On 30 Jan 1998, Guy Oshiro wrote:
> Dear scientists,
>> Is Science a moral endeavor?
Except for applications that end in military weapons, I would say that
science is a moral (or, I like the term, "socially redeeming"). I also
think there are discoveries and findings that are priceless (meaning no
immediate commercial value [eg. the finding hundreds of years ago that the
earth was not flat, earth was not the center of the universe]).
> Part of the reason that I got into science was because I wanted to be
> involved in something that would help humanity. I really wanted to
> help find a cure to diseases such as cancer and arthritis. I wanted to
> make a difference. I felt that biomedical research was the best way to
> achieve these aims.
I felt largely the same way. I'll spare you the details.
> Now, I find myself starting to question both my reasoning and my
> sanity.
Your whole post (I read it all, first) sounds as reasonable as any. Its
not your reasoning or your sanity. But you might focus on what kinds of
"life scenarios" are ahead of you (see below).
> I am currently working on my Ph.D. studying cell cycle regulation in
> yeast. This is a far cry from my goal of helping humanity but I think
> this basic research work is important because it will give us a clue on
> how things work.
You're OK here.
> I am nearing the end of my graduate career and I wonder if I have what
> it takes to continue on this career track. The road ahead seems both
> long and dark.
You got that right.
> There are so many people out there (post-docs) that are
> having a difficult time finding a job. I don't want to be 35, losing
> my hair, and just hoping that someone will give me a job.
I'm 54, essentially had to give up science because I could no longer get
grant funding AND was in one of the most feudalistic fiefdoms I could
imagine (on some days it actually made me physically ill, there were
nights where I lost sleep). Really.
> I didn't come into science for the money
I didn't either.
> - but I certainly didn't come
> into it to lose my life and to become poor. I work about 60 - 70 hours
> a week now. I don't mind the work load now in graduate school but I
> don't and can not keep it up forever.
Thats excellent foresight. If things work out, you might be able to taper
down to 50 hours per week. If you get into most industrial jobs, you might
have a 40 hour week.
> Eventually I want to get settled
> down and lead a normal life.
Amen!
> Please forgive me for the inane rambling.
You don't have to ask forgivness. It's not inane rambling. I know lots of
people who wake up in the morning and say "Am I doing the right thing?" or
"What am I doing wrong?"
> I guess my main question is this -- why do scientists do what they do?
Many, particularly in academia, are putting up with treeeeeemendous
amounts of crap so they can be scientists.
> don't get me wrong, I love being a scientist. I love the act of
> discovery and the ability to figure out a research question.
I was independent for about 14 years. It was a great feeling.
> But when
> you do that at the expense of all else - I begin to question the
> reasons.
The question is: is the crap heap you have to deal with getting bigger, or
is it stable?
> Do you do it because you love doing it or because you believe
> that you are doing it for the good of humanity?
There's another component here, too. Is humanity every going to show any
recognition, give you any reward for your work?
> The sad thing is that humanity really does not know what scientists do.
And, in a parallel fashion, humanity does not know what science is,
either. I suppose that's more or less equivalent to what you said.
> they are definitely not rewarded financially. there seems to be very
> little job security in this field.
Job security, in addition to even getting that job so that you can have
any kind of security, is a very big problem.
I have the sense that in commercial job environments you'll do better
because you'll have "transferable" experience that will help compensate
for the low job security by giving you lateral mobility. But you'll have
to "trade off" the "love of science" for the commercialism (i.e. the
"profit motive").
> So do people stay in science
> because they have a moral conviction of what they are doing?
I stayed in science as long as I could because I said to myself that I'd
be willing to put up with the crap as long as I could do "my thing" AND I
felt I was making a definite contribution to the knowledge base of the
human race. Well, it was OK as long as it lasted. But, I grew up in times
that were more favorable for science. Today, the whole employment
landscape is different, worse, and more unpredictable (most of this has
grown out of the shift in govt. attitude about spending [now debt is
shrinking, but the money flow into science is less], the globalization of
the economy [jobs flowing to other countries], and the end of the cold war
[we don't need science because sputnik is not a threat anymore]).
> Or are
> they just too afraid to consider an alternative career.
The thinking, writing, and movement into alternative careers has been
increasing, quite a lot in the last maybe 2-3 years. I think a lot of
people are going into alternative careers BECAUSE they can't find decent
science-related (or shall I say PhD-requiring) jobs. The managed care
market shifts are even challenging the MD career and compensation levels
in the last 2-3 years. So, you are not the only one with problems.
> I guess in the
> end - everything boils down to just being a job. The fantasy of saving
> the world is destroyed by the dream of leading a normal life with a
> wife, 2 kids and a dog and the reality that it takes money to do these
> things.
Sometimes leading a normal life, having a wife, 2 kids, and a dog might
not be so bad. Be thankful that you have that collection to look to for
life's rewards, companionships, and experiences.
> Oh well, thanks for your time.
You are welcome. You are not alone. You are not the first, and you will
not be the last. I put up a website based on these problems.
Art Sowers
-------------------------------------------------------
Written in the public interest, the essays on
"Contemporary Problems in Science Jobs" are located at:
http://www.access.digex.net/~arthures/homepage.htm
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Snail mail adr to me: P.O.Box 489, Georgetown, DE 19947
Email: arthures at access.digex.net
My "home" newsgroup: sci.research.careers
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=== no change to below, included for reference and context ====
> As they say - things work out for the best in the end.
>>>> Guy Oshiro
> EMAIL: Guy.Oshiro at UCHSC.edu>> /\ /\ /\
> / \/ \/\/ \ Science in the Rockies.
> / \ \/ \
>>
