perception of math change?

    -Mithuna's perception of math changed when she realized that it shared similarities with physics, such as using simple rules and logic to solve complex problems.

  • What subject did Mithuna struggle with during her university years?

    -Mithuna struggled with math during her university years, despite her passion for physics.

  • Why did Mithuna decide to take a course in abstract algebra?

    -Mithuna decided to take a course in abstract algebra because it sounded similar to linear algebra, which she enjoyed.

  • What did Mithuna discover about herself after taking the abstract algebra course?

    -After taking the abstract algebra course, Mithuna discovered her love for pure math and its rigorous approach, which was a challenge for her intuitive nature.

  • How did Mithuna's understanding of quantum mechanics change after creating videos about it?

    -Mithuna realized that she didn't truly understand quantum mechanics when she tried to explain it without using math. This led her to take six months to properly learn and understand it.

  • What field of study did Mithuna decide to focus on for her honors thesis?

    -Mithuna decided to focus on quantum computing and information for her honors thesis.

  • What is the main question Mithuna is interested in regarding quantum computing?

    -Mithuna is interested in understanding what is special about quantum mechanics that allows for the speed up in computations compared to classical computers.

  • What advice does Mithuna have for others based on her journey?

    -Mithuna advises others to be open-minded about the things they could enjoy and get good at with practice.

Outlines
00:00
🎨 From Artistic Interests to Quantum Physics

Mithuna, a third-year PhD student at the University of Cambridge, shares her unexpected journey into quantum physics. Initially a high school student more inclined towards art, literature, and languages, she didn't consider herself a science enthusiast. However, at the age of 16, she had an epiphany in a science class that sparked her interest in the simplicity and explanatory power of scientific laws. This realization, coupled with reading Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything,' led her to aspire to become a physicist. Despite initial struggles with math and discouragement from teachers, she persevered, eventually discovering her passion for physics through a deep appreciation for the logical problem-solving it shares with math.

05:04
🧮 The Transformation to a Mathematician

Mithuna's academic path took a significant turn when she encountered pure mathematics, which she found to be rigorous and challenging, contrasting with her intuitive approach to physics. The shift to a more formal and proof-based method of thinking was difficult but ultimately rewarding. She became fascinated with the axiomatic approach of mathematics and its ability to derive non-obvious properties from simple rules. This led her to shift her focus from physics to mathematics, exploring various subjects including information theory and functional analysis, which are central to quantum mechanics. Her final undergraduate goal was to become a mathematical physicist specializing in the mathematical aspects of quantum mechanics.

10:05
📚 The Discovery of Quantum Computing

Mithuna's journey into quantum mechanics deepened when she created educational videos about the subject. Initially avoiding mathematical content to make the videos accessible to a general audience, she realized that without the mathematical framework, she lacked a fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics. This led her to dedicate six months to a focused study of the subject. Through this process, she encountered Bell's Theorem and began to explore the foundational aspects of quantum mechanics. This exploration led her to pursue an honors degree in physics, focusing her thesis on quantum computing and information. She became captivated by the potential of quantum computers to perform calculations beyond the capabilities of classical computers and was intrigued by the unique computational class that quantum mechanics introduces. Her passion for understanding the underlying principles of quantum computing brought her to the University of Cambridge to work with a supervisor specializing in the field.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Quantum Physics
Quantum physics is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the nature of the very small, such as the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the subject of the video's narrator's PhD studies at the University of Cambridge. The narrator's journey into quantum physics was sparked by a sudden understanding of science in high school and further inspired by a popular science book, leading to a deep interest in the complex phenomena explained by simple laws.
💡Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. In the video, the narrator initially wasn't interested in science during high school, but a pivotal moment in a science class and a great teacher led to a transformative understanding and passion for the subject.
💡Humanities
Humanities refers to the study of human culture through means such as literature, philosophy, art, and history. The narrator identifies initially as a humanities student, enjoying art, English literature, and language learning. This background contrasts with the eventual shift towards a scientific discipline, highlighting the breadth of the narrator's interests.
💡Mathematics
Mathematics is the abstract science of number, quantity, and space, which includes logic and problem-solving using symbolic systems. The narrator struggled with math initially, being placed in a low-level math class in high school. However, the realization that becoming a physicist would require a strong foundation in mathematics led to a determination to overcome this challenge.
💡Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is a popular science author known for his accessible and engaging writing style. His book 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' played a significant role in the narrator's life, inspiring a deep interest in physics and a decision to become a physicist after reading it.
💡Linear Algebra
Linear algebra is a branch of mathematics concerning vector spaces and linear mappings between such spaces. It is a crucial part of the mathematics curriculum for those interested in engineering or physics. The narrator found beauty in linear algebra, appreciating the ability to visualize mathematical concepts, which helped in developing a deeper interest in mathematics.
💡Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of particles at the quantum level, where the classical laws of physics no longer apply. It was initially a source of excitement for the narrator but later became a source of disillusionment due to the heavy mathematical approach in the university course. However, it eventually led to a deeper exploration and understanding of the subject.
💡Abstract Algebra
Abstract algebra, also known as modern algebra, is the study of algebraic structures, such as groups, rings, and fields. The narrator took a course in abstract algebra, which was a turning point in appreciating the rigor of mathematics and the joy of deriving non-obvious properties from axioms, leading to a shift in focus from physics to mathematics.
💡Information Theory
Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. The narrator took a course in information theory out of curiosity about the connection between entropy in thermodynamics and information theory, which was enlightening and had broad implications across disciplines.
💡Functional Analysis
Functional analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis that deals with function spaces and their applications to differential equations. It is considered 'linear algebra on steroids' and is fundamental to the mathematics of quantum mechanics. The narrator's interest in functional analysis was a stepping stone towards a deeper dive into the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics.
💡Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is the use of quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform computation. The narrator's honors thesis focused on quantum computing, which is a field that intrigued them due to the potential for quantum computers to solve problems more efficiently than classical computers, leading to the pursuit of a PhD in quantum physics.
💡Open-mindedness
Open-mindedness refers to the willingness to consider new ideas or viewpoints. The narrator emphasizes the importance of being open-minded about the subjects one might enjoy and excel at, as their journey from a humanities student to a quantum physicist was marked by a readiness to explore new fields and overcome initial challenges.
Highlights

Mithuna, a third-year PhD student at the University of Cambridge, shares her journey from a humanities student to a quantum physicist.

Initially, Mithuna was more interested in art, English literature, and second language learning than in science.

A pivotal moment at age 16 led to a newfound understanding and interest in science, inspired by a great teacher and engaging topics.

Reading 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson solidified her aspiration to become a physicist.

Despite being placed in a low math level, Mithuna challenged herself by taking the highest level math class in school.

Her final year of high school introduced her to the beauty of logic in solving complex problems through math.

Mithuna's passion for physics was fueled by reading textbooks during lunch breaks to deepen her understanding.

In university, she initially pursued a mix of physics, chemistry, a second language, and an engineering-focused math course.

Linear algebra was a turning point for Mithuna, as it combined her love for physics with the beauty of mathematical visualization.

Quantum mechanics initially disillusioned her due to its heavy reliance on mathematical formulas rather than problem-solving.

An abstract algebra course unexpectedly introduced her to pure math and its rigorous, axiom-driven approach.

Mithuna's intuitive approach to physics clashed with the rigorous nature of math, but she ultimately embraced it.

Her switch from physics to math was influenced by the flexibility of her Bachelor of Science program and her growing interest in information theory.

Functional analysis, the math of quantum mechanics, reignited her passion for the subject and led to her considering a career in mathematical physics.

Creating videos about quantum mechanics for a lay audience led to a deeper personal understanding of the subject.

Bell's Theorem and the foundations of quantum mechanics captivated her, leading to a decision to focus on quantum mechanics.

Mithuna chose to do her honors thesis in quantum computing and information, combining her interests in quantum mechanics and computing.

Quantum computing intrigued her with its potential to perform calculations faster than classical computers, based on the principles of quantum mechanics.

Her supervisor's expertise in quantum computing at Cambridge led her to pursue her PhD there, focusing on the unique aspects of quantum mechanics.

Mithuna encourages viewers to be open-minded about their interests and abilities, emphasizing the importance of practice and exploration.

She shares her nervousness about appearing on camera for the first time and humorously mentions her mother's potential reaction to comments.

Mithuna is currently working on a video about Hilbert space, Dirac notation, and the mathematics of quantum mechanics, which she anticipates releasing soon.

Transcripts

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