You certainly know the image of the frog, that you can place in cold water. If you heat the water slowly, the frog will not jump out of the water, until it dies.
That is the current state of scientists in most countries, and especially in so-called first-world countries. The water has been heating up slowly for about 20 years, and is now hot enough to be life threatening. Following 6-10 years of working as underpaid graduate students or post-docs, most find no jobs, and have to drop out or convert to another profession. Those lucky scientists who obtained a faculty position now spend typically 60++ hours at work each week-but not because exciting research, but because of the permanent threat to lose everything if they do not find the next funding for their research. Facing a <6 --="" --not="" a="" almost="" and="" angst="" applications="" can="" certainly="" creativity="" does="" for="" grant="" innovate.="" live="" money="" most="" needed="" never="" not="" over="" p="" permanent="" rate="" scientific="" searching...="" stimulate="" stop="" success="" the="" to="" truth.="" we="" which="" with="" work="">As governmental funding is being reduced each year, or being only attributed to particular areas, we need to search for funds from industry sources. Although funding should not dictate the outcome of a study (but sometimes it does, just to assure that funding continues...), funding dictates the focus of our research. Hence, subjects that are of no value, or of harm, to the funding body will not be subject to scrutiny. As science loses its independent voice for the good of humankind, scientists feel increasingly frustrated for having become salesman of science. We're burned out, disillusioned, frustrated, panicked. But we don't jump. We still love science, and most importantly, we have nowhere to jump on to.
In the meantime, all those 'first world' countries slowly lose the scientific advantage they had for the last century. Without innovation and technology, there is no sustainable future.
That is the current state of scientists in most countries, and especially in so-called first-world countries. The water has been heating up slowly for about 20 years, and is now hot enough to be life threatening. Following 6-10 years of working as underpaid graduate students or post-docs, most find no jobs, and have to drop out or convert to another profession. Those lucky scientists who obtained a faculty position now spend typically 60++ hours at work each week-but not because exciting research, but because of the permanent threat to lose everything if they do not find the next funding for their research. Facing a <6 --="" --not="" a="" almost="" and="" angst="" applications="" can="" certainly="" creativity="" does="" for="" grant="" innovate.="" live="" money="" most="" needed="" never="" not="" over="" p="" permanent="" rate="" scientific="" searching...="" stimulate="" stop="" success="" the="" to="" truth.="" we="" which="" with="" work="">As governmental funding is being reduced each year, or being only attributed to particular areas, we need to search for funds from industry sources. Although funding should not dictate the outcome of a study (but sometimes it does, just to assure that funding continues...), funding dictates the focus of our research. Hence, subjects that are of no value, or of harm, to the funding body will not be subject to scrutiny. As science loses its independent voice for the good of humankind, scientists feel increasingly frustrated for having become salesman of science. We're burned out, disillusioned, frustrated, panicked. But we don't jump. We still love science, and most importantly, we have nowhere to jump on to.
In the meantime, all those 'first world' countries slowly lose the scientific advantage they had for the last century. Without innovation and technology, there is no sustainable future.
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