For this week’s interview series, we interviewed Professor of Theoretical Physics Claudia de Rham.
As a little introduction, what of Physics do you specialize in?
I am a theoretical physicist working at the interface between gravity, particle physics and cosmology. Like any scientist, I am really interested in understanding how nature works, but what fascinates me is the Universe as a whole. The Universe started at extremely high energy, so high that the laws of physics as we know them probably don’t apply there. Then throughout its cosmological history the Universe cooled down and expanded to reach the incredibly low energy density we are experiencing today. So understanding the Universe is really attempting to understand the laws of physics from the highest to the lowest possible scales.
What kickstarted your career in Physics?
I would like to think that we’re all physicists at heart. There are simply those who keep asking questions and keep wanting to understand how nature works and those for whom other interests slowly take over. For me, I guess I never quite moved beyond the initial questioning phase and so physics has always been the natural way forward. Of course every physicist is unique, everyone sets up its own unique path in the field, but being a woman in physics often feels like the very tools to set up our own is something we have to develop for ourselves.
During your journey, what has your experience of being a woman in Physics been like? Both positives and negatives!
I had various experiences being a woman in physics, many positive and sadly some more negative, but I would rather focus on the positive ones. Not because the negatives ones aren’t of utter importance for the too many women that are still leaving the field despite their exceptional talent and potential, but because at the end of the day the positive ones are the ones that keep me going. While there still a long way to go, the community as a whole has been very supportive and there are more and more elements in place to support women in physics. To me one of the most thrilling experience being a woman in physics is sharing discoveries with others, particularly the younger audience and awaken some passion for physics.
Looking back, would you have any advice for your younger self?
My advice for any younger woman in physics is simply to follow your dreams and be yourself, there is no physicist-mould to fit in, only new ways to question the world.