Sabancı University hosted a conference by MIT faculty member Peter Fisher on "Physics Appreciaton and Education in an Engineering Environment." The conference was held at the Karaköy Minerva Palas on the evening of Friday, March 27, and attending were deans, department heads and faculty from the physics and engineering departments of universities across Turkey.
Sabancı University President Nihat Berker delivered introductory remarks. Eight first-year students of MIT, visiting Turkey as part of an exchange program for the top students in class between MIT and Sabancı University, also attended the conference.
Peter Fisher started by introducing himself and discussing the difference between physics and engineering. Fisher's conceptual description of the difference between physics and engineering was complemented by practical examples. On the difference, Fisher said, “Physics is experiment-based while engineering is experience-based. Physics wants to understand; engineering wants to do. General rules apply to physics; solid information is valid in engineering. Physics wants to break the boundaries while engineering acts within them. Physics thinks it can do anything, engineering knows it can do something."
Peter Fisher also emphasized the importance of storytelling and real-world examples when helping people appreciate the importance of physics. Fisher shared some examples of his own.
