Chris Search stands at the front of the classroom in his signature maroon polo shirt and straight-leg jeans. He has an athletic build reminiscent of a cross-country runner with a posture reflecting decades spent teaching physics to undergrad punks attending Stevens Institute of Technology. His eyes always seem a little tired but still fiery — most likely from staying up too late concocting a sadistic Gauss’s law question for his poor E&M class (God rest their souls). His powerful voice tinted with a nostalgic Northeastern accent inspires attention and respect regardless of whether you’re attending one of his lectures or just having a chat over office hours. Search is iconic. He’s all your favorite mad scientists and a hopeless romantic all at once. He bounces effortlessly from conversations about Quantum Mechanics to the Balkan Wars, the transience of the universe to the question of God. His mind is like an all-knowing enigma. Even when asked about subjects outside his expertise, he’ll usually preface his reply with, “Now, I’m not an expert in this field but…” then will continue to blow everyone’s mind with an explanation so beautifully concise it would put Neil DeGrasse Tyson to shame.
When I first encountered this fascinating professor as a freshman, I was both frightened and inspired by his intelligence along with his brutally honest, say-it-how-it-is attitude. I resonated with his skeptical outlook and admired how he was able to reconcile that skepticism without letting cynicism overtake him, something I was currently unable to do. In his own words, “To be a good physicist, you have to be a skeptic and maybe a bit of cynic.” I spent many hours in his office during freshman year, most visits starting with E&M questions and ending with philosophical contemplations. As Search stood before my HST 401 class this morning, I felt like I was once again back in office hours picking his mind about everything from the origin of the universe to the political funding of science.
While many physicists possess extraordinary levels of intelligence, not many can match Search’s ability to connect with their students. Search’s academic prowess is beyond the comprehension of most people, yet I argue that it is his ability to inspire students to think critically about science and life that make him one of Stevens’ greatest professors. I came to this university already sold on physics; however, it was only because of Search’s mentorship that I have accomplished more than I could have dreamed. From understanding electromagnetism to working at CERN this summer, all of it was due to Search. Because of his humility, I’m sure he would argue that it was my own hard work that brought me success, but work without direction doesn’t result in anything. Search provides the direction and outlook students need to be challenged and grow.
Search’s level-headed perspective is a welcome comfort in a field which seems to be spiraling off in a thousand directions at once. Personally, I find it difficult to look at physics and not be overwhelmed by the countless theories generated every day. Search, however, seems unmoved by science’s new revelations or trendy beliefs. When asked about the future of string theory, for example, he nonchalantly replied, “We should start building churches and start saying prayers to higher dimensions,” humorously addressing the cold truth that theory is practically religion until proven otherwise. This practical skepticism is a firm foundation of his philosophy tying over into his political views. When asked about his feelings about government funding of scientific research, again his easygoing yet thoughtful approach brought both perspectives and calm to the controversial topic. He replied, “The U.S. is the least dirty shirt […] God forbid the Russians or Chinese become the policemen of the world,” insinuating that though America has its flaws, its intentions are significantly less sinister than competing powers. As someone who is disillusioned with the military, this response addressing the flaws of the government without getting lost in pessimism is extremely admirable to me. This is yet another example of Search’s signature outlook: a hopeful yet realistic perspective tinged with the maturity only experience and grit can bring.
Search is an inspiration. Not only because of his impressive career in physics and astronomical intelligence, but also because of his balanced philosophy and perspective. It’s rare to find successful people who are balanced. I can’t count how many “all or nothing” attitudes I’ve seen in my CrossFit idols or Physics gods, leaving all us normal humans feeling like we’ll never have what it takes to make it to the top. Yet Search has taught me that you can put in the work without being a ball of stress 24/7. When I recently asked him how to succeed this semester after shoving my color-coordinated no-days-off calendar in his face, he replied: “you need to quit a job or two and go to sleep.” Apparently, after studying the phenomena of the universe for decades, the daily stresses of life don’t appear quite as monumental. Search takes life for what it is — beautiful, horrible, adventurous, boring — and through it all he focuses on what’s important and works hard at what he’s good at. Which is clearly making sense of an orderless universe and bringing peace to overachieving undergrads. I will be forever grateful to Search for his encouragement and perspective. I hope one day I can be even half the physicist and human he is.
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