Senior Spotlight: Christopher Olds
From Going Swimming and Going Nuclear
This is the last in our series of senior spotlights for our 2026 Simpson Physics and Physics-Engineering graduates. We asked each senior to reflect on what brought them to Simpson, what they learned along the way, and where they are headed next. Up next is Christopher Olds, a swimmer from Louisiana who arrived planning to major in history before he discovered a passion for understanding how the world works and ultimately made the leap to physics.
Tell us about yourself. Why did you come to Simpson? My name is Christopher Olds, I’m from Louisiana. I started out pursing a history major at Simpson, but ultimately pivoted to Physics with a minor in mathematics!
Why did you choose to come to Simpson College? I chose Simpson, due to its wonderful swimming program, small class size, and change of scenery from Louisiana. I knew from the start I didn’t want to go to a big school, and I wanted somewhere I could directly get to know the professors and work alongside them, not just be taught by them.
What drew you to physics in the first place? I’ve always been curious about how things worked, how things were made and constructed, and physics was the answer to all of these questions. I love all sciences, but I felt that physics tied it all together enough for me. The professors at Simpson were also extremely willing to work with me to assist in the transition from History to Physics.
What was your favorite Simpson experience? I think my all time favorite Simpson experience would have to be my senior research project. It was very interesting to do a lot of back end work to understand what exactly I was getting to when dealing with nuclear/atomic physics. I’ve always loved the idea of studying radiation and the ways it can tell us a story about the world.
What was the most challenging part of your time here, and how did you deal with it? I think the most challenging part of my time at Simpson was the actual transition from History to Physics. I was missing a lot of the required math background, so I had to take more courses than normal to catch up. It was a rough year, with slipping grades and hard times. However, being up front and honest with my professors was the thing that saved me, because some of them have struggled like I have, and were willing to work with me to help me succeed.
Tell us about your capstone project. What did you do, and what were you most proud of? I worked with Dr. Tony Rogers on using legacy radiation detection equipment and re-calibrating them to correct for various factors that affect these older machines. The project was a blast to be a part of, and I’m most proud of the actual data we collected and analyzed, so that further students can take my data, our radiation sources, and hopefully create their own detectors of various types.
What skills or experiences do you feel best prepared you for what’s next? I think the best skills that Simpson and a Physics major have given me are the skills of research and a intense curiosity. Learning where and how to look for relevant papers, good sources, and follow a paper trail of references is vital in the academic and scientific world. You should always know where you are getting your information, but more importantly, why is that information significant in your research or study.
What are your plans after graduation, or what are you excited about moving forward? I’ll be pursuing a career in nuclear physics and or atomic physics, with the goal or possibly attending graduate school.
Thanks, Christopher! We know you’re going to do great things!
About the Author:
Aaron Santos is an innovator, author, and physicist. He’s written two books, How Many Licks? Or, How to Estimate Damn Near Anything and Ballparking: Practical Math for Impractical Sports Questions, which teach the art of estimation in fun and irreverent ways. He founded two nanoscience companies and is currently writing his third book, which explores the history, science, and future of nanotechnology. You can follow him on BlueSky.
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