Hilky The Nightfall Physicist

Perhaps my biggest extracurricular endeavour yet, has arguably been student leadership--to be precise, my role as the Vice President of the University of Zambia Physics Association (UNZAPHYSA). Being a leader entails a little more than just taking on the mantle of responsibility and head-slumming your way through problems. It's about being able to get a glimpse of what lies beyond the horizon when others see nothing; It's about exuding charisma and optimism where others see despair in the hurdles; and it's about standing as a figure of inspiration and motivation to those who follow behind even while struggling to derive it from within oneself.

The few months I've enthusiastically served in my role have been the most euphoric and hectic moments of my academic career. We've made huge strides in some areas and faced seemingly intractable hurdles in others. But we stood firm and unwavering. The experience has granted me with numerous networking and learning opportunities. And I daresay this has been the best academic year yet for me in uni. Being in my final year, and in my self-nurturing efforts to make myself graduate school-ready, I've found within me an unbridled passion for Quantum Computing/Quantum Information Science and Particle Physics that I never thought I would embrace few years back when I had my eyes set on one day becoming an Astrophysicist. I'm excited to pursue this road and especially excited about the exciting stuff that grad school holds for me next year. To end with a quote from arguably my favourite physicist of all time,

"The important thing is to never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." ~ Albert Einstein

!

#stay_curious | Hilkiah Mwanza Perhaps my biggest extracurricular endeavour yet, has arguably been student leadership--to be precise, my role as the Vice President of the University of Zambia Physics Association (UNZAPHYSA). Being a leader entails a little more than just taking on the mantle of responsibility and head-slumming yo...

Ofc there's more reasons than these…Add the ones you down in the comment section below 👇🏾

This is god-tier funny lmao 🤌🏾🤣🤣🤣

Sikupipo Squared Daniel Emmrson Zimba Dickson Haboombe Jackson Dean Siachilima

A sun halo, also known as a 22-degree halo, is a relatively rare optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight passes through and is refracted by crystallized hexagonal ice particles in cirrus and cirrostratus clouds at high altitudes in the upper atmosphere.

While a sun halo does not have any ominous or mystical meaning, it often indicates the presence of high, thin clouds in the upper atmosphere, which could signal imminent weather changes. In particular, it may indicate that a storm or rain is on the way. That said, it is a beautiful and striking sight.

10/10/24

Had the honor and privilege of attending a very stimulating and insightful presentation on ‘Space & Climate Change’ courtesy of retired ESA astronaut Prof. Christer Fuglesang. Specifically, the presenter focused on climate change counter-action(s) and the instrumental role space-based research plays in addressing and mitigating pressing issues here on earth.

Always an elating and enriching experience to be part of a discourse like this.

XD 😂 On a serious note, the only ‘bail-out of this crisis’ card our country’s got (and, ofc, this holds true for any other country) is nuclear power…Sure, the initial investment is intimidatingly substantial but so is the long-term return on investment. To be realistic, I wouldn’t expect our country to pay out of our taxpayer's revenue for such a huge endeavor considering our relatively small economy but there's a workaround;- ROSATOM 🤌🏾 Russia’s State-owned Nuclear Agency — See, they got a pretty interesting business model with regards to the nuclear energy market, one that sets them apart and grants them leverage over the West…To paraphrase, what they do is something along the lines of building a plant for client countries at a loan, then all operations and a huge chunk of the revenue stream from the plant (retailing power) goes to them (in a sense them getting paid their loan) for an agreed period (say, ten years?), and after that the plant is then ‘fully’ (or almost fully lol) in the client state’s hands.

Your thoughts? Dean Siachilima Winford Phiri

Interested in very affordable online A’ level tuitions in uni physics and math??? Well what you waitin’ for? Join my class on the Silabu app. English is important but physics and math are importanter — and i’ll teach that in a way that gets that across. 😁🤓

Minimal monthly subscription 📍

UNI PHYSICS WITH HILKY ENGLISH IS IMPORTANT BUT PHYSICS IS IMPORTANTER. SO I’M GONNA TEACH IT IN A WAY THAT GETS THAT ACROS

Been a minute y’all..😶‍🌫️

Amalie Emmy Noether (1882-1935) …The mastermind and architect of arguably the most beautiful theorem in all of classical physics (Noether’s theorem) which, in summary, simply states that: “For every continuous symmetry in a system, there exists a corresponding conserved quantity in that particular system.”

Expanding;- for rotational translations, the Lagrangian function yields constant angular momentum (I.e., angular momentum is conserved); for spatial translations, the Lagrangian function yields constant linear momentum; and finally for time translations, the Lagrangian function yields constant energy over time (from which we get the principle of conservation if energy).
🙌🏾🔥

Reminiscing 💭😮‍💨 (throwback: 2022)
In my first year at uni as a data-less monk 😂

Common misconceptions about physics majors (undergraduate)
• Since we do loads of math, ‘specially calculus, and most of our math coursework being on the relatively higher end of the difficulty spectrum than almost all other majors, many assume that we’re de facto very good at “quick math” e.g., “what’s 1401*763 without punching anything in!?” — Umm…you’re likely to get blank stares and a dismissive shrug from us. Seeing that derivations (and a fair amount of proofs) is already a prick in the a@$.…We tend to leave most of our work in variable format and leave the plug-n-chug to others.
• ⁠Physics majors don't have girlfriends or boyfriends…I mean…what did you expect? On a serious note, there's some truth to it but it’s not a rule of thumb. Being a physics major doesn't mean you’ll no longer have time to fraternize with friends, family, and significant other. (Or will you? 👀💀)
• ⁠Physics majors end up broke and poor — Dunno about that, I mean, you're almost certainly unlikely to be the richest [assuming you stick entirely to your niche] but you will be neither broke nor poor. Matter of fact, a physics degree is arguably the best degree that can get you a sponsored ticket on Fly Emirates all the way to an overseas campus to study at a renowned university (whilst getting paid). Yep! You heard that right, you get paid to/whilst pursuing your higher education in the field. Depending on where you're studying you may earn a monthly stipend ranging anywhere between €600 to €2500 a month!
• ⁠Physics majors have a limited and narrow domain as workers — False! This may come as a surprise to you, but many physicists have pursued careers in engineering in industry (working to make better technology). Physicists can also end up being mathematicians, actuaries, patent clerks, computer scientists and/or software developers…to name a few 🤌🏾
• ⁠Physics majors tend to be eccentric (or straight-up weird if you wish to take it to extremes) and have seemingly otherworldly quirks. — Well, I’ll leave this one to your judgment and speculation. 💀

[Picture: Leonard Suskind looking at portrait of fellow Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein]