Being semi-retired, I sometimes look back to my decision to go into industry and my own business instead of academia. I did get pleasure out of some part-time graduate level teaching in environmental engineering/science back in the '70s (USC) when few knew anything about the environment and "in the land of the blind, the one eyed man was king" transferring information from Physics, and Chemistry to the real world.
However, listening to my academic friends over the decades with their huge fights over trivial issues made my decision sound correct. In my business, when I discovered a source of the petty conflicts, the source was removed and focus shifted to our common goal.
With the present nonsense in Academia I am even more sure that I was more productive and creative outside than would have been possible inside, even though I was spending my own money on projects of interest (far less that academic institutions in the same area).
I responded before to a related story from Prof Krauss, where I said that I’d hate to be a academic today. But, honestly, I’d hate to be a student today as well. I can’t imagine a much more miserable experience than being an academic or an enthusiastic student, only to know that you are potentially in the presence of people who only have uncharitable interpretations and intentions in mind.
One of the most joyous things about my (later) undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral experience, was to get to know the Dr’s and Prof’s as people, and for them to be able to be themselves around you. Sure, you loved some, enjoyed many, neutral about many too, and a few weren’t your cup of tea (as were the students for the faculty no doubt) but that’s just life. I highly doubt I could have had the experiences I had and the wonderful memories I have without getting to know the men and women who taught me, and eventually befriended me.
Being semi-retired, I sometimes look back to my decision to go into industry and my own business instead of academia. I did get pleasure out of some part-time graduate level teaching in environmental engineering/science back in the '70s (USC) when few knew anything about the environment and "in the land of the blind, the one eyed man was king" transferring information from Physics, and Chemistry to the real world.
However, listening to my academic friends over the decades with their huge fights over trivial issues made my decision sound correct. In my business, when I discovered a source of the petty conflicts, the source was removed and focus shifted to our common goal.
With the present nonsense in Academia I am even more sure that I was more productive and creative outside than would have been possible inside, even though I was spending my own money on projects of interest (far less that academic institutions in the same area).
I responded before to a related story from Prof Krauss, where I said that I’d hate to be a academic today. But, honestly, I’d hate to be a student today as well. I can’t imagine a much more miserable experience than being an academic or an enthusiastic student, only to know that you are potentially in the presence of people who only have uncharitable interpretations and intentions in mind.
One of the most joyous things about my (later) undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral experience, was to get to know the Dr’s and Prof’s as people, and for them to be able to be themselves around you. Sure, you loved some, enjoyed many, neutral about many too, and a few weren’t your cup of tea (as were the students for the faculty no doubt) but that’s just life. I highly doubt I could have had the experiences I had and the wonderful memories I have without getting to know the men and women who taught me, and eventually befriended me.
What a miserable, uncharitable time to live in.
Having viewed every APS video put out in the last 2 years I appreciate and I pick up the pieces you are laying down sir!
Thank you