Probing reality through physics and philosophy

As a child, Chaithanya LAXMINARAYAN (or Chai) was always interested in metaphysical questions like: Where does everything come from? How does it all work? and Where does she fit in?

To seek answers, Chai decided to take up Double Majors in Physics and Philosophy under the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS). If these disciplines seem wildly diverse, for Chai they all stem from the same place: a passion to understand how the universe works.

In her childhood, Chai thought she could find answers in theology, but was quickly convinced otherwise. Thereafter, she thought the answers lay in science, namely physics. This journey of exploration continued all the way until high school, when after reading authors like Hume, Popper and Quine, she realised that she wanted to pursue a career pathway as an academic in the domain of metaphysics, the philosophy of physics or something similar.

She says, “Physics focuses on unravelling the complexities of the universe, from the largest to the smallest, atomic detail. Philosophy deals with foundational questions of the most general kind. This interdisciplinary combination is the sweet spot for me, lying at the interface of my interests.

To be equipped with the mathematical skills required in physics and in the analytic tradition of philosophy, Chai is also contemplating a Minor in Mathematics.

She adds, “I’ve always liked to read widely and employ different forms of thinking to solve problems, so when I saw that CHS would allow me to create a more flexible academic pathway to explore subject areas essential for the working world, of the future, I was sold!”

With friends from CHS. (Second from right)

In the future, Chai plans to do a Final Year Project (FYP) in the philosophy of physics and an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) in physics.  She is interested to delve into research in complex systems and with the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT).

Get to know Chai here.