4 ms·
Higgs, who hypothesized the Higgs boson back in the 70s, has only published 2-3 papers in the decades since. Before it was announced that he won the Nobel prize
by ctchocula 4y ago
Higgs, who hypothesized the Higgs boson back in the 70s, has only published 2-3 papers in the decades since. Before it was announced that he won the Nobel prize, his University was deciding between forcing him out or gambling on him potentially winning the Nobel prize which would bring more reknown to the department. He has commented recently saying if he were a young, freshly minted PhD today he would not have gotten tenure with his publication record. That seems insane to me and a bitter critique of today's incentive structures created by the funding system we have that rewards incremental work over real breakthroughs.
- goodcanadian 4y agoThis reminds me of a comment from an academic nearing retirement that I heard second-hand. It was something to the effect that applicants for Assistant Professor (or Lecturer) positions have CVs that are as good as or better than what applications for tenure looked like 20-30 years ago.