3 ms·

I suspect the author is from the humanities, which have starkly different funding realities than what you and I are used to. (Your profile says you are a comput

by scott_s 10y ago

I suspect the author is from the humanities, which have starkly different funding realities than what you and I are used to. (Your profile says you are a computational scientist, and while I work in industry, I still publish in computer science academic conferences.)

schoen 10y ago
> I still publish in computer science academic conferences Having just recently attended an academic conference as a non-academic (but not submitted anything this time), I was wondering whether non-academics do, or should, feel guilty about publishing at these venues. It was very apparent how other people there were looking for jobs and using their publications and presentations as a part of that process. If non-academics publish in journals and conferences, should we feel bad that we're potentially taking away spots from those these venues are "meant for"?
- scott_s 10y ago
  I don't feel bad at all, and in computer science systems conferences, there's usually a mix of people from industry and academia. (Both attending and even on the program committee.) I think a good mix is healthy for such conferences. Personally, I do both research and development, and I want to be able to publish the research I do.
- Al-Khwarizmi 10y ago
  I don't think you should feel bad about that at all. The amount of jobs available is not going to decrease due to you publishing papers. If you "take away a spot" for someone's paper it might mean that that person doesn't get a job, but some other academic will get it instead (and none of them will know). In fact I'd say non-academics publishing in conferences and journals can be good for academics even from an egoistic standpoint, as it can help break the popular perception of science/academia as an ivory tower of self-absorbing smartasses out of touch with reality. And better popular perception of science indirectly means more funding. So as an academic I would definitely see an increase of submissions by non-academics as good news for my interests.

by scott_s 10y ago

schoen 10y ago

> I still publish in computer science academic conferences Having just recently attended an academic conference as a non-academic (but not submitted anything this time), I was wondering whether non-academics do, or should, feel guilty about publishing at these venues. It was very apparent how other people there were looking for jobs and using their publications and presentations as a part of that process. If non-academics publish in journals and conferences, should we feel bad that we're potentially taking away spots from those these venues are "meant for"?

scott_s 10y ago
I don't feel bad at all, and in computer science systems conferences, there's usually a mix of people from industry and academia. (Both attending and even on the program committee.) I think a good mix is healthy for such conferences. Personally, I do both research and development, and I want to be able to publish the research I do.
Al-Khwarizmi 10y ago
I don't think you should feel bad about that at all. The amount of jobs available is not going to decrease due to you publishing papers. If you "take away a spot" for someone's paper it might mean that that person doesn't get a job, but some other academic will get it instead (and none of them will know). In fact I'd say non-academics publishing in conferences and journals can be good for academics even from an egoistic standpoint, as it can help break the popular perception of science/academia as an ivory tower of self-absorbing smartasses out of touch with reality. And better popular perception of science indirectly means more funding. So as an academic I would definitely see an increase of submissions by non-academics as good news for my interests.