Comments on: Rudeness in science http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/phd-student/2009/07/03/rudeness-in-science/ This blog provides a real insight into life as a PhD student. We give advice for existing PhD students on how to get the most out of your PhD and also helpful tips for people considering doing a PhD Studentship. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:55:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Vanessa Anseloni, PsyD, PhD http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/phd-student/2009/07/03/rudeness-in-science/#comment-111 Vanessa Anseloni, PsyD, PhD Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:17:14 +0000 http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/real-life/?p=471#comment-111 In the book Advice for the Young Investigator by the Nobel Prize scientist Ramon Y Cajal. In chapter 8, he mentions about the need of Justice and Courtesy in relationships in Science. Based on Dr. Damasio’s findings in Neuroscience, we are emotional beings as well. Why should a good scientist leave his/her emotions on the back seat? This is simply ignorance about human nature. And we work more productively when we are treated with politeness. In the book Advice for the Young Investigator by the Nobel Prize scientist Ramon Y Cajal. In chapter 8, he mentions about the need of Justice and Courtesy in relationships in Science. Based on Dr. Damasio’s findings in Neuroscience, we are emotional beings as well. Why should a good scientist leave his/her emotions on the back seat? This is simply ignorance about human nature. And we work more productively when we are treated with politeness.

]]> By: Chris http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/phd-student/2009/07/03/rudeness-in-science/#comment-110 Chris Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:08:59 +0000 http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/real-life/?p=471#comment-110 As a first year PhD student I have found the overly brutal challenging at the end of presentation the most daunting thing about giving a talk. It seems to go against what I was really looking forward to in my new science career; cooperating with others in getting Nature to give up her secrets. Perhaps I have a naive understanding of cooperation. I think there are two problems. First, the competitive questioning, that is where sthe questioner is trying either to display their knowledge of the field or failing that trying to stump the speaker. Neither of these helps elucidate things. The second is rudeness, or lack of social skills. Many questioners seem to think that just because they disagree with the speaker they do not have to respect the speaker. That is just downright unpleasant and doesn't help the public image of science and scientists. I guess some of this comes from the (nearly) zero sum funding game that researchers play. We are all chasing the same money. If we can't win it by showing we are the best we may win it by implying that others are worse than us. Whereas if we all worked together we may actually get the answers. Perhaps it just comes for a passion for the truth. Still, that is no excuse for a lack of civility. Telling people they are wrong can be down without causing offence. I used to think it was bad in the private sector, but that is nothing compared to academia. I have no hope of this changing soon and now think one of the attributes I need to work in order to pursue my academic career is a thicker skin. As a first year PhD student I have found the overly brutal challenging at the end of presentation the most daunting thing about giving a talk. It seems to go against what I was really looking forward to in my new science career; cooperating with others in getting Nature to give up her secrets. Perhaps I have a naive understanding of cooperation.

I think there are two problems. First, the competitive questioning, that is where sthe questioner is trying either to display their knowledge of the field or failing that trying to stump the speaker. Neither of these helps elucidate things.

The second is rudeness, or lack of social skills. Many questioners seem to think that just because they disagree with the speaker they do not have to respect the speaker. That is just downright unpleasant and doesn’t help the public image of science and scientists.

I guess some of this comes from the (nearly) zero sum funding game that researchers play. We are all chasing the same money. If we can’t win it by showing we are the best we may win it by implying that others are worse than us. Whereas if we all worked together we may actually get the answers.

Perhaps it just comes for a passion for the truth. Still, that is no excuse for a lack of civility. Telling people they are wrong can be down without causing offence.

I used to think it was bad in the private sector, but that is nothing compared to academia. I have no hope of this changing soon and now think one of the attributes I need to work in order to pursue my academic career is a thicker skin.

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