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AskYC: a wannabe scientist... that dropped out years ago
So, I dropped out university years ago, and I did my successful career in software nevertheless, just as many others. I feel ok (or even somewhat glad) regarding what I did in the software world.
However, since a kid, I loved science, and recently I realized that it seems you can't do serious science from outside the academia. It's ok to drop out if you want to do great software, but if you want to do great science it's suicidal. So I feel like I did a very serious mistake in the past, and that maybe it's very late to fix it (and yes it makes me very sad).
Does anybody else feel like that too? Can you do your share of serious science, even as a hobby, if you don't have a degree and you are outside of academia? Maybe applied science (technology) isn't so restrict regarding titles and academia, so that's probably a solution for this. But in science, I think if you don't have a degree and you try doing something, you are most probably seen as a crank.
Sorry but for some personal reasons I need to stay anonymous.
- robg 18y agoIt depends on the science. There are plenty of amateur astronomers, geologists, anthropologists, and even some types of biologists and physicists. It also depends on what you want as an outcome. If you want to discover things, then you can do science. However, if you want to publish in order to counter prevailing theories, your road is going to be much tougher without some establishment credentials. If you think serious == published, there are ways to get back in the formal game without a degree but with technical expertise. For instance, across the science landscape, technical specialists are valued as research assistants and there are jobs or internships to be had. It just depends on finding a good match of your skills and interests with a lab that fits and has specific needs. My advice is to follow your interests, find researchers working in that terrain, then contact those that are physically and intellectually closest to you. Think about what you can offer, even if it's as simple as helping to automate their processes. It might take a while to find a good match, but there's a place for you.
- dpout 18y agoThanks!
- knieveltech 18y agoAcademia is functionally no different than a Mafia protection racket, and about as morally defensible. To use a cliche example Einstein did arguably some of his best work while working as a patent clerk. Simply put if you are conversant with the scientific method and have something you wish to do research on, provided you have access to the tools and materials necessary to perform said research, have at.