On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 4:57 PM, Lloyd Ruddock ruddock@sun3.oulu.fi wrote:
On the final point science is fun, but according to nearly everyone who is asked to succeed in academic research it is hard work and something else has to be sacrificed. One recent article said that to suceed in modern science you could have only one of the following: a family, a major hobby, or going out and socializing regularly with friends. But to be good at ANYTHING you have to work at it, to sacrifice other things. It is also harder now than in the past to succeed in academic science (see attached recent article to get really depressed). We should not lie to our students, but nor should we treat it as something depressing.
To equate succeeding in science to being able to have your own group, or more, is analogous to equating succeeding in industry to being able to have your own company. Both admirable accomplishments that must take a lot of continuing hard work. However, people can have different goals. Being able to do good work with interesting subjects is one, and it doesn't necessarily require round the clock dedication. I would not say that those who reach the latter goal and not the first have not succeeded in science. What is important in life is ultimately a matter of personal valuation.
-olli