Astro Physics

[indian-mum]

Hi DD is in Yr8.she wanted to do Astro Physics.she is good at Maths and science.does she need to do Advance maths for Astro physics.Thanks

[Guest55]

I would suggest you look at a few university websites to see the couse requirements.

She will need GCSE maths and then A level maths [and Physics].

[KB]

It may be that she wouldn't specialise until after undergraduate degree or possibly during the undergraduate course - for example on a final year project.

Agree that it's helpful to look at university web sites to get a feel for course and entrance requirements.

She should also look at university of Leicester. They do a space school outreach programme for school children. There may be others.

Also WISE ( women in science and engineering).

[Northdad]

Great that she has such a brilliant passion!

My suggestion would be to supplement her gcse / A Level studies in Physics and Maths, with extra curricular activities relating astronomy. Don't narrow down too much at these stage. Perhaps buy her a telescope. There's a great one in John Lewis for about £100 that we just bought our 11year old. I did Planetary and Space Physics and I wish I had had the opportunity to get into it at an earlier age.

I would choose a degree course which allows her to be flexible enough for her to carry on with her passion or if she finds an alternative path she can change easily.

[PettswoodFiona]

Hello Indian Mum, watching this thread with interest as DD in Y7 wants to work on a space programme and for her next birthday present wants a tour of ESA. She had already picked German as her second language as ESA require French, English & German and she loves her sciences. She doesn't want to go into space but wants to solve problems like space travel and engineering. My Alma Mater was Leicester - trail blazing in the space frontier as KB mentions and have already visited DD's school and they are very active in outreach to schools. As my father once said to me when I said I wanted to be the first woman on Mars: 'That isn't ambitious enough darling, none of this 'first woman' business, you want to be the first person on Mars'. I clearly didn't make it but it taught me to reach for the stars in the literallest sense. I know goals can change so I am not holding DD to her current ideas but at this point like you I am doing all I can to support her interest. Good luck and so will read other posts with interest too.

[Catseye]

Please visit Jodrell Bank in the beautiful Cheshire countryside an amazing experience you may even meet some Manchester PhD students or even Prof Cox !

http://www.jodrellbank.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[russet]

Why not find if there is an observatory near where you live? Contact them and see if you can go along to a meeting. We belong to an astronomy group and it is a good way of learning a lot about astronomy. Rather than a telescope, I would advise initially getting some good binoculars. Get advice from either a specialist suppliers or someone from an astronomy group as to what to buy.

There is a GCSE in astronomy. As for maths, I would say the stronger she can get her maths, the better. I have browsed some of the MIT lectures on astrophysics on YouTube and boy does your maths have to be good. It is all really fascinating though. I think she has chosen a good subject for study. Good luck to her.

[KB]

The GCSE in Astronomy used to be taken as another extra by very! bright boys at DCs' school who had time on their hands.
I imagine there may be less capacity for large numbers of GCSEs with the changes.
It's probably better to keep a good range of subjects ( science and languages as above for example) rather than taking a slot to specialise ( if it's even an option) at this stage.
There are lots of good ideas here already and much of the same knowledge as in the GCSE can be accumulated in a less structured way.
My educated guess is that developing an interest outside of the curriculum will impress more, by demonstrating initiative and independence.

It is a very specific field so while it's a brilliant goal I would reiterate that it's important to keep options open and make sure to have a really strong general maths and science background in case plans change or it's necessary to take a more indirect route to the final goal.

[indian-mum]

Thanks to all for your valuable suggestion.yes she is strong in both science and maths.In her latest assessment she got 7A in maths ,physics ,chemistry and biology.and her school does GCSE in Astronomy also.will have a look for local astronomy club.Thanks again.

[quasimodo]

Please visit Jodrell Bank in the beautiful Cheshire countryside an amazing experience you may even meet some Manchester PhD students or even Prof Cox !

http://www.jodrellbank.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I went last year during the winter with my youngest.Its a great experience although was a bit muddy for some of the outdoor activities.Wellingtons may be advised in winter.We didn't see Brian Cox there but for one of the activities were escorted by a lovely muslim lady in her headscarf who was doing a PhD and was very knowledgeable and explained one of the activities.During our conversations she also mentioned how tough it was to get on some of the courses at Manchester as a result of the Brian Cox effect.It is well worth going at any time of year even if its just to approach this gigantic metal structure stuck in the Cheshire countryside.I am glad they have got the recent grants to extend the life of this telescope and its site.

Me and my youngest saw Brian Cox at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton recently as he does his countrywide tour explaining the wonders of the Universe with some comedy thrown in from the monkey cage.I think the figure he gave in the talk was the recent estimate from scientists is that there are two trillion galaxies out there. A truly mind bogling figure.Some of the pictures he showed of our universe were truly stunning.