FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does the word 'Tibees' mean?
My real name is Toby (yes I know it’s an unusual name for a girl but I'm glad my parents gave me something a bit different). My username 'Tibees' is a childhood nickname given to me by my brother. I made my YouTube channel under this name in 2006 and by the time I thought about changing it to something sensible it was too late.
A Tibee also appears to be a kind of shrimp but there is no relation.
A Tibee also appears to be a kind of shrimp but there is no relation.
Where is your accent from?
I have lived about half my life in New Zealand and the other half in Australia so my accent is likely a combination of the two.
What are your recommendations for someone wanting to learn physics?
There are many paths to learning physics or becoming a physicist.
The most common path to becoming a physics researcher is to do a Bachelor of Science at university and then continue your studies to do a Master's degree and/or PhD (doctorate). With a PhD you can be employed by a research lab to do a postdoc (post-doctoral) and continue to work your way up the academic ladder. You may wish to leave the academic pipeline at any stage and work for industry where you may still be able to use your physics skills to develop products or consult on physics problems. There are many possibilities but you might have to be creative in the opportunities you pursue and how you combine physics/math with other skills.
I have made a couple of videos about books for learning physics and books for learning mathematics. These videos contain some book recommendations but there is so much overlap between textbooks that for someone getting started the best book is the one you have access to. Go to the local library (or university library) and look through the physics section to see which titles inspire you. There are some second hand textbook marketplaces online and plenty of e-textbooks available.
John Baez has a more comprehensive guide to learning math/physics
The most common path to becoming a physics researcher is to do a Bachelor of Science at university and then continue your studies to do a Master's degree and/or PhD (doctorate). With a PhD you can be employed by a research lab to do a postdoc (post-doctoral) and continue to work your way up the academic ladder. You may wish to leave the academic pipeline at any stage and work for industry where you may still be able to use your physics skills to develop products or consult on physics problems. There are many possibilities but you might have to be creative in the opportunities you pursue and how you combine physics/math with other skills.
I have made a couple of videos about books for learning physics and books for learning mathematics. These videos contain some book recommendations but there is so much overlap between textbooks that for someone getting started the best book is the one you have access to. Go to the local library (or university library) and look through the physics section to see which titles inspire you. There are some second hand textbook marketplaces online and plenty of e-textbooks available.
John Baez has a more comprehensive guide to learning math/physics
Why don't you reply to direct messages?
My DMs are closed on all platforms to protect my privacy, safety and sanity.
Do you have a Discord server (or subreddit)?
Due to privacy concerns I do not have a Tibees discord channel and ask that you please not create a dedicated subreddit.
Do you have Instagram?
I recently returned to Instagram and my username there is @tibees_