http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:04:16 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/comment-page-1/#comment-67448 Jeff Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:06:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/#comment-67448 I guess the bloggers on this site aren't interested in questioning the academic system from which they have benefited. I guess the bloggers on this site aren’t interested in questioning the academic system from which they have benefited.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/comment-page-1/#comment-66504 coolstar Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:02:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/#comment-66504 Jeff, that's not the way the game is played. More post-docs (most of whom, almost by definition, won't find permanent jobs in their chosen profession) means more papers with your name on them etc. etc. etc. The universe would certainly collapse if uni professors showed any morality about their over production of replacements. Loved the quote in the article you referenced: "“If you cannot find a tenure-track position, your university will no longer court you; it will pretend you do not exist and will act as if your unemployability is entirely your fault.” Yep, bad for the rep so it must be your fault because if you were REALLY smart, productive, accomplished............ Jeff, that’s not the way the game is played. More post-docs (most of whom, almost by definition, won’t find permanent jobs in their chosen profession) means more papers with your name on them etc. etc. etc. The universe would certainly collapse if uni professors showed any morality about their over production of replacements.
Loved the quote in the article you referenced: ““If you cannot find a tenure-track position, your university will no longer court you; it will pretend you do not exist and will act as if your unemployability is entirely your fault.” Yep, bad for the rep so it must be your fault because if you were REALLY smart, productive, accomplished…………

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/comment-page-1/#comment-66326 Jeff Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:10:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/#comment-66326 Since you've invited us to open the discussion, how about talking about this recent New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/arts/07grad.html?_r=1&em The article talks about humanities PhDs in particular, but I think the conclusions could be generalized to include the sciences (especially the theoretical sciences). Is the old model of "apprentice scholars" dead? (I think so--the professoriate shouldn't be training new apprentices if there aren't suitable careers available within the practice, i.e within academia). Since you’ve invited us to open the discussion, how about talking about this recent New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/arts/07grad.html?_r=1&em
The article talks about humanities PhDs in particular, but I think the conclusions could be generalized to include the sciences (especially the theoretical sciences). Is the old model of “apprentice scholars” dead? (I think so–the professoriate shouldn’t be training new apprentices if there aren’t suitable careers available within the practice, i.e within academia).

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/comment-page-1/#comment-66324 Methalos Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:59:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/03/10/old-folks-wing-of-the-blogodome/#comment-66324 The cake is a lie anyway The cake is a lie anyway

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