4 ms·
I agree that extinct is too strong a word. Let's call it "science is having a tough time" (and that it is). How many kids do you know who'd like to spend thei
by bbgm 18y ago
I agree that extinct is too strong a word. Let's call it "science is having a tough time" (and that it is). How many kids do you know who'd like to spend their holidays doing garage science (or adults for that matter)?
- hugh 18y agoI don't know. Were there ever all that many? (Although I know plenty of adults who might spend their holidays doing garage science, if it weren't for the fact that they already get paid to do it as a day job.)
- neilc 18y agoOverall, I wouldn't agree that "science is having a hard time", either. I don't think trends in PhD production are consistent with your argument (PhD production is basically at an all-time high). The Internet and the computer revolution are also compelling examples of how important science and technology are: in addition to being a useful tool for science itself, they have motivated a lot of people to go into scientific/technical careers.
- bbgm 18y agoScience is not just about formal degrees. It's about curiosity and interest as well. I don't see myself having conversations about science at too many bbq's, at least not in a non-scientific audience. I wonder how many people here know about the Broad institute or care about the HapMap project. I just get the sense that science today is either formal or not at all and sheer intellectual curiosity is missing.
- neilc 18y agoDo you really think that the situation was significantly different in the past?