Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Astrophysics and Practicals

Hi, I'm someone who is seriously considering majoring in Astrophysics. However I'm more into the theory than actually doing practicals. Now this might be because practicals in secondary school are quite boring and silly. So I was just wondering if I was to pursue this course and get a job in this specialised area (as a researcher), would I be doing a lot of practicals/experiments(I know that is a given in research, I'm just interested in how much I would potentially need to carry out). And if yes, then what would they be based on/what kinds of things would I be required to do etc.

thanks,
serhat

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 1

OingyBoing

If you're a researcher the distinction between theory, simulations and experimentation is exceptionally blurred. You'll do mathematics, you'll write code (you'll write a lot of code), you'll do some experiments, or at least have to know how the experiment works if you're not building it. Depends on your project. All I'll say is that during your degree do at least the introductory programming courses your university offers or do the lab modules, what you learn isn't just practical skills but also patience and how to analyse experimental data (error analysis being a key one), which most lecture courses won't cover. Preferably do both.