Science Is Broken

#1

Post by bmahmood » Tue, May 14, 2013, 4:51 PM UTC

Re: Science Is Broken

#2

Post by djkn0x » Tue, May 14, 2013, 4:59 PM UTC

There are some funny quips here (like "#WhenIGraduate I'm going to work for McKinsey because the hours are better"), but I like how each is paired with a pretty sobering 'fact'. For instance I was surprised that a postdoc scientist makes roughly the same as a McDonalds Store Manager (~$39k).

Re: Science Is Broken

#3

Post by mtrn » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:15 PM UTC

I once saw a research group leader talk his head off, why what his group was doing was innovative, even though the committee thought otherwise - even though most of the people in the room knew he was just trying to secure funds and the work they've done wasn't nearly as revolutionary as it was advertised. Not the most uplifting experience, but reality I guess.

Re: Science Is Broken

#4

Post by tankbot » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:21 PM UTC

Serious question:

What is the point of this site?

Re: Science Is Broken

#5

Post by jpdoctor » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:25 PM UTC

djkn0x wrote: post #2

There are some funny quips here (like "#WhenIGraduate I'm going to work for McKinsey because the hours are better"), but I like how each is paired with a pretty sobering 'fact'. For instance I was surprised that a postdoc scientist makes roughly the same as a McDonalds Store Manager (~$39k).

> For instance I was surprised that a postdoc scientist makes roughly the same as a McDonalds Store Manager (~$39k).

The joys of supply and demand.

Re: Science Is Broken

#6

Post by mrcactu5 » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:34 PM UTC

Science is broken. It's just this site is redonkulous.

Re: Science Is Broken

#7

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:37 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Science Is Broken

#8

Post by ExpiredLink » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:38 PM UTC

tankbot wrote: post #4

Serious question: What is the point of this site?

Classic science was conducted to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Modern 'science' is conducted to serve an economic purpose. Classic science is on the decline in favor of result-driven studies.

Re: Science Is Broken

#9

Post by dnautics » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:45 PM UTC

ExpiredLink wrote: post #8

tankbot wrote: post #4

Serious question: What is the point of this site?

Classic science was conducted to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Modern 'science' is conducted to serve an economic purpose. Classic science is on the decline in favor of result-driven studies.

I'd say modern science is conducted to serve a political purpose, too. The story of how the NCI got started (as told in The Emperor of All Maladies) is a good example.

Giant supercolliders and fusion tokamaks are also basically national [anatomy] measuring contests.

Re: Science Is Broken

#10

Post by dnautics » Tue, May 14, 2013, 5:46 PM UTC

jpdoctor wrote: post #5

djkn0x wrote: post #2

There are some funny quips here (like "#WhenIGraduate I'm going to work for McKinsey because the hours are better"), but I like how each is paired with a pretty sobering 'fact'. For instance I was surprised that a postdoc scientist makes roughly the same as a McDonalds Store Manager (~$39k).

> For instance I was surprised that a postdoc scientist makes roughly the same as a McDonalds Store Manager (~$39k). The joys of supply and demand.

The McDonald's Store Manager is helping feed people. What is the average postdoc doing for the world? (I say this as a postdoc)