Popcorn dust filled the air in the Wilkinson Student Center Terrace on October 9 when Christopher Erickson came to visit campus for a presentation featuring discrepant events in science.
Erickson, a BYU alum and research physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratories in New Mexico, provided students with a crash course introduction to the sciences by performing demonstrations ranging from exploding liquid nitrogen bombs in cotton balls and popcorn to putting marshmallows inside a vacuum. He invited volunteers onto the stage to assist him and explained the principles behind the demonstrations.
Near the end of his presentation, Erickson invited the audience to consider where they are now and what their plans are for the future, encouraging them to find a solid base in the hard sciences.
“Training in the sciences will give you what you need to solve those problems in your career field, no matter what it is,” he said. “You can go into any field, and a basis in the sciences will help you . . . solve the challenges there.”
He shared his story of becoming a research physicist in the Air Force. Originally a music major, Erickson found excitement and challenge in his physics classes. What had originally been a way to add depth to his music major became a new fascination.
“In the physics department, opportunities just started to come,” he said. “And they were interesting and fun, and they were replacing my passion for music with a passion for science that I didn’t have. And so I followed those opportunities, and where it got me was where I currently am today at the Air Force Research Laboratories, where we do some of the most interesting and cool scientific work that I know of in the world.”
He said that scientific training teaches students to solve problems, and he explained how his scientific background allowed him to land his dream career.
“[I have] the career that I’ve always wanted,” said Erickson. “ . . . And it’s because twelve years ago as an undergraduate I went over to the physics department to bring something back into the world of music.”
Erickson’s story resonated with students who attended the presentation. Mechanical engineering student Isaac Alvarado said that he learned much from Erickson’s presentation.
“The thing that struck me the most was his last little bit talking about his major and his career and how he got there. It made me reflect on my end goal as far as a career and where I see this major taking me,” he said.
Nicholas Harrison, a junior studying physics, said he was excited to learn about opportunities in his major.
“I thought is was a good introduction to sciences and physics and something that gets people interested in it, because it’s fun to watch the demos and start thinking about the principles that are behind them,” he said.