About Department of Physics

The Department of Physics in the faculty of Natural and applied sciences, commenced academic activities in November 1, 2010. With the splitting of the faculty of Natural and Applied sciences into Biological sciences and Physical sciences in 2018, Department of Physics was one of the six departments (Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics) that presently form the faculty of Physical sciences. The Department has sufficient dedicated number of academic staff (Over 90% with Ph.D.), trained within and outside the shores of Nigeria. At different times in the history of Physics Department since its inception, diversification into various areas of specialization was introduced through adjustment of academic brief in response to both national needs and international trends. The Department has not only been able to train young, talented and eggheaded individuals to meet its manpower requirements but has also timeously continued to train technocrats for multinational companies, academic institutions, financial institutions, military and civil enforcements etc. through its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the areas of pure, applied, energy and environmental Physics. Over the years of its existence, the Department has a cream of dedicated researchers who are well known nationally and globally through their scholarly outputs in their different fields of endeavor.

PHILOSOPHY

The department is well vested with capable hands in terms of knowledge and skills to serve, train and develop students in other fields of study such as Agriculture, Engineering, Medicine, Meteorological Science, particularly in this era of technological explosion in computer applications.

The Department of Physics in particular and the University at large keeps aflame the pursuit of knowledge par excellence and the spirit of enquiry. This gives ample opportunities for learning, leadership, service and self-actualization to interested personalities toward a peaceful, humane, prosperous and just society.

The department also fosters sustainable and socio-economic development of humanity by utilizing knowledge in technology to unlock the hidden treasures of nature and the human mind within a sound ethical framework.

 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The Aims and Objectives of available programmes in the Department of Physics are to:

1. Stimulate in students a sustained interest and enthusiasm in Physics and its applications in different domains of human endeavor.
2. Build in students a culture of continuous enquiry.
3. Provide students with a broad and balanced foundation, knowledge and practical skills in Physics necessary for industries and other production sectors of the economy.
4. Develop in students a range of skills and abilities in Physics for solution to theoretical and practical problems.
5. Provide students a solid base and skills in Physics that are required for Postgraduate studies, research and development.
6. Generate in students the skills of applying Physics in an industrial, economic, environmental, technological and social context.
7. Provide students with relevant knowledge and practical skills for self-reliance/self-employment.

Rationale Career and Opportunities

        Rationale

• To prepare the students to envisage beyond the hypothetical thinking, and to train them on the new era of acquisition and application of electronic and instrumentation technologies to meet the requisition of the changing world.
• Systematic development of science in the field of atmospheric physics and meteorology by providing complex study of atmosphere in correspondence with the world meteorological organization requirement.
• To better understand the nature of matter interacting at nuclear level and also to describe the nature of neutrinos and the state of the universe.
• To extend the application of the laws of physics to the dynamics of the earth for getting information of the subsurface as well as training expert who will take advantage of the enormous hydrocarbon potential/solid mineral that abound in Niger Delta where the University is situated.
• To better understand the behavior of electronics in conductors and semiconductors.

Career and opportunities

With a background in physics, many career opportunities abound. These include research and development in science, engineering, education and medicine. Opportunities for graduates in physics and physics related disciplines exist in oil and gas companies, information and communication technology (ICT) etc.