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But if data from The Guardian is to be believed, physics is becoming more popular among A-level and university students in the UK because—get this—The Big Bang Theory has made it cool again!
We suppose it should not come as a complete surprise that people’s choices in life are based on the stuff they watch on TV, but it still amazes us that a comedy show about two bumbling physicists can get students more interested in the subject.
According to the publication, there was a 10% increase in university acceptance numbers for physics courses when the show first started airing in the UK in 2008–09. And they are still increasing, with admissions this year 17% higher than in 2010. Physics, which until as recently as 2005 was considered a “vulnerable” subject, is now among the ten most popular choices among A-level students.
That is pretty amazing.
I’m sending this to every person who tells me marketing doesn’t matter. This TV show? It markets physics, by making it interesting and relatable and something PEOPLE, not mythical science beasts, do.
Something I deeply believe, is that all art is helping to sell something. At best, it’s something positive for the world, not something based on a short term gain.
And I’m also hoping that information like this gets behind the eyeballs of the people who make programming decisions. This is a successful show that is incidentally getting youth more interested in studying physics. Ryan Seacrest produces a gaggle of shows that incidentally inspire people to aim for even more vapid consumption.
