A poignant indictment of our profession

[jwheeler]

That was an excellent article.

Is it weird, though, that it makes me want to get into Science that much more?

It's probably because I can easily see myself being so devoted to my research to survive the publish or perish mentality. It also shows that science isn't just playing with beakers and microscopes--it's politics, late nights, etc. All these extra aspects make it even more interesting!

However, I'm young, and still an early undergraduate. Without a doubt my opinions will change over time .

Nik makes a great point about how Science is losing it's focus though, once it turned into a job instead of a hobby.

[Editor]

Welcome, Jimmy. I'm glad you aren't easily disillusioned. I also tend to react similarly - if people say it's hard and I can't do, it makes me want to show them. Science is hard but 20 years after finishing my undergraduate biology degree, I'm still hanging in there.

Amy - does this mean that you've finished Calvin? or is he shelved for the moment? Meanwhile I'm so happy to hear of your relative prosperity - I hope the fiction writing goes *brilliantly*.

[Mad Dan Eccles]

Hear hear, Amy: you deserve it.

[challenge]

I've got a lot of money landing on my head this month and next, enough to carry me through the next year or so. After a very scary early '09. Can't pass up the chance to spend it on fiction.

WOHO! Congrats Amy! that's great news. Good luck and I am offering to be a pre-reader if you want to try it out on someone

[Dr Mike]

It's good to know someone is feeling some financial security.
Congrats Amyc.

[amy c.]

thanks all. Yes, it was a big surprise to me -- a lot of jobs offered all at once in early fall, and when I did the math, that's how it fell out. Melvin's shelved for a while, I'm afraid, though not completely. Meantime, I have just a few jobs to finish up here, and then I'm off to enjoy myself by being miserable in front of the screen & reading a lot of things I'd put off. The financial panic should begin again sometime in November.

And chall, careful what you offer. I'll definitely take you up on it.

[Nik Papageorgiou]

Got to say this:

Just had a couple of meetings that over-confirmed this article. At some point I wondered if they'd read it and were yanking me. Turns out they hadn't and they weren't.

You can see the future: A top scientist stands up at the podium to receive his Nobel, and in his thank-you address he mentions his father who told him "it's ok if you want to be a scientist, son, just make sure you've got a day job".

Heard it at the Oscars once.