Physics in Burma Today

The laws of physics are invariant in all inertial frames of reference. They are also the same in all cultural frames of reference. But the way physicists are trained, the style in which physics is practiced, and the roles of physics and physicists in academia and society differ from one cultural setting to another. Burma is no exception. There is a domestic flavor to much of Burmese physics with the Irrawaddy River, Burmese bamboo, and the music of the pattalar all an integral part of the physics scenario. Perhaps "relevancy," a demand heard so frequently these days in the United States, has already been achieved in this small nation sandwiched between the subcontinents of China and India. In Burma, three factors exert determining influences on the subject of physics: The physical sciences are not part of the long standing cultural tradition; the students must prepare for competitive and external exams; and the opportunities for pursuing a career as a physicist are extremely limited.