Bringing theory into practice
Is theoretical physics useless?
Do you relate to this guy?
If you do, it’s because either you’re extremely obsessed with the angle at which watching TV is easy, or you’re obsessed with theoretical physics.
I can already imagine some of my readers rolling their eyes at the mere mention of theoretical physics.
To those, I implore. Give me a chance, and I will change your mind on this subject.
What do you think theoretical physics is, anyway?
Google states that it is a branch of physics that deals with mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems, aiming to rationalise, explain, and predict natural phenomena.
In layman’s terms, theoretical physicists do a hell lot of calculations to prove or disprove phenomena that we may or may not be able to experience with the technology we possess.
You may imagine them to be in front of a blackboard all day, pondering equations. While that is still quite true, they have come a long way from there. Using computer programs and even machine learning and AI, these people are making their lives much easier.
Why do they still have jobs in 2025?
AI in the future may be able to think up its own problems and solve them. As of now, commercial AI models are not trained on AI-generated, synthetic data. Aspects like hypothesis design and data acquisition rely on humans, and theoretical physicists now do exactly that.
Easing the job of data analysis has allowed many theoretical disciplines to prosper. Can you think of any other theoretical disciplines that exist out there?
Theoretical chemistry?
Theoretical biology?
Pure Mathematics?
Theoretical Computer Science?
They all exist.
And all of them aim to understand the fundamentals of concepts that comprise these fields.
Theoretical chemistry involves creating theoretical generalisations using concepts from quantum mechanics and statistical physics to simulate chemical systems that are otherwise difficult to study. Imagine studying the different forces involved in creating supramolecular complexes or even understanding the true nature of a covalent bond. Such problems can be tackled using theoretical chemistry.
Theoretical biology seeks to quantify various biological processes within systems by developing models to understand them. Evolutionary biology relies on such models to take experimental evidence as input and build an evolutionary timeline of events leading to the existence of modern species.
Pure mathematics takes into account the most fundamental logic to explain mathematical operations, theorems and lemmas. These form the basis of all experimental sciences and involve a great understanding of the philosophy of mathematics and logic.
If these fields sound interesting to you, how do you think you should enter them?
What knowledge and skills do you think you’d require?
Calculus and linear algebra
Relevant programming languages
Machine learning
Research methodology
Science communication
and many more.
Getting started in these fields isn’t a big task.
All you need is a good understanding of phenomena that are already studied and the ways they were studied. These are things you obtain in a bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Understand the world of research well. It will be your best friend for your entire career in the theoretical fields.
This is how you bring theory into practice
~Mihir Iyer