Who is a physicist and what do they do? A physicist studies the objective properties of matter, force and energy and at the same time applies the discovered knowledge to the solution of various technical and scientific problems. The contribution of the physicists’ work is behind modern science and technology, and is used in energy production, the transport, telecommunications, and building industries, health care and in households. One of the most important scientific and technological discoveries or inventions of the past decades, in the development of which physicists took an important part, is information technology.
What are the activities of the physicist job? Physicists study various forms of energy (heat, sound, light) and their transformation. They explore the essence of such phenomena as gravitation, electromagnetism and nuclear energy. In applied research they help engineers to resolve specific practical problems, propose new technical solutions; they are able to eliminate incorrect production procedures and thus make the work more effective. Biomedical physicists ensure optimal diagnostic or curative operations; they use in this process their knowledge of ionising radiation, lasers, ultrasound, fibre optics and biosensors. Physicists, specialising in astrophysics, geophysics, climatology, electronics, optics and nuclear physics perform specific and very complicated work activities.
Where is it done and under what conditions? Physicists work mostly indoors, in laboratories, at research and development establishments.
What tools/equipment do they use? They need for their work various kinds of special equipment, working tools, aids and measuring appliances. Information technology is of unique importance for them, they use it for the control of experiments, production equipment, businesses and institutions. International co-operation involves the use of world languages, especially of English.
What do you need to succeed? You need to have completed university studies of physics at a faculty of science or faculty of mathematics and physics. The physicist’s work is intellectually demanding, requiring independent creative thinking. In a physicist’s work, perseverance and precision are a must.