« Joe Stiglitz watch | Main | Oral Sex »
What makes individuals take up science?
In a nutshell, mentors:
The most common response to the question ‘What inspired you to take up science?’ - given by respondents including Dr Colin Berry, Peter Cochrane, Jorge Mayer, Simon Singh and Christopher Llewellyn Smith - is that they were inspired by teachers or mentors. Typical of such reponses are Alom Shaha’s description of ‘gifted teachers, whose enthusiasm for their subjects was relentless and infectious’, and Michael Wilson’s account of ‘inspirational and rigorous teachers in high school, who engendered an insatiable intellectual hunger for factual knowledge, and who encouraged observation and deductive thinking’.
Survey respondents often point to one or two particular individuals who made a lasting impact. Josef Penninger, for instance, was inspired by ‘a great mentor and teacher’, and argues that ‘most of us became what we became because of one dominating person, who moved us into a certain direction’. Frances Downey, James Enstrom, Pat Norris, John Zarnecki and Anton Zeilinger describe inspirational mathematics and physics teachers, Thomas Addiscott and Eliot Forster discuss inspirational chemistry teachers, and Kenneth Freeman had ‘a very capable and very overworked teacher’ who taught him mathematics, physics and chemistry. Meanwhile, Professor Sir Colin Berry, Keith Davies and William Ledger found inspiration in their biology teachers.
Here is much more, via www.politicaltheory.info. Here is the answer of Sophie Petit-Zeman: falling in love with the teacher.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on September 2, 2006 at 07:58 AM in Science | Permalink
Comments
you may be find an impressive list of people like Gauss and Einstien who do not seem to be inspired by any teacher or people like Galois and Hermite for whom teachers were a negative influence. i would think that curiosity and inner urge may be important in many cases and some learn and achieve in spite of teachers.
Posted by: gaddeswarup at Sep 2, 2006 9:42:20 AM
I don't believe it, its seems to me to be just a selection effect. Would we get the same response if we ask about any other profession? If it’s just a teacher or a lecturer, did a disproportionate number of students turn into scientists? I am sure “mentors” are usually necessary for proper scientific development at the PhD level, especially to become a professor or equivalent. To be pithy, in science, solved problems are easy (that’s why they are solved) and unsolved problems are hard (that’s why they unsolved). Having a mentor helps immensely in picking the right unsolved problem to work on.
Posted by: ben at Sep 2, 2006 9:47:00 AM
true for me. tyler taught me undergrad intermediate micro. now i am a professor of economics.
Posted by: jeff at Sep 2, 2006 10:24:31 AM
Most science majors enter college with the intention of majoring in science. I know people who changed their major from physics to history or economics but none who left history or economics for physics. At best you could say, being inspired by a teacher keeps people in science.
Posted by: joan at Sep 2, 2006 11:45:35 AM
I'd tend to agree with Joan. I've been good at math (and so science too) since I was a kid. There are things that can knock you off the track, like deciding you want a clearer career path, better pay earlier, more societal impact, easier relationships, more fun in college, etc. The mentor response is a cliche thing (on par with wanting to "help people" applying to med school), but hey, what do I know? I'm a physicist because it solves my existential angst.
Posted by: Chi at Sep 2, 2006 1:14:01 PM
None of the links to people in the above article work, you have to go to the original website instead.
I would like to point out I know more than a couple of scientists who started out doing something else in college. I think that this is discipline dependent as the barriers to entry in some fields, especially physics, are much higher than others.
Posted by: Brad Holden at Sep 2, 2006 2:59:08 PM
This might be the case for profs who stay in academia, but I don't think it's true in general. I'm currently an undergrad entering my senior year at the California Institute of Technology, and it really seems like most of the people I know here (including myself) study science because we're fundamentally poorly adjusted, lack decent social skills, and probably are psychologically damaged due to these things; basically because we're so broken that we can't really do anything else.
Posted by: Jimmy Jia at Sep 2, 2006 5:34:07 PM
I too think (ok I know) curiosity and inner urge are more important in many cases. Mentorship may well have some importance though when it comes to completing the process and becoming an academic (like convincing you academics is worth putting up with in the first place).
Posted by: Lord at Sep 2, 2006 5:41:52 PM
I am studying for an economics PhD due to Russ Roberts, but he "merely" opened my eyes to the way I already thought. It seems that people may take up a trade for a number of reasons...
Posted by: David Zetland at Sep 2, 2006 7:30:57 PM
I began to study physics because of a great teacher. Then I realized it was not right for me. Damn meddling mentors!
The highschool Economics, however, did little to advance the profession.
Posted by: c&d at Sep 2, 2006 8:06:11 PM
People always ask how they can increase interest in science. They don't have to. All they have to do is drive fewer away from it.
Posted by: Lord at Sep 3, 2006 1:43:46 PM
Where's the pithy economic analysis of incentives? Let's suppose you're a
kid for whom science comes easily, while it's hard for others. If the
school system rewards performance in proportion to the number of kids
who can't achieve it, then you find yourself in
a unique situation where it's cheap for you to provide something that
others (teachers, parents) value. Isn't this comparative advantage, or
something like that? In my particular case, there are a lot of little
accidents that happened along the way (like meeting several
lawyers and judges who did not recommend a legal career). But,
if there is a generalization
to be had, it's that throughout my education, from my first science class
to the end of my PhD, there was a strong implicit and explicit reward
system for those who could do science, and I could always obtain those
rewards without too much effort. Of course, in the professional world,
the tangible rewards are fewer, the tasks much harder, and the bits
of success much, much more satisfying. Internal drive is important,
but I suspect the ubiquitous incentive system does a lot of the steering.
Posted by: Paul O at Sep 4, 2006 2:17:09 PM
I have to mention to Joan's comment above that I got my undergrad in Religion and ended up with grad degrees in math and statistics and am doing my PhD in cognitive science. So it is possible to change the other way. (And I know a substantial number of people who changed in the same direction! I am not the only one.)
Overall I don't think that mentors hurt, but they are not the only way. Not necessary but in some cases sufficient. :-)
Posted by: Allogenes at Sep 5, 2006 5:26:21 AM
On the margin, I think that the successful scientists had mentors. Those lacking in mentors did not succeed, and did not get polled. Without a mentor, someone more emotionally or intellectually sparking than simply a graduate advisor, it's virtually impossible to finish a phd. Mentors do more than teach how to find an interesting but solveable problem. They teach how to survive the dark moments when the solution is far away.
Posted by: greifer at Sep 6, 2006 1:12:00 AM
Do we really need more scientists? This sounds like the usual lead-in to a pitch for the desperate shortage of scientists looming just over the horizon, as it has for the last 40+ years. Engineers and programmers I can see, but not scientists. There are enough underemployed ones already. Further, there is very little difference in the quality of most who do complete Ph.D.s and those who stop with a B.Sc. or Masters, making it easy to generate more scientists by simply letting more into grad school. I just do not see there is a reason to encourage more to go this way. Many companies will promote experienced people with a lesser degree and work experience to higher levels.
The argument for the role of mentors has always struck as me as specious. The people making the argument, and espousing their own wonderful mentor, come across as people who would find a way to create the appropriate story to fit the socially correct model, regardless of what had actually happened to them. If they are overrepresented in the ranks of academics it is more a reflection of the personality that would create such a socially approriate stroy rather than any role played by a mentor. At least, that is my perception, but I never found anyone to play the role or felt any great desire for a mentor. The lack of a mentor did not hinder my development as a scientist, although it may have impeded by career path, particularly because of the offbeat topics I chose to work on.
Posted by: am at Sep 6, 2006 12:52:11 PM
I am one of a number of people enticed into academic life by the example of Paul Heyne, a long time lecturer at hte University of Washington and also author of the fine introductory textbook entitled "The Economic Way of Thinking". It was not so much his lectures that drew me in, but how much fun he was having. He once got in trouble with some o fhis department colleagues for refusing to sign a petition in favor of higher salaries for professors at Washington on the grounds that he would happily have done what he was doing for a small fraction of what he was paid. He was right - I would too - but don't tell my chair!
Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Smith at Sep 7, 2006 6:46:09 PM
I had sex last night, it was ok I guess
Posted by: Michael at Sep 8, 2006 8:58:49 AM
perverssi sinivalas sukupuoli ^^^ kjolig skolepike lorten ^^^ vidunderlig tenaring puling ^^^ genegenheid babes kont ^^^ leuk schoolmeisje dubbel penetrerend ^^^ oreotero lesvia pipa ^^^ oyranios souideza mouni ^^^ bruut foto ^^^ heter liefste spaans ^^^ comfortable fighetta sesso ^^^ pretty fighetta fotti ^^^ extravagant femme baise en groupe ^^^ sympathique serveuse double chatte ^^^ fuoriclasse fighetta masturbate ^^^ fine amatoriali prostituta ^^^ un trio de folie ^^^ va te faire foutre quarante ^^^ kylmempi nakymaton naimaton ^^^ kuumin uskalias aiska ^^^ blonde striptease op de trap ^^^ warmer lesbisch verdomme ^^^ folelse sykepleier dobbel rompepuling ^^^ skolepike sekretaer ejakulasjon ^^^ i hjemmet stokke ^^^ sjuskete filmrull ^^^ mest omskjart fillesak ^^^ anselig ubetydelig ^^^
Posted by: levan at Sep 12, 2006 4:18:36 AM
8fach stromkabel PP hotel rom italien PP kooperationen buch PP geometrisch puzzle PP earl grey tee PP arbeitsplatte walnuss PP sonnenmilch haltbarkeit PP betagalen creme PP digital foto ausdruck PP liegen antik PP wach detektei PP abdeckplane vespa PP hotel erika suedtirol PP pflege lupe PP brasilianerin korsett PP uebernachtung willingen PP play station nordschleife PP herr minislip PP bauvorschriften gartenhaus PP rechtsanwalt schilling bonn PP sizilien kultur PP umsatzsteuer spielbank PP paul cezanne PP tranchiermessern PP laufen kind PP bastelanleitung marienkaefer PP maul hundezubehoer PP moskau reporter PP spitzer winkel PP hausarbeit strafrecht PP vergleich online baufinanzierung PP geruest system PP dvd laufwerk aufbau PP toms kugellager PP medikament online evra PP uv lichthaertungsgeraet PP aluminium gartentisch PP wmf haushaltswaren PP ultima standleuchte PP binaries warez ibm pc 0 PP stabil system PP reise land suedamerika PP laufen sanitar PP calvin klein summer PP russisch hochzeit PP grundlagen der wirtschaftsinformatik PP branche duesseldorf PP storck immobilie pirmasens PP rieker schuhe PP gardine dortmund PP harry potter schauspieler PP whirlpool part PP ortmann reifen PP dachziegel versiegelung PP vegetarisches katzenfutter PP internet marketing center PP stadtplan genf PP antialiasing filter PP antennen PP pflege schildkroete PP schwalbe vertreiben PP muenchen attentat PP wirtschaftsrecht deutschland PP flirt sprueche PP impressa z5 jura PP ferienwohnung bodensee oberreithnau PP damenhuete PP umzug mieter PP lehrstelle quedlinburg PP toyota zubehoer PP barebone multimedia PP fischer PP cebit crm PP las vegas nevada PP slot adapter PP instant cd dvd PP erfinder von coca cola PP vertrieb schnittholz PP optimieren suchmaschinenoptimierung PP geschichte hastings PP waschmaschine seg PP nahrungsergaenzung mineral PP netzteil at PP ipod konverter PP kiwi pflanzen PP weltmeisterschaft tippen PP thermometer fahrenheit PP rauchen sport PP motiv schablone PP all for one fernbedienung PP navigation vw PP the lost world PP kyrillisch uebersetzung PP security kleidung PP die wissenschaft vom PP lieder herunterladen PP finanzierung gunstig PP agb recht PP babyzimmer komplett PP argentinien urlaub PP fussball geschichte PP mitsubishi eclipse tuning PP harburger computer PP urlaub mallorca ferienwohnung PP
Posted by: bruce at Oct 13, 2006 9:29:40 AM
yamaha golf cart $ sex giovane azione $ famoso gamba $ mutuo 100 copertura $ rubber stamp $ lunghi video sex di sesso con donne mature $ sentimentale giovane merda $ dir webring comrw d hobbies $ bollente sconfinato dolore $ stivali molto sexy $ orale gratuito $ sfondi apple $ ballo del qua qua $ derisive cameriera orale fotti $ hotel cappuccino amalfi $ osare agente di polizia dildo $ bollente grazioso perle $ masturbsex sex cavalli $ atlanta apartment $ farcical giovane figa fotti $ motore ricerca indicizzazione $ culi di donne $ bambine che succhiano il cazzo $ prittiest amatoriali sesso $ yoga bologna $ leccate di cazzo $ albergo cagliari provincia $ fresco bionde dildo $ di mezzo tv $ troie pelose $ prestito limone piemonte $ sofa set $ osare cowgirl strip $ foto hard di vecchie $ macchina utensile $ di vita reale $ piesex e masturbsex $ foto pisciate all aperto di donne e uomini $ finanziamento fotovoltaico $ calcola ammortamento mutuo $ radiosveglia cd $ piu bollente fighetta doppio penetrazione $ music business $ mutansexne lesbiche $ offerta weekend sardegna $ pornoteca $ vacanza lituania $ bollente grazioso perle $ bollente giovane sex $ mediocre spogliandosi $ in anticamera porno star $ beauty lesbiche doppio penetrazione $ privati annuncio immobile $ apparecchio immagini $ produzione poltroncina $ stravagante faccia $ scheda lan wireless $ caldissimo sensazione figlia $ fair fighetta prostituta $ foto freddo $ medio studentessa $ roma introduzione $ capo giovane pompino $ traghetto isola elba $ vecchie porno $ giapponesi galleria $ stripteas $ bramare segretaria pompino $ giovane rosse $ derisive ragazze orale fotti $ dolomiti itinerario $ area network storage $ spaventoso papy $ nikon f 5 $ segretaria inculate nella stanza $ assicurazione moto internet $ alpha lipoic acid $ cerpen $ foto sex fesse $ attraente sextiche sex $ friendly asiatiche spogliarello $ prefabbricato bagni $ emporio armani occhiali $ rodi garganico albergo $ sexscreto giovane ubriache $
Posted by: borys at Oct 17, 2006 11:55:09 AM
donne negre culturiste suore a pecorina immagini di vaginewindef pisciate erotiche sculacciate annuncio le donne spogliate bellucci pompinara video pompino moglie codardo pulcino merda piacente teen strip accompagnatrici culturiste squirting amatoriale tettone culone grassone donne sborrare videos de osotes candice michelle nuda himen webcamsex gratis fiotti ilary duff nuda
Posted by: Gko at Dec 3, 2006 5:45:42 PM
leccapiedi foto sfondate anali vecchi nudi basso capricciose professoresse segretarie pornoannunci gratis pomp donne asiatiche torino parodi nuda bele fige
Posted by: Gko at Dec 22, 2006 11:06:41 AM
