11.6.2010

READ MATH – IT OPENS UP THE WHOLE WORLD

The participants of the international science camp, Millennium Youth Camp (MY Camp), met the 2010 Millennium Laureates, Professors Michael Grätzel, Steve Furber and Sir Richard Friend for an exchange of thoughts. The discussion was organised on Thursday 10 June at the Aalto University School of Science and Technology.

One of the campers asked the scientists, what courses they would take if they could start their studies at the university all over again, still using all the knowledge they now have.

Steve Furber and Richard Friend strongly backed mathematics.

“My first degree was in mathematics, and I see it as a universal tool across the whole science, engineering and technology field,” Furber answered. “So if you like math and are relatively good at that, I would recommend it. I never regret studying mathematics, even though I have later worked with computer science,” he said.

Sir Richard Friend gave the same answer – with a twist.

“Mathematics has one advantage over physics or chemistry. If you don’t happen to like a career in mathematics, you can go with almost any field you like. And if you want to be really rich, you could become an investment banker!”

Friend explained that investment banks want to hire people who are very good at mathematics, but not just in math:

”They need math to build those numerous models that sometimes make money and sometimes cost us a lot of money. Still, it would be good to study physics and chemistry as well, because banks don’t want to hire just mathematicians. Banks know that mathematicians sometimes don’t relate at all to the real world.”

“The great thing with sticking with numeral science is that it opens up the whole world. It’s an incredible toolkit for doing your own science, and it crosses international language barriers,” Sir Richard added.

Michael Grätzel is not so keen on mathematics:

“I took one semester of math but I thought it was very dry. I wanted something that’s more related to what’s around us so that I could explain the things that happen in life. In the end, I signed in to study physics in one university and chemistry in another, and became a physical chemist. That, I can recommend.”

pekka.virolainen@technologyacademy.fi