> What I find puzzling is why science is fashionable while engineering and
> technology, the appliance of science, are deeply unfashionable.
>
I commented on this a few weeks ago. My view is that there is still
a definite cultural attitude, recognisable since the 18th century,
that science is OK when it's "pure" and intellectual, and permissable
as a gentlemanly pursuit (eg Henry Cavendish) but when it's applied,
it's not quite the thing (and I can recall a professor of physiology
telling me that I should stay in pure science because applied
science was "dirty" - he meant intellectually). Engineering has an
even worse perception - that's about blokes in overalls with oily
rags and dirty fingernails.
It's a bit like the medical profession up to this century - the top
physicians were intellectuals and gentlemen, hence "Dr", while the
best (pre-anaesthesia and pre-antiseptic) surgeons were barbers
who had the skill to chop your leg off fast enough to minimise your
risk of dying of shock - nothing intellectual about that, hence "Mr".
The surgeon's image has changed because of the dramatically
beneficial effects of modern surgery - but also because of the large
salaries that go with it. Large salaries are ALWAYS fashionable!
Dr MJ Pearson
Department of Chemical Pathology & Immunology
Old Medical School
Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Tel 0113 392 3945
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