Commercialization of academia in the name of science

[Kavalan]

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/88/8850gov2.html

The link above is to a set of editorials from professors about the shift from intangible metrics to the dollars raised by a professor as a means of determining a good professor from the bad. I'll weigh in later, but thoughts on the article?

 

[IndigoSensor]

To me it almost seems like these people are arguing a moot point of sorts, or are over-arguing the details of something. To me I agree with the main person who wrote the article, in that we shouldn't be gearing everything towards a commertialized capitalized acedemic world. You know that I detest business, finance, corperation, etc. I want nothing to do with it, and I would much rather pay someone to do it for me. Because of that I am almost not concerned with this, but at the same time I am. I don't like the idea of capitalization of universitys because I do agree it stifles creative thought as there is a required end-game.

I actually saw our research advisor sort of get goaded into this, and it made me feel quite sad. Right before I left he mentioned, as he introduced me to a new undergrad, "she is going to be doing research in metabolimics for us". And I look at him and say "...but we don't do metabolimics?" He laughed, and I honestly thought he was joking because I know Trevor does not like biochemistry. He was serious though (it's a joint effort with the Dratz group apparently). He didn't say but he seemed rather melencholy about it. To me it said that he's just doing this because of the money. He can't afford to keep doing NIH grants without giving back some sort of product. Which is really truly sad to me.

It is a bit concerning because as you know I am a very curious "what happens if I do THIS" kind of person. That doesn't exactly fly with research money and it is getting further and further from that. I personally don't know what I am going to do with this matter. All I know is I have faith that, at least for me, it will work out in the end and to just keep going forward, and cross the bridge when I come to it.

 

[Gaze]

Not just in science, but the academy is losing its value everywhere in a variety of fields as a true intellectual enterprise since more emphasis is placed on practical purposes of knowledge general; information which can be directed into saleable or marketable products or services. So, critical engagement is not encouraged as strongly, simply production of knowledge which is commerce ready. Look at the job market. The fastest growing professions are in healthcare. And quite of few entering the field are entering the field for money only, for an income, so at the private college level especially, more emphasis is placed less on research and expertise than how to be ready for the job market, not to further knowledge in the field of science, etc. Sad state of affairs because i love academia, and faculty today are under numerous constraints - contradictory imperatives - teaching, research, publishing, grant writing, etc. just to maintain their position in the profession. Not easy.

 

[Faye]

Every student and professor of the natural sciences who has spoken poorly of the humanities deserves all of this and then some. It is entirely their fault (the universities) if they let themselves become overly dependent on government funding and research grants, and I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

I do feel bad for the professors who would rather enjoy teaching and be a good teacher but cannot because of this process, but from what I have heard, the perception tends to be that if you instead choose the teaching route and neglect research/teaching at big universities that you have failed. That certainly is not universal, but perception seems to be skewed in favor of those who value getting money and producing practical results as opposed to those who are more strictly academic and interested in developing the students.