Abstract & Overview
The joint AAPT and APS PHYS21 report emphasizes preparing students for diverse career paths, including the need for more opportunities to learn innovation and entrepreneurship in physics.To support these changes, research is needed on students' interest and perceptions of innovation and entrepreneurship, and suggestions for integration into the undergraduate physics experience.We conducted semi-structured focus groups with 20 physics majors around several concepts related to innovation and entrepreneurship: technology, creativity, design, business, communication, and leadership.Emergent and thematic coding was used to analyze students' responses.Students have a complex view of innovation and entrepreneurship in physics perceiving creativity as closely related to physics, especially in undergraduate research, while business and leadership skills were distinct from physics and closer to engineering.These findings have implications for understanding students' perceptions of physics as a disciplinary community and field of study, and can assist departments seeking to better support students' careers.