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closeAlmost 6 years later, what has gotten better?
Posted by birgiolasj on 30 Jul 2015 at 21:13 GMT
The hummingbirds are constantly hours away from their death. The professors, on a different time scale, seem to be in a similar fate, months away from running out of funding.
This article was written in 2009, yet the picture described then, might as well have been written today.
RE: Almost 6 years later, what has gotten better?
peterlawrence replied to birgiolasj on 31 Jul 2015 at 07:10 GMT
Not much! For example, the Wellcome Trust in the UK has simplified grant applications, and DORA is trying to do something about publication, but the main problems have worsened, in my opinion. Scientists are increasingly insecure, young people turned away from even trying, and, in the UK (and probably elsewhere) "tenured" university teachers who are fulfilling their duties of teaching and research are losing their posts for not bringing in enough grant money. We scientists are now seen as cash cows, our new function being to support the growing mass of administrators and managers.
RE: RE: Almost 6 years later, what has gotten better?
birgiolasj replied to peterlawrence on 31 Jul 2015 at 17:32 GMT
Ok, I get that there is a TON of cynicism, and it's understandably so, BUT THIS HAS BECOME ABSURD!
Most of us live in democracies, and with enough light shined on this issue, it can be changed. There has to be enough people who recognize what a disservice the current dynamic is to scientists, tax payers, and anyone who could be benefiting from quicker rate of discovery in a more efficient science system.
We should organize (yes graduate students, post-docs, early professors, and supportive established professors) and demand change to the status quo.
We should be sharing this article, and informing everyone outside of science how their science tax-money is being wasted on pointless bureaucracy and paperwork instead of doing actual science!
Is there any political organization of aspiring or established scientists who has made progress in pushing to have this changed?
If not, do we need start one?
RE: RE: RE: Almost 6 years later, what has gotten better?
peterlawrence replied to birgiolasj on 31 Jul 2015 at 19:17 GMT
There is no active organisation to protect scientists as far as I know, but there are groups pressing for political change in the UK, and probably in the USA and maybe France. But we need a worldwide "union" as we have been progressively losing whatever power we used to have. Now that we have lost tenure, we can lose our jobs if we are too active
see this case
https://www.timeshighered...
Trouble is we have little bargaining power, noone really cares if we go on strike, as the things we may find in the future are hardly bargaining chips. But it is not in the interest of any country to lose its scientific base, as is happening in Spain Iand Greece) due to the effects of cut backs. But then political thinking is always short term isnt it. But if you want to start a politico scientific movement to win back the rights of scientists and to sponsor pure research, then I will join it! Good luck