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Bay Area is the intellectual capital of the world Say what? Switzerland (or possibly Slovenia) has the highest STEM PhDs per capita. There are many counties

Bay Area is the intellectual capital of the world Say what? Switzerland (or possibly Slovenia) has the highest STEM PhDs per capita. There are many counties and cities in the US with higher PhD rates than any of the Bay Area counties. Most have major R1 unis, but not all. SV is the VC capital of the world. I'll give you that. But, that's not even remotely the same as being the intellectual capital.

cowpig 4y ago
I agree about as much with the idea that the Bay Area is the intellectual capital of the world as I do with the idea that "STEM PhDs per capita" is somehow a measure of intellect.
- alistairSH 4y ago
  Sure. That was just a simple metric that popped into my head as a counterpoint to the absurd notion that SV is the intellectual capital of anything.
bumby 4y ago
Hell, pockets of New Mexico have a higher number of PhDs per capita. The idea that SV is the intellectual center of the universe makes it sound like someone has been inside the bubble too long. (And that’s not a knock on NM. I being it up as an example of an area that isn’t rarely bright up in these conversational circles)
- 8note 4y ago
  Do phds make intellectual capital? I'd assume the intellectual capital makes the most intellectual property
  - bumby 4y ago
    That assumption shows a very SV-centric mindset. Intellectual property is largely an legal economic construct. The PhDs in places like Los Alamos generally work more on classified projects. Your point is like saying the NSA must not have many smart people working there because they have no patents. Intellectual capital can create societal value being just dollars and cents.
danielmarkbruce 4y ago
For any city making the claim, there would be someone claiming it ridiculous. There aren't many places where very smart people from all over the world move. New York is one, London used to be one, Bay Area is one. There are a lot of smart people in the bay area.

cowpig 4y ago

I agree about as much with the idea that the Bay Area is the intellectual capital of the world as I do with the idea that "STEM PhDs per capita" is somehow a measure of intellect.

alistairSH 4y ago
Sure. That was just a simple metric that popped into my head as a counterpoint to the absurd notion that SV is the intellectual capital of anything.

bumby 4y ago

Hell, pockets of New Mexico have a higher number of PhDs per capita. The idea that SV is the intellectual center of the universe makes it sound like someone has been inside the bubble too long. (And that’s not a knock on NM. I being it up as an example of an area that isn’t rarely bright up in these conversational circles)

8note 4y ago
Do phds make intellectual capital? I'd assume the intellectual capital makes the most intellectual property
- bumby 4y ago
  That assumption shows a very SV-centric mindset. Intellectual property is largely an legal economic construct. The PhDs in places like Los Alamos generally work more on classified projects. Your point is like saying the NSA must not have many smart people working there because they have no patents. Intellectual capital can create societal value being just dollars and cents.

danielmarkbruce 4y ago

For any city making the claim, there would be someone claiming it ridiculous. There aren't many places where very smart people from all over the world move. New York is one, London used to be one, Bay Area is one. There are a lot of smart people in the bay area.