<p>I want to do something with either nanotechnology or robotics when I grow up. However a lot of my relatives keep telling me to choose a field in which there can be plenty of research done ( weird, i know ) so at this point I'm deciding wether to have a major in physics or EE or something like that. What do you ppl reccomend?</p>
<p>Wow... no research in nanotechnology? It's one of the hottest fields out there, and it's gaining in popularity. They're finding nanotech applications in nearly every field. I never thought I'd see the day when nanotechnology would find its way to structural engineering, but last month I went to a seminar that talked about a research project where carbon nanotubes were used to stop crack propagation in structural members, with surprisingly excellent results...</p>
<p>I can't really thing of a field where there's a greater demand for research right now, actually... In fact, by the time you get done with school, there may even be a market for nanorobotics, and wouldn't that be cool?</p>
<p>Major in what <em>you</em> want, not what your family wants. It's your life to live.</p>
<p>im really confused about nanotechnology. does it require a strong background in biomed or physics?</p>
<p>Definition: Nanotechnology is any technology which exploits phenomena and structures that can only occur at the nanometer scale.</p>
<p>Nanoscale properties have application in almost any field. It depends in which field you want to go.</p>
<p>ok screw nano then. I am really interested in robotics but i'm really into cars as well. which would be better for undergrad EE or ME?</p>
<p>Sounds more like ME to me. Of course I am a little biased since I am a Mechanical Engineering professor.</p>
<p>dr_reynolds: can you tell me the main difference between ME and EE undergrad?</p>
<p>Well, the name says it all. Mechanical Engineering is focused on mechanical things: mechanisms, fluids, heat transfer, thermodynamics (engines), stress analysis, and many other things mechanical. Electrical engineers study electrical circuits, digital circuits, electric and magnetic fields, computer hardware and many other things electrical.</p>
<p>Robotics can really be a topic for either mechanical or electrical engineering. Mechanical engineering has most of the "gear heads", the people that love cars.</p>
<p>I just looked at Virginia Tech's course guides for ME and EE undergrad engineering and ME looks more appealing to me. If I deicide to do ME for undergrad, will I be fine doing Aerospace or nautics in grad? I noticed a lot of the courses are the same.</p>
<p>Yes, you should be fine.</p>