Not so. Aaron continues to make the point that all of academia is corrupt and headed in the wrong direction based on his own troubling experience. This broad stroke approach gets the debate going, largely because it has a personal attack on all, regardless of whether guilty or innocent of the charges that all academic mentors have taken advantage of graduate students. I find this to be a gross oversight by Aaron and would prefer that he present a more balanced argument and acknowledge that there are good, trustworthy, and Œdecent¹ mentors in academia that have genuine concern for students. To not do so brings into question his entire argument and credibility at any level.
Steve On 5/28/15, 1:47 PM, "Jonathan Colburn" <[email protected]> wrote: >Aaron's response does not extend past conversations being had on this >listserv regarding the predatory nature of "the sciences" upon graduate >students, postdocs, tenure-seeking professors, and end-of-career tenured >professors. While Aaron clearly generalizes, his is a practical warning >about the dangers of being naive, and the listserv has openly discussed so >many of these issues over the past few years: > >- There are many scientists on the lower levels who are being taken >advantage of as cheap labor while not having legitimate opportunities to >enter their chosen career. > >- There is not much funding to match the needs of as many of the >scientists >as in the past. > >- Career prospects are delayed, and are fewer than in the past. > >- A very large percent of graduate students are not exercising enough >brilliance to be relevant in academia. > >To have such discussions commonly on the listserv, then act towards Ms. >Mydlowski as if Aaron's note is unusual is indicative of ignorance, or >worse, intentionally misleading. Shouldn't we regularly inform incoming >graduate students of the systemic issues in STEM fields - the ones that >we're all talking about here on the ecology listserv, alongside offering >them guidance on how to navigate the system? It's fine to call Aaron on >his one-sided evaluation. However, he is reframing the debate on whether >choosing a career involving higher academia is something that a person who >values themself would do, and on what terms one can have the best chance >at >a fulfilling career. > >Best, >Jon > >Jonathan Colburn, M.Sc. | 352.328.7610 >Founder and CEO, Nyssa Ecological, Inc. | nyssaecological.com >ISA arborist, certificate no. FL-6572A >On May 27, 2015 2:41 PM, "Emily Mydlowski" <[email protected]> >wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I'm delving into the graduate school search (MS and PhD programs) quite >> heavily and am seeking advice regarding approaching faculty with a >>research >> project. The system I'm interested in working on is that which has many >> unanswered, interesting questions I would love to pursue. From a faculty >> perspective, is proposing a project topic (too) bold of a move to a >> potential advisor? >> >> Any advice would be much appreciated. >> >> All the best, >> >> Emily Mydlowski >> Northern Michigan University >>
