The physics loving Cook family, from left, Reuben, Greg (Dad), Emilie and Liam. The three siblings are all students in the Physics Department this year, which is where Greg started his physics career in the '80s.
If the Cook siblings miss their daily catch up over dinner at the family’s home, they may be able to share morning tea at the Department of Physics.
Dunedin siblings Reuben, Liam and Emilie Cook are all students in the Physics Department this year. Reuben has just started his Master’s degree, Liam is in the final year of undergraduate studies, and Emilie is taking a physics paper as part of her first-year health sciences programme.
Greg Cook, Dad and physics teacher at Kaikorai Valley College, is confessing to feeling a bit lonely as for the past 11 years he’s had at least one of his kids at school with him.
“I must have made them all study physics," he jokes.
It’s unlikely he twisted their arms too much, but they all agree that physics has been a constant subject in their upbringing.
Liam says from an early age he learned that physics relates to everything. Reuben recalls that when something popped up on television it would facilitate a physics-infused discussion, and Emilie recalls inaccurate depictions of physics concepts in movies would result in her Dad going “on and on”.
Guided by a physics-teaching Dad and an audiologist Mum (Sharon), the Cook siblings naturally leaned towards science.
All had university education in their sights and Otago was the obvious choice.
There was also a unanimous reason for them staying at home – they all laugh when they say it had something to do with “spending our parents’ savings”.
This year Reuben’s interest in the field of quantum physics will involve researching supersolids and “really cold atoms” for his master’s thesis.
Liam’s studies continue to include a broad spectrum of applications of physics, and Emile’s interest in the workings of the human body involves physics principles.
Greg’s association with the Department of Physics was as a student for two years in the late ’80s before he transferred to University of Canterbury to complete his studies. Over his almost 30-year career as a teacher at Kaikorai Valley College, Greg’s connection with the Department of Physics has continued through an annual teachers’ visit to the Department.
He enjoys these visits as trips down memory lane, he says.
“The big difference is my kids are way more diligent with their time and studies then I ever was.”
He fondly recalls enjoying learning the sport of fencing through Clubs and Societies.
Physics-infused conversations at home have grown in complexity as the family’s collective knowledge of physics has grown. Greg enjoys discussing quantum concepts with Reuben, describing them as “invigorating and interesting and great for getting the old grey matter in action again”.
And while in his classroom, Greg is experiencing empty-nest-syndrome, he says it’s great to see their kids making their own way in the world with physics playing a central role.
“I’m just pleased I didn’t put them all off physics all together,” Greg says.
“I’ve always been drawn to the field and how it’s so central to our day-to-day lives.
“Physics provides so many opportunities for students to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills. These skills not only help to better understand the world, but also for learning and achievement in other areas of study. My favourite reason for studying physics comes from American poet Walt Whitman, via Ted Lasso, ‘Be curious, not judgemental’.”
Kōrero by Guy Frederick, Sciences Communications Adviser