On Sunday, April 11, 1999 6:14 PM, [log in to unmask]
[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote:
> I agree with what you are saying Jennifer - but somehow I did make the
decision to
> go into science.
So did I. 'Most' is not all. There are always exceptions. But that is
not good enough, is it?
And whether it was my upbringing or whatever, I was always aware
> that there wasn't going to be much money in it, but that didn't bother
me.
I had an idea that job prospects would be better if I did engineering.
My family upbringing/background created a need for job security - if not
a job that is secure, then at least, the prospect of being able to get
another one.
I do
> see though, that money is a big issue to most people, and I also see
how 'science'
> appears to high school students picking their GCSEs. I have a brother
who is 14
> and will soon make these decisions, and it is all too clear how
haphazard the
> basis for decision making will be.
I don't think it is haphazard to those making the decisions. It is
perfectly 'logical' to make those decisions at 13/4, when you have a
different belief systems about what is important in life, because your
experience of life is limited to the school bubble.
> I might be an exception to the problem facing science; I am not only
female, I
> have completed a degree and will be starting a PhD in
physiology/biochemistry, I
> even have friends, wear make-up and goto clubs.
There are many of us. My first degrees are in Materials Science and
Materials Engineering. I have since moved in to the social sciences: I
am in the final year of a PhD in Science and Technology Policy. I was
driven out of engineering by sexism at every level.
But I would love to see this as
> not an exception. I would really love to see the sort of intelligent,
energetic
> people I meet every day having made the decision to go into science
rather than
> business
But of course, but there is a need for scientists, and science-trained
people in business too. We need people who understand the scientific
process, or scientific language, in every type of work. How else can we
hope for science-friendly government policy (not just in funding
decisions either), sane research portfolios of large companies, and
small businesses who don't think that 'innovation' has no meaning for
them. The outcome of scientific work is not just affected by the
research activities of scientists. I would argue that we need to change
the science/arts split right from the beginning, as opposed to working
to keep scientists out of business and government.
>or other highly paid jobs
In terms of salaries, I have only just discovered the realities of life
as a scientist- no job stability, less pay than in the private sector,
etc etc. It has come as a big suprise. My son is five, I support the
whole family. It has been quite a revelation to discover that at the end
of my PhD, I won't be able to exchange my 500 quid a month rent bill for
a lower mortgage, as at best, I will be running around in the
gerbil-wheel of 6-month contracts. I can't see myself staying in this
position.
...or more often, rather than having gone for a
> totally different kettle of fish and decided there was no career
suitable for them
> and they'd rather float around the world feeling vaguely
dissolusioned.
Yes. Very true.
>
> There has been so much talk about the problems science faces with lack
of funding,
> lack of appeal to young people, lack of public understanding. Noone
seems to have
> any real suggestions about what can be done. > I may spend the odd
evening trying
> to stick up for it with people I meet, but I would much rather think
there was
> some way in which people who care could make a real difference.
I write a weekly science column in two regional newspapers: one in
Swansea, one in Bristol. It is very disruptive to my research, (I am
behind with my PhD) and it doesn't pay very well, but I think the only
way to open the imagination of younger people is to give them a living
example of a scientist's day to day experiences, and to talk about
scientific discoveries in a real, living, questioning way. And to gove
it context so that it has meaning for everyone.
I'm sure there are lots of other possibilities, but this is the one I
seem to be able to pull off and enjoy.
___________________________________________________
Jenny Gristock
SPRU Centre for Information, Networks and Knowledge,
University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RF
Tel: +44 (0)1273 877282
Fax: +44 (0)1273 685865
[log in to unmask]
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Users/prpk1/index.html
___________________________________________________
more info about the column is available on:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Users/prpk1/copus96.htm
my pages areim the middle of major revisions. With luck my PhD thesis
won't have to be .. . .
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