tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439168179960787195.post2221113222260479311..comments2024-03-28T17:13:01.117+10:00Comments on Condensed concepts: Science is broken IIRoss H. McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09950455939572097456noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439168179960787195.post-87106567158155210442013-12-11T10:19:53.649+10:002013-12-11T10:19:53.649+10:00Afonso's blog post is very interesting, though...Afonso's blog post is very interesting, though also very depressing.<br /><br />One difference I see with the drug connection though, is that a lot of people do a PhD and even a postdoc or two with no intention of staying in academia. I don't know the proportions, but I have met many who take this view. Although relatively low paid, depending on the advisor they can be wonderfully relaxed, engaging jobs, that allow you to travel and live abroad, etc. In countries like Germany, it seems that a PhD/postdoc is quite respected by industry and so can even be a reasonable use of a few years. At least, that's the view that German postdocs I've met tend to take.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the system stinks.<br /><br />Hah, Higgs sounds like an interesting guy. Uni. Edinburgh doesn't come off sounding so great though.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08582644751812812675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439168179960787195.post-7876311515710746042013-12-10T19:45:00.941+10:002013-12-10T19:45:00.941+10:00In human affairs, I think most things are always b...In human affairs, I think most things are always broken. But the manner in which they are broken, and how badly, varies between time and place. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10768655514143252049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439168179960787195.post-29962983723002207072013-12-10T17:24:53.448+10:002013-12-10T17:24:53.448+10:00Hi Ben,
Thanks for the comment. I spoke too loosel...Hi Ben,<br />Thanks for the comment. I spoke too loosely. I should have said that the latter situation is compounded by the former problems. Specifically, the desire for large "outputs" and leads to an oversupply of Ph.Ds because they are cheap labour. If the goal was higher quality science more money would be spent on creating permanent jobs rather than on short-term positions.Ross H. McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09950455939572097456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439168179960787195.post-46262575221853183012013-12-10T15:50:14.781+10:002013-12-10T15:50:14.781+10:00I don't see why you think the latter situation...I don't see why you think the latter situation is the result of the former problems. Surely it is primarily the result of the low supply of and high demand for academic jobs/drug lordshipsBen Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04312113344388752854noreply@blogger.com