What Educational Path Lets You Change The World?

[irishScott]

Get a PhD in Elective Studies. You'll go far.

 

[TruePaige]

Get a PhD in Elective Studies. You'll go far.

Maybe I can change the field of accounting. That could um...change the world, right?
:awe:

 

[TridenT]

Just for curiosity, title is just to get you in here mostly (a little hyperbole).

Which degree do you people (hehe :awe think best provides you the knowledge to change the world in a very large way?

Engineering (including Computer Science)?
Chemistry?
Physics?
Mathematics?
Biology?

I'm not majoring in any of those, but I always thought if you had knowledge from a background of Biology / Chemistry / Computer Science maybe you'd have a good foundation to create a game changer.

Physics / Mathematics and Engineering? Perhaps that would empower you as well.

Thoughts?

What way am I trying to change the world? Be specific. An argument like this should be specific. I could easily become some kind of nuclear engineer and make an atomic bomb that detonates in NYC. That's changing the world in a very large way.

Do that first.

 

[Rumpltzer]

My perspective is very slanted towards science and engineering and specifically semiconductors.

Things have become harder as a lot of the pure stuff has been figured out. A lot of what I see is now a matter of applying stuff or making fundamental science do useful stuff. For instance, I personally know the guy who invented/demonstrated the first visible light LED and the red solid state laser. At the time he invented these things, there was no real use for them. Now, look at backlighting for displays and CD/DVD technology; just those two things. He made a difference to the entire world, right? Do you know who he is without Google? But you know who Thomas Edison was, right?

How about the guy who figured out how to make a practical blue-green (and thus, white) LED? That was the great white whale for decades... and it was only figured out in the last 20 years. Do you know who that guy is? A lot of people in Japan know his name, but I don't think many people in America know him. His contribution has been huge, and it's getting so much bigger--world changing... but really only well recognized among his peers.


I don't think that there is a good answer to what educational path leads to making a difference. I think it's in the person.

Mark Twain, right? Something like: Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.

 

[TruePaige]

What way am I trying to change the world? Be specific. An argument like this should be specific. I could easily become some kind of nuclear engineer and make an atomic bomb that detonates in NYC. That's changing the world in a very large way.

Do that first.

I didn't think I needed to argue semantics. Whatever you feel would change the world.

 

[djheater]

Two that think have an enormous bang for the buck in terms or efficacy are
Occupational Therapy and School Psychology
Both are very clinical implementations of healthcare fields. If you're interested in medicine become an OT, you will be interacting directly with people and changing their lives for the better. If you're interested in psychology become a SP, you'll be working with children and controlling the course of their education. Both are important jobs that are supremely rewarding.

 

[dawp]

Game Developer

 

[zinfamous]

It's all up to the individual.

Hitler studied Art.

he sure as shit changed the world.

 

[zinfamous]

lulz b/c it's true

 

[TridenT]

Game Developer

Knew what that was before I even clicked dah link. Old like a boat.

 

[KMFJD]

Fashion?

 

[mmntech]

I would say...
Medicine
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering (any kind)
International Relations/Law
Mathematics
Journalism

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Communication Arts

 

[JS80]

Maybe I can change the field of accounting. That could um...change the world, right?
:awe:

Arthur Anderson, Enron, Worldcom...doesn't ring a bell?

 

[Hacp]

Afro-American Studies.