The Real Science Gap

Posted on July 16, 2010
Filed Under Science | 4 Comments

Interesting story on the real science gap.

“It’s not insufficient schooling or a shortage of scientists. It’s a lack of job opportunities. Americans need the reasonable hope that spending their youth preparing to do science will provide a satisfactory career.”

This is completely true. The question is (honestly) whether we need more. But right now we have vastly more science students than jobs. What’s worse is a lot of very smart kids go through college being a tad unaware of the real world and just staying in academics because they can’t imagine anything else. Suddenly they are in their late 30′s, have a few post-docs under their belts and little chance of employment.

What I wish more realized is that (a) science – especially the hard sciences – is a fantastic major in college and (b) you don’t need to get a job in your major. Most people don’t get jobs in their majors. But science prepares you for more careers than I think most realize. Just consider whether living in poverty while working massive hours for an other decade is worth it. It might be. But there’s no reason you can’t study academics while working a different job. Honestly, you can do it. My own dream is to make enough money so that I can study theoretical physics on the side. (I have a few string textbooks just waiting for that moment…)

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Comments

4 Responses to “The Real Science Gap”

They should become engineers. Still a little (or a lot -it depends) of science, plus a job.

Yeah – but you have to be able to write neatly. A big problem for many scientists. (grin)

I majored in physics, but have always actually worked in software development. There are certainly plenty of people like me. To be any good at it you have to educate yourself because even a degree in computer science just scratches the surface.

However, I don’t really see the point in majoring in a pure science unless you plan to go to graduate school in a related field. I majored in physics in part because I planned to get a masters degree in electrical and/or computer engineering. If I did not intend to go to graduate school in physics or engineering, it probably would have been a much better idea to just get a four year degree in EE in the first place.

Most EE majors learn physics nearly as well as any physics major, plus a large number of real world considerations that give them a much broader background than someone with a four year science degree alone.

I don’t think most EE majors learn as much physics. Although they do get more practical workside experience. I had a roommate who switched from physics to engineering and he said his workload decreased from full evenings doing homework to doing homework first thing in the morning before class. Although he did have to become much neater and more organized. Although to be fair there were a few EE majors in my QM class (although never ones in my mechanics or mathematical methods classes).

As you say though educating oneself is key. University provides resources but if you just do what is required that’s basically the minimum level of learning.

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