I concur with the current (1996) majority opinion of sci.research.careers, from observation and personal experience, that pursuit of education in science in order to obtain well-paid employment is generally not a good idea.

However, there's another thought that's been festering in the back of my mind for awhile, and I think that now would be a good time to raise the issue.

Speaking for the U.S., where most of the people with these concerns are posting from, I am concerned that we are in danger of becoming a nation of uneducated, ignorant followers. I am also concerned that this seems to be a part of the unstated goal of some of our country's leadership.

Numerous examples exist where formerly outstanding public educational systems have been ransacked for funds, resulting in poor curriculums and students less capable of thinking. Glaring case in point: California, which up until the recent several regimes had an excellent public school system, and which now is mediocre at best (the UC campuses notwithstanding).

So, I wonder if by advocating that students NOT select the more demanding fields, we as advisors and mentors are unwittingly playing into some larger agenda, perhaps aimed at "dumbing down" the population.

Forrest Gump made it because he was lucky, not because he was stupid. Unfortunately, there are many people who seem to believe the latter. Even worse, the current crisis in science employment tends to support their view.

The nagging question is, do you advise people NOT to study demanding curricula because there probably won't be jobs, or do you advise them to do exactly that because their knowledge and abilities will be what we need in order to survive as a country/world/species?

Frank Heasley, Ph.D.
Principal
FSG Online
biotech-jobs