After finishing my PhD I went to a university-led session on ‘What Comes Next.’ What I heard sounded a lot like “now, you beg for money.” It was so depressing to think about all the very clever people in that room who had worked so very hard only to find out they had no financial security and would be spending most of their days asking for money. I realized that even what I thought of as the ‘safe path’ was uncertain so I may as well go after what I truly want. That led me here.

@davidj4266

21 күн бұрын

This. This I had to see for myself - the money begging approach, the insecure job of 2 or 3 years and then beg for more. I was disheartened with this also. Having a family and the need to be secure, I took my PhD into industry rather than academia. Unfortunately, I didn’t get paid for that extra achievement and feel like I’ve never fully reached my potential. All because I couldn’t get the proper assurance behind the question of, ‘and then what?’. However, getting a PhD is enjoyable and certainly fulfilling. But be prepared to do something different afterwards.

@WhoCares-zn8gp

21 күн бұрын

Couldn’t agree more here. I feel somewhat fortunate to have shifted my perspective in pursuing my physics PhD program as a time to learn, have fun, and then move to industry. It’s rather disheartening watching hardworking people pursue the academic dream, while making all kind of sacrifices (both personal and those related to academic politics), just to aim for a position that may or may not work out.

@jamskinner

21 күн бұрын

Find a job in applying your knowledge.

@fruz1378

21 күн бұрын

@vishwanathhalkeri9839

21 күн бұрын

I just finished middle school and wanted to be a physicist, now I'm rethinking my dreams

Hearing your story reminded me of that Franz Kafka quote: “I was ashamed of myself when I realized that life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.” I am glad you stood your ground after all. We need more people like you, and not just in Academia.

@jessemalone8083

18 күн бұрын

Excellent quote.

@TymexComputing

18 күн бұрын

At the Time of Franz Kafka There were yet no socialist Euroland countries promoting some bulshit agenda , but it was starting at that time. Global democracy is a scam.

@Dennis-zk4bn

18 күн бұрын

Except that anyone with integrity leaves academia because it is a rotten swamp in which only shrewed and greedy people thrive... The higher up you get in the organization, the less integrity they have. Especially in the highly prestigious institutions. The corruption and self-interest is rife and little to no meaningful science is done anymore, so anyone with integrity leaves. Scientific discovery has almost completed stopped in regards to large discoveries because research there isn't profitable...

@networknomad5600

18 күн бұрын

There's no good reason to wear a mask and lose your integrity. You can use your actual self, you just need to know your boundaries and have actual confidence.

@thebearded4427

18 күн бұрын

Any business or undertaking these days is a emotional marathon, and anyone who puts their real self on the starting line will lose the emotionally draining commitment. Kinda the whole reason emotionally dettached people are more successful and why it seems like no one cares in business meetings.

"The moment you put people into big institutions, the goal shifts from knowledge discovery to money-making" is the key quote of this video.

@Frank-ej8hd

8 күн бұрын

No, the goal shifts to "sustain the institution (aka bureaucracy)".

@jmanwild87

7 күн бұрын

@@Frank-ej8hd which mostly involves making money to be fair

@JediYutu

6 күн бұрын

Uh Sabine, pensions and health benefits, are very important to "normal" American working ppl too. 😂

@kingofsiamgt

5 күн бұрын

I disagree, everything on earth is about making money in some form, so this statement is quite anodyne. There is something else going on in academia besides greed - proof is that everyone who works there is poor.

@leahsander5490

5 күн бұрын

- Sabine "Capitalism is good, actually" Hossenfelder. One more example of why natural scientists would be well served to occasionally listen to a social scientist.

Sabine, a brilliant summary of a common PhD experience. Much like my own. Thank you for pulling back the curtain.

@vincentzevecke4578

2 күн бұрын

Sabine, she is damn right

@JupiterThunder

Күн бұрын

I did a PhD. The main finding of the work was that PhDs are a waste of time (which wasn't actually a new finding).

The real tragedy is that you almost didn't post this video. People NEED to know what kind of world we live in. This was more valuable than 99% of commencement speeches.

@seraphinclaire4297

18 күн бұрын

I am the 422nd person that liked your post.

@skippy6086

18 күн бұрын

I gave up physics to become an electrician. ZERO REGRETS. 👍

@mutantmagnet

18 күн бұрын

This has always bothered me when I heard about people with masters degree doing work vastly different from what they worked so hard for and I was left wondering most of the time, how is this happening. This was very illuminating and I'm seething.

@estherstepansky5256

18 күн бұрын

@@skippy6086 I need an electrician frequently which is why I became one too. I have never needed a physicist and one reason I opted not to study it in college despite it being fascinating.

@MrCesarification

18 күн бұрын

No offense, but she did a video on why capitalism is awesome not long ago. Many of us have been saying this for years. This is not news to LOTS of people.

Your willingness to call 'bullshit' by its name is one of the reasons I watch your channel. Hats off, carry on!

@paintspot1509

24 күн бұрын

Its a good way to make money.

@Elo-hv3fw

24 күн бұрын

@@paintspot1509 it's an excellent way to be truthful..

@Celeste-in-Oz

23 күн бұрын

Agree. My PhD was made that much harder by the need to sift thru 100’s of bullshit papers (pointless, poor quality and written simply to fish for citations) that Sabine calling it, is very satisfying!

@enemdisk6628

23 күн бұрын

This

@Elo-hv3fw

23 күн бұрын

@@enemdisk6628 BS is a name. Welcome to am. Engl

I didn't expect to hear "my" story being told by someone else on youtube! Thank you for being so brave!

This is what turned my away from astronomy as a late teen. In the past few years, I was questioning that decision, but you've confirmed that I made the right one.

@realdragon

16 сағат бұрын

Well I didn't turned away from astronomy

As a grad student, I had a professor plagiarize an entire term paper of mine which he used as a chapter in his book. My complaint to him and the department fell on deaf ears. I was told that my worked belonged to the professor because all grad work belonged to the professor who taught me. What a bunch of garbage.

@Greengeist05

13 күн бұрын

Holy Sh!t… does this mean that plagiarism is a feature and not a bug of the academic landscape?!?!🤬😳

@freshmanenglishhelp

13 күн бұрын

Did you get any credit/mention in References as a contributing graduate student?

@AnotherEmi

12 күн бұрын

That's absolutely crazy! Surely that would be illegal??

@taylermontgomery2004

12 күн бұрын

My University (as most in America) expels fraudulent plagiarists, but I've never heard of professors being fired for the same reason. Do you have a link to your original publication online for us to compare his book to?

@B76SkyWarrior

12 күн бұрын

@@freshmanenglishhelp None at all

Thank you for sharing Sabine, we love you!

@martacollell

24 күн бұрын

Yeah!! we do! ;))

@jrodgers33

24 күн бұрын

My thoughts exactly!!

@arnoutsmit8951

24 күн бұрын

Me too ❤

@user-oi5nu2nn7p

24 күн бұрын

Thank you Sabine! You are a great educator and human being.

@memegazer

24 күн бұрын

I want to push back that it's not token capitualation that results in the glass ceiling for women. And programs that require diversity and representation do not reenforce outdated world views, but I respect feeling frustrated that they are not a comprohensive solution either. I refuse to take away the victories of civil rights champions of the past that forced the hand for those capitulations, even if there is still more work left to do.

Sabine, thank you for being on KZread. Sheila Mink in New Mexico

You are my hero, Sabine! I used to criticize you making vblogs that are not physics related. However, after your explanation in this video, I am absolutely OK with whatever topic you want to cover from now on. You are a true scientist. 👍👍👍

Dear Sabine, No, you have not failed. That you're not doing the "bs" scientific works doesn't mean that your dream of becoming a scientist failed. You're one of the best scientific minds, and your contribution to the field shouldn't be underestimated. You succeeded. Your dream is being materialized in a bit unique but beautiful way.

@SabineHossenfelder

24 күн бұрын

Thanks for the kind words, really appreciate that. It makes it all worthwhile. ❤️

@GenXCoder

24 күн бұрын

Yes Sabine, please keep challenging the status quo and hopefully we will return to caring about true scientific inquiry and not how to milk grant money to stuff institution's pockets.

@djbabbotstown

24 күн бұрын

I hope you’re making some of them youtube bucks at least Sabine. Keep em coming.

@dinninfreeman2014

24 күн бұрын

​@@SabineHossenfelderit sounds to me that the academics failed you

@paulmichaelfreedman8334

24 күн бұрын

the greedy swines get their claws into everything, they don't care about what goes on, they are just there for the $$$. And as usual, literally everything and everyone else suffers.

"He got angry, and I laughed at him..." I love it.

@lukewest4691

22 күн бұрын

❤

@SF-fb6lv

22 күн бұрын

My respect for you hit a new high when I heard you say that!

@josephjanitorius797

22 күн бұрын

My admiration for Sabine shot up 10-fold when she said that (and it was already very high)! I wish more people had her guts.

@luizamaralphd

21 күн бұрын

Probably the most german part of this video. Loved it.

@Pcarnevaaa

21 күн бұрын

Literally iconic

Just wanted to say posting this video was the right thing to do. Thanks for sharing something so personal but so relevant in today’s discussion about academia.

She is absolutely spot on. And kudos for putting your kids first. We need more Sabines.

My dad was a scientist, and I watched his constant struggle with politics and funding. He had a stress-related heart attack at 50; he survived it, but was never the same afterwards.

@womenwelove

19 күн бұрын

it's sad that happened to your dad

@northe4158

18 күн бұрын

I'm sorry to hear that my friend.

@asia1174

18 күн бұрын

“Was”, did he retire or quit? And I’m sorry your dad was out through that kind of stress..

@margarethamaartje3716

18 күн бұрын

That is so sad! Im so sorry for your dad

@binbows2258

18 күн бұрын

@@margarethamaartje3716 perhaps he died.

A bit too much? Perhaps the best video of the year. Thank you for being you, Sabine. - Sacramento, USA

@lucassiccardi8764

24 күн бұрын

Best video in the channel, IMO.

@eclectictech

24 күн бұрын

Bringing the issues to light is one small step towards the possibility of changing them in the future.

@legbert123

24 күн бұрын

She has been promoting this channel for years dont listen to the narrative she is pushing. She has been ALL about being a youtuber for years now for sure her work has dropped off look at the amount of time she puts in this channel!

@legbert123

24 күн бұрын

you sweet summer child@@eclectictech

@legbert123

24 күн бұрын

A bit too much? this is the worst example of a video this year. Sabine has been pushing this channel at the expense if actual research for years now any science realeated issue on this channel is fraught with innaccurate information and borderline lies.

Me and my friend (both phd students) were talking about why we are so unhappy about the academia Pretty much what you are saying word to word. Man it is good to hear that we are not alone

As a former PhD candidate now currently working in industry, this really resonates with me so much. Thank you for being so open and honest about your experience. There is a rewarding, worthwhile life to experience beyond academia.

That's exactly why I never went back to academia after my master's. It was all about what to do to get that extra grant. Everyone (including myself) was writing bullshit to get grants. I used to want to become a scientist since I was a child. The reality killed that dream for me too... I totally get it.

@Joker22593

24 күн бұрын

Same here. Publishing has so much metagaming, that it's not producing good work. My thesis adviser told me to split my paper up into 3-5 papers, publish them separately and have them all cite each other to inflate my impact numbers. I knew academia was bullshit as soon as that was suggested.

@SabineHossenfelder

24 күн бұрын

You did the right thing.

@irifhir

24 күн бұрын

The institutions are failing, and in order to save the scientific knowledge to go down with it, we need people teaching straight to the public, and not only the raw science, but all the epistemological nuances around it. You are a brave and inspiring person! Thanks ❤

@bootstraphan6204

24 күн бұрын

When the questions you want to find answers to (buy doing science) collide with "will said answers make line go up?" Will your quest to unlock the mysteries of the universe be profitable? Isn't as much "reality" as it is "Capitalism". You, as an individual, might have as much luck changing the laws of physics as you would changing the effects that Capitalism (specifically the profit motive) has on doing science.🤷‍♂️

@StefanLopuszanski

24 күн бұрын

But what's the alternative that already exists? Universities have huge issues but they still do focus on topics you'd never see a fully commercialized industry indulge. It is an evil but a lesser evil. What else is there?

My jaw dropped. That was a very powerful testimony.

@user-ec3rm9wr1n

24 күн бұрын

Hahaha we exist 😂😂😂 .....

@meisbackforever

24 күн бұрын

​@@user-ec3rm9wr1nwho?

@andersfant4997

24 күн бұрын

No real news though.. Its how it works

@EvgeniBelin

24 күн бұрын

​@@andersfant4997 this may be obvious to insiders. But it was news to me

@user-ec3rm9wr1n

24 күн бұрын

@@andersfant4997 if you were trans and rich and your father is billionaire things would be different

As an ex-researcher for a German uni institute, your description of how the system works was spot on.

Sabine, I've been watching your videos on and off for a few years now but this one makes me subscribe. Your honesty is sorely needed these days.

I am a professor but totally understand the terrible rat race. i was once writing an academic book (rather well known one now) but my HoD knocked on my office door one day and told me that the university didn't value scholarship any more. i retired as soon as was financially able to, and moved to Thailand. never been back. Take care, Donald

@esecallum

24 күн бұрын

thailand? is that not a dangerousplaceto be for a white man?

@memyselfandi8544

24 күн бұрын

Sawasdi kap. You and Sab have stumbled into the invisible walls of a technological house of cards. Science is supposed to be a process of discovery where we chose the most accurate way to describe observations, but that depends on who “we” are. We are not what you think we are. We are more like the subjects of the virtual world in the Matrix. Controlled with lies and a brilliant characterization of the world, however, it is built essentially on lies. We struggle not against the flesh, but against spiritual principalities in heaven and hell. It’s all about control, this world. God is. Choke di, farang.

@elbuggo

24 күн бұрын

RE: the university didn't value scholarship any more I guess they are looking for foundations for their latest propaganda projects. Research is subordinate to policy. Findings that are contrary to their policies, or their imagined ideal world, is not appreciated.

@ibubezi7685

24 күн бұрын

@@elbuggo _"101% of sociologists confirm that their research proves that climate-change is 102% manmade."_

@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus

24 күн бұрын

@@ibubezi7685 I always get a kick out of people who loudly proclaim "all the scientists agree on climate change", as if science was a democracy and the facts should actually care what scientists think.

"I am failed", something we rarely hear on social media, while everyone tells success stories here. Bold statement

@gregh5061

18 күн бұрын

Hi failed, I'm dad

@Noqtis

18 күн бұрын

@@gregh5061 Hi dad and failed, I'm Sigma DeLigma

@aliceglass828

18 күн бұрын

failed is a bold statement indeed given she has a phd and raised two children

@gregh5061

18 күн бұрын

@@aliceglass828 people have different standards for success I suppose. You could have two noble prizes but if your goal was to cure cancer and you failed, you'd consider yourself a failure, I guess.

@aliceglass828

18 күн бұрын

@@gregh5061 no shit sherlock

I hate that the caption says you failed. I also had to change careers, my dream also died, but we didn't fail. How is this failing? You reach 1 million people with a video, you love doing this and you adapted to a messed up situation. You use your knowledge to something good and useful and that is more than many people can ever reach.

Thank you for being so open, honest and vulnerable Sabine!

I just loved it when you said NO to work for that professor, THATS what I call true integrity 🤩

@Broken_robot1986

18 күн бұрын

Yeah big balls for that, props.

@pimpilikaa

18 күн бұрын

@@Broken_robot1986 yes, pukaaluwo

@LaplacianDalembertian

18 күн бұрын

Science is Dead, only China and Russia care about it.

@Snake369

18 күн бұрын

that was definitely baller. absolutely nothing unreasonable either.

As a scientist struggling with the broken academic science system, I resonate with all that she said and it's totally spot on

@johnboze

22 күн бұрын

Start with some real science and you will NO LONGER STRUGGLE: Vacuum Ambient EM Field Dipole Theory aka Quantum Inertial Dipole Theory aka Graviton Theory aka Dark Mass / Energy Theory aka Vacuum Zero Point Energy Theory aka PLANCK PARTICLE THEORY is T.O.E. postulated by the Germans and brought to fruition by US DoD via Defense Contractors like Lockheed that solved TOE so the Pentagon gave them cart blanche on CASH to designed and build working Quantum Field Densification Drives aka HFGWGs and they solved during technical material science issues during SDI STAR WARS Weapons Programs of the 1980s and 90s and the result is "UAPs" aka Hypersonic Weapons in the news for years! Work EM FIELD DRIVES have been flying for MORE THAN 4 DECADES! Now You Know Too! #FiringRoom1

@casualnerdjason6678

22 күн бұрын

When I was a grad student, I saw how the brilliant, wonderful postdocs were worn down. Not by their bosses or their science, but by the system. And after 4+ years as postdocs, they were still earning less than brand new public school teachers. We love our science but have to make a living, too.

@justbeegreen

22 күн бұрын

It’s the same for public school teachers - the system burns a human out.

@elonever.2.071

21 күн бұрын

@@casualnerdjason6678 You have the background for understanding physics now you need to take your knowledge to the edgy side of physics that is making great strides in understanding the workings of our reality. Materialism is as dead as the Big Bang is now. The new frontier is of a Conscious Universe where observation collapses the wave function into particles and atoms which creates matter as we have seen over and over again in the double slit experiments. Good luck on your journey. Remember it is always better to abandon a sinking ship early rather than later.

@shidiskas

21 күн бұрын

Its also my story!

It would have been such a shame, had you not posted this video. I think your experience needed to be told and you're such a refreshing voice to listen to. Everything happens for a reason and I feel you are making the right impact. I stumbled upon your video by chance but it immediately made me want to subscribe to your channel.

Great video Sabine, I love your KZread channel! I am 71 year old male physicist who experienced everything you talk about in this video. In particular I saw persistent discrimination against my female colleagues.

"The moment you put people into big institutions the goal shifts from knowledge seeking to money making." Very well said.

@LA_HA

18 күн бұрын

What is the background of the university president? Is it Philosophy or Education-focused? Or is it Business-centered?

@wendyleeconnelly2939

18 күн бұрын

@@LA_HA It might not matter. It might be comparative literature. The system is so entrenched. The one university president and his/her pet projects may have only slight impact on what is expected and what gets done.

@LA_HA

18 күн бұрын

@@wendyleeconnelly2939 True and that's what I'm saying. The choices given in the type of candidates has a lot to say about what is going on within that institution. This is directly tied to what's happening in the PS/K-12 school system. What's happening there? In short, traditional values and education have been replaced with "progressive" values and disinterest in educating school children due to CRT and leftist ideological organizations that openly brag about how they're not in the education business anymore. They're in the political business now and going forward. This is Taught to students, who then go to college, graduate with this mentality and belief system, and then become college employees and professors. The connection is there for anyone who takes a moment to look. Except there's a problem... Thinking isn't taught. In fact, it's banned

@geneduffy

18 күн бұрын

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@LA_HAwrong, for instance CRT is a college course. Next progressive values I guess by that you mean critical thinking skills and a focus on S.T.E.M. It’s funny because traditional values and education immediately brings to mind religious schools where if the science doesn’t fit your 1500 year old horror anthology than the science must be wrong. Also what do you mean by traditional education , the humors, leach therapy, miasma, aroma therapy, chiropractors , or maybe phrenology. I am however sorry that conservatives long ago lost in the market place of ideas I just wish you guys would stop trying to sell people on your SECOND lost cause movement. We are not going to go back in time there is a reason progress is the root word of progressive. This time of traditional thinking wasn’t so great by the way most people call it the dark ages where positing a new theory might get you thrown in ye olde gaol maybe just for suggesting a non heliocentric view of the universe.

@LA_HA

18 күн бұрын

@@geneduffy [Edited for clarity] Thank you. I'm so glad you did exactly what you did. Otherwise, I would have wasted my time thinking an actual conversation was possible. Good Day

Hi Sabine, I’m a third year PhD student in bioengineering and I just want to say thanks for making this video. You’re the only person who I’ve heard describe exactly how I feel about academia. My dream has died too and most of the time I feel crazy because no one else seems to feel the same way, but thank you for making me feel less alone. You are brave and lovable ❤️

@SamRossman

19 күн бұрын

Same, while it sucks I hope you also value that you figured it out early in your academic career and not a decade and a half later….

@ramseygo121

19 күн бұрын

damn I'm just about to go into bioengineering😭

@takoja507

19 күн бұрын

All this makes me happy that I'm "just" a practical nurse (as we call it here in Finland) and never had the drive for academy studies. I'm in a job that I really like and enjoy, even tho money ain't great, no stress etc at all tho :)

@thierryfaquet7405

19 күн бұрын

@@ramseygo121 it's fine, but do it for industry, not academia.

@calamitysangfroid2407

19 күн бұрын

I'm in my second year of an evolution/genetics PhD. My lab group and the biology faculty is pretty communal and this sentiment of cynicism is common around us. We're kind of aware this is all one big passion project, and some of us might become rockstars but others are like those Disney channel celebrities who disappear after 5 years and show up working at a small town car dealership. Not sure if anyone's actually considering continuing in academia. A lot are looking at industry or government employment (our department is marine and conservation biology, in a country where seafood and agriculture are major exports).

Thank you for being honest. This was the main theme in the movie "the Whale". Every one is so afraid to be honest. But it offers a beautiful reflection of ourselves to see the struggles others have been through. "Admiration is our polite recognition of another's resemblance of ourselves". - Ambrose Bierce "We never remark any passion or principle in others, of which in some degree or other, we may not find a parallel in ourselves". - Hume Thank you for your story..

@YodaWhat

Күн бұрын

Wow, great quotes... Something we may all learn from, upon reflection.

Thank you for your humility and honesty. I am grateful for your contribution to science, physics and the community. The world needs more real down to earth people like you. Keep up the good work.

This matches up exactly with my 16 years at NASA. A colleague of mine called it "playing the doctor game", because all the PhD's were battling each other for the few secure jobs while the majority languished as grantees.

@millanferende6723

19 күн бұрын

"Science" (Which means "through the knowledge of")...literally means being open to truth, wanting to explore the actual truth and to want to know the truth.

@millanferende6723

19 күн бұрын

The other one, opposite one (cannot name the term because of the censor), is the desire for money, grants, more grants, desiring to promote a problem rather than a solution to keep a job, propagating biases and being afraid to look in another direction out of fear of being chastised and reprimanded.

@la-gl4uh

19 күн бұрын

You sound like you were a contractor instead of a government employee. Why didn't you hire on with the Federal Government?

@r13hd22

19 күн бұрын

She got what she gave out to Kaku and others in his field daring to tell them that they were wasting resources that should go to real fields of study.

@atendriyadasa6746

19 күн бұрын

This is precisely how The $ystem weeds out scientists w/ character standing on principle vs. those who'll readily sell out (i.e. produce & publish the results The $ystem wants). 😉

Not too much, it is just right and honest. Don’t ever change!

@SabineHossenfelder

24 күн бұрын

Thank you from the entire team!

@chronixchaos7081

24 күн бұрын

Well done you.

@berniehaberemeier2053

24 күн бұрын

Given the system appears to be so broken, and given it’s the people’s money at work, what could the people do to demand change? Does this have to stay broken forever?

@ConwayBob

24 күн бұрын

@@berniehaberemeier2053 -- Excellent questions! To which I humbly add one more: Is the academic establishment even worth trying to fix, or do we need to replace it with something better?

@siraaron4462

24 күн бұрын

​@@berniehaberemeier2053spreading awareness helps. (Knowing is half the battle) But I've seen various proposals that would change the incentive structure to support good science; rather than Shitposting in scientific journals for grants. As for how to get people to adopt these new incentives? I think things will have to get worse before they get better. People are going to keep doing things just the way they are until they can't anymore.

Sadness, a touch of bitterness and anger and plenty of self-awareness; it's relatable, not just you for sure and not just physics.

So true about institutional education. I got a Union apprenticeship in theatre lighting. I later went to two highly rated schools to get a degree in the field. Both schools were behind in knowledge and I was ostricized for pointing out the deficiencies. I left school with no degree. Later working out of NYC, there was a "college boy" as he was nicknamed hired when I was. He did not know anything about the work. Miss Sabine, you have probably brought more knowledge to more people than most institutions. It seems most education now a days is regurgitation. It used to be you were taught to think and question the current status quo, building upon knowledge and adjusting to new information. Keep on keeping on!

Got fired from a job you didn’t have! What a world we live in!

@suestreet9934

23 күн бұрын

I’ve had a rejection letter for a position I never applied for. I wish now that I’d kept it.

@dgalicen2876

23 күн бұрын

Now THAT'S a badge of honor to wear proudly! And so is your astuteness in pointing it out. 😊

@kadmow

23 күн бұрын

@@suestreet9934 -I got an approval for a gambling licence I didn't apply for - lol...

@segevstormlord3713

23 күн бұрын

Power-tripping is extremely common in academia.

@Zen_Power

22 күн бұрын

Should have reported to him to hr and have him dismissed.

With 1.2M subscribers you have a real job! A real role, a real voice to teach what ever you want to teach! Genius!

@eoinoconnell185

20 күн бұрын

Yep. The funny thing is, she has more subscribers & viewers than most TV shows. Highly successful.

@Frolova3434

20 күн бұрын

That’s certainly more attention than papers get

@CrimeaRiver

20 күн бұрын

Until, of course, KZread shuts her channel down for some obscure reason.

@molybdaenmornell123hopp5

20 күн бұрын

​@CrimeaRiver But people have heard of her now.

@mackyj7801

19 күн бұрын

Yes her brand imagine is valuable, once you get to her level on KZread, type of content ,influence tv networks come chasing you.

This story just solidifies my belief that you're the most reliable source on KZread that I know about. Keep doing your thing. You're a gift to humanity

So nice of you to share this, it was the right thing to do. Your experience is valid. Thank you. More people need to truly listen and understand the depth of this. The gatekeepers limit science.

Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy: In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy itself always get in control and those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and sometimes are eliminated entirely.

@wadehines9971

23 күн бұрын

In isolated islands, visionaries who understand this law gain power and work hard against it. But it's a Sisyphean task.

@wallacegrommet9343

23 күн бұрын

Witness the ratio of administrators to teachers in the California State University system. 18 to 1 in against the instructors!

@JNobleDaggett

23 күн бұрын

@@wallacegrommet9343 That's a bit deceptive. Some of those administrators support instruction. Some support research grants. Sabina isn't complaining about research load as much as research priorities.

@brianlemberger5022

23 күн бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Brave people such as yourself need to be honest about the state of physics and academia in order for it to change.

@gregorseidel8203

23 күн бұрын

Nice quote, I did not know this. To be fair, in my experience academic management did care about science, in so far as it relates to their own interests at least. Since the issues in academia (and academic publishing) go beyond each individual institution, however, I suppose it's easy to assign blame elsewhere and perpetuate the system rather than even try to change it. This perpetuation is, incidentally of course, also to the personal benefit of academic management.

I achieved my PhD in philosophy when I was in my 40s. I'm an ex miner. After graduation, I became a security guard until retirement. My PhD was a classy route to poverty. So I'm glad you posted this. Dr. does look good on my drivers licence.😅

@sundayoliver3147

15 күн бұрын

I appreciate "my PhD was a classy route to poverty". It's the case for so many.

@garydorfner6695

15 күн бұрын

The wife of the US president is also a Doctor. She's a school teacher with a doctorate in education and demands that people refer to her as "Doctor". The title is meaningless.

@inertia179

15 күн бұрын

Why didn't you become a university prof?

@Blade.5786

15 күн бұрын

What a coincidence, I'm also an ex-minor

@titandarknight2698

15 күн бұрын

@@garydorfner6695 Not really meaningless. She just isn't a doctor in the common sense.

Was really refreshing to hear you speak so honestly, like humans used to

The magic of youtube algorithm bought you to me. Thank you for this lovely video. After finishing my PhD, I was on the academia path. I spent 2 years as a research assistant professor and realize that University treats us like business units. The overhead is over 50% of the grant. They also make you teach or otherwise there is another penalty. It was miserable. I am glad that I have gotten out sooner than later.

Near the end of my PhD, my advisor wanted me to take a paper I wrote for PRL and write a longer one for PRC and I told him I didn't feel like there was really anything more to say for our work. I later felt bad as he ended up not getting tenure which left me in a weird state as I finished my degree without a local advisor and thus no advocate or mentor at the university. I ended up set loose as soon as the paperwork was signed on my diploma. I ended up like a lot of physicists, working in finance, and after getting married and having two children, there really wasn't any going back. Plus the realization that my notion of what academia is like was really, like yours, more of a romantic dream rather than the reality. I don't really miss academia, I miss what I thought academia was supposed to be.

@pillsber

6 күн бұрын

Perfect response-and almost exactly my same story: the idea-or dream-is very different than the reality. I never finished my Ph.D because of this.

@Ducktility

6 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing. What role are you currently working in finance?

@EyanZ1997

5 күн бұрын

How did you made your skills as a physicist applicable to finance? It’s obviously transferable to those that know but employers don’t always fall under that category

@rbrbrts

4 күн бұрын

@@Ducktility I really just do software development, but in a financial context for back-end calculations.

@rbrbrts

4 күн бұрын

@@EyanZ1997 Well, in the mid-1990s when I finished, that was not really true. Physicists were desirable for implementing numerical models, especially if they had software skill. Since I worked for two years in software before grad school, and did a lot of modeling in grad school, it was an easy sell.

You have not failed, "The System" is failing us all. Thank you Sabine for trying to broaden our horizons. Hopefully this brave outreach will start some meaningful conversation.

@mehranshargh

19 күн бұрын

The sad part is that "the system" is made up of us, the academic people. We prioritize money, greed, and power, and in turn, make the life of other lower-level people miserable. Then, we blame "the system".

@ChaplainDMK

19 күн бұрын

Same with NGO's honestly. A lot of people, social sciences degrees and similar stuff, who are so passionate to work with communities, with underpriviliged people, to try to approach existing issues with new techniques, are absolutely annihilated by the grant-money procedure. Just write billions of pages of bullshit, measure absolute irrelevant stats, write mind-numbing reports, and end up wasting 75% of your energy and time on all of this, and only 25% actually doing what you want to do and are actually applying for funding.

@generaltheory

19 күн бұрын

The really important part is that forum cretins will keep parroting "Peer reviews!" when such "trusted" institutions don't even have the minimal digital literacy, and I mean Harvards, too. Total rebuilding of scholarship is inevitable.

@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp

19 күн бұрын

Go for a PhD in "The Art of Sustainable Bullshit" and you will be a winner.

@mehranshargh

19 күн бұрын

The sad part is that the system is made up of us, the academic people; we prioritize money, greed, and power, and in turn, make the life of other lower-level people miserable. Then, we blame the system.

Dear Dr. Hossenfelder, thank you for your insightful video. I feel that someone should have addressed this issue much earlier, but better late than never. It was the primary reason I left academia. I could no longer tolerate the constant need to beg for funding, follow trends, and produce meaningless papers just to secure another grant. I am pleased to see your success on KZread, and I hope it enables you to conduct the kind of genuine research that is needed. Although my own research dreams have died, I hope that your KZread earnings will provide sufficient funding for you to continue your work. Please don't give up.

Thank you for your honesty. I have similar experiences in academia. But once one is disillusioned about it, you can focus on things that really matter and not follow the social pressure.

The wrong incentives always lead to the wrong results. Thanks for calling this out!

@SabineHossenfelder

23 күн бұрын

Thanks from the entire team!

@eddierayvanlynch6133

23 күн бұрын

Well said, Simon. Sad, but well said.

@ksenobite

23 күн бұрын

Yeah, spending days in YT 😂then playing victim card because life isn't easy. But she's not the only one, YT star physicists love to shine, but end up bitter and angry since they don't hand out Nobel prizes for clicks. And calling others bs (the terrible system that gave you free education) is easy, not so easy when its own

@orionbetelgeuse1937

23 күн бұрын

now we can talk about how a certain "99% consensus" about some stuff involving the climate was obtained

@amigalemming

23 күн бұрын

@@orionbetelgeuse1937 If you question the "99% consensus" you can easily estimate the chance of getting a proposal accepted. :-)

Unfortunately, this IS a universal story in academia. It's the dirty little secret that never seems to be talked about. Despite all that, I'm glad you have found a place for yourself and choose to share your thoughts and opinions with us all. Thank you for putting this video out!

@ronankelly4471

21 күн бұрын

It is spoken about, but those outside the system .. do not get heard. Listen carefully to what she says. While a bit harsh to say, she *did* know what they were doing was wrong, and she played along with it, until they bit her.

@TmyLV

21 күн бұрын

Fenomenal true exposed. Dear Sabine you are so great, worry do not, you have imense quality and you are an exceptional person. The reward will come and one day you will be happy with the output, I am sure you are happy with what you are doing now and be pleased cause it is giving you satisfaction, you do very nice, it is another road in your career. One foot on the back one step ahead. Many people know your works and they follow your career and path and they like you the way you are.

@artichoke60045

19 күн бұрын

It's not really a dirty little secret. There are lots of ways to observe it, even as an undergrad if you work in someone's lab, some people who will confess especially if you ask the right questions, maybe not in physics departments because physicists have that personality. Sabine came from a family of accountants, they had some idea that money makes the world go round. Although the exact nature of academic research is something you have to experience it to understand. An outsider who doesn't know the field at an expert level won't know how much garbage is produced that serves merely to clog up the intellectual pipeline.

@Verpal

17 күн бұрын

@@ronankelly4471 I don't know if I can blame Sabine though, she is but a human like us, and human need food on the table, especially for their family. I would like to imagine Scientist are just normal people who aren't particularly noble, nor should we expect them to be.

Thank you for sharing, this very personal section of your life. Yes, it was on the edge of "too much", but not too much. I think you described this video perfectly in this video; "Edgy, but not too edgy". But, most importantly, you showed us, You. Love your videos. 🙂X

Now thats the honesty I can very much respect. Courage is such a rare trait especially among intelligent people.

And it's the story of a successful science educator who touched millions and made the world a slightly better place. Thank you, Sabine.

Thank you for posting this! I am 82, left the US for Germany in 1965, earned my PhD with work at a Max Planck Institute and after a 12 year stint at the MPI I got a pure research position at a major German university. I was an electron microscopist, so a lot of people needed my help. I managed to publish 100+ papers and never had to write a grant proposal. I finally became disillusioned with science in general and just wound up helping others with their research. I also struggled to help my female coworkers get the credit they deserved for the work they did. Science was always more of a hobby for me. I write this just to say, your mileage may vary. I'm sorry you had such a bitter experience, but you have taken the bull by the horns and certainly have a greater scientific impact now than if you had just gone on in research. I love your videos and your sense of humour. Liebe Grüße aus dem kühlen hessischen Vogelsberg.

@MrQwertyman111

21 күн бұрын

I believe I had the pleasure of reading one of your papers. Good to see people of science remain around it, even when retired. All the best to you good sir!

@BruceBoschek

21 күн бұрын

@@MrQwertyman111 Thanks kindly.

Your scientific integrity and joy are touching. You make a big difference as a scientist and as a woman.

As someone who's been struggling with the trajectory of my career, I thank you whole heartedly for posting this video. You are an amazingly strong person.

Speaking as retired full professor (social sciences) at a research university in the in USA I fully support your decision. You play a vital role as a public intellectual helping to educate non-specialists about the state of scientific inquiry in the physical sciences. Your KZread videos reach many more people - several orders of magnitude - than typical research publications read by a handful of specialists. So I say Bravo! Keep up the good work.

@lighthousesaunders7242

24 күн бұрын

You've gotta admit, from the respected Popperian POV at least, social science should almost never be called a science?

@matteogirelli1023

24 күн бұрын

truer words were never spoken

@amihartz

24 күн бұрын

@@lighthousesaunders7242 "Respected Popperian" bro hardly any academics of philosophy take Popper seriously. But yes, if you take Popper seriously, then you have to reject sociology and economics, and some of biology and climatology would also be on shaky grounds.

@link01uk

24 күн бұрын

Bravo

@paintspot1509

24 күн бұрын

The problem is these videos get hijacked by conspiracy nutters, rather then anybody who could do anything about the issues she raises

"I think I owe you an explanation" - No you don't, but I am glad you did give it anyway and I found your perspective very interesting.

Thanks for sharing this - this is so, so true. I’m a PhD in CS and this feels so relatable. A few times during the pandemic, I watched your posts and thought, “I wonder if she’s getting hit by her department for putting up stuff like this?” I’m glad to hear you got out -

Great video Doc! Please keep up the streaming and the truth as you see it!

You lasted longer than I did... finished my PhD (having survived broken bones, deaths, years overseas research, changes in Committee, and a mother who said, "...but you are still unmarried") I quit academia and moved to Italy to milk cows and make wine. Now I write novels. I do miss the intellectualism. but not the politics. Love you, Sabine!

@kurkenfruit

24 күн бұрын

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. I took a gap year between getting my bachelor’s and going to graduate school. It’s now been a five-year gap year because I thought better of it after meeting lots of people already in the meat grinder. I sometimes wonder where my career would be, but I’ve found myself on a path more interesting and worthwhile to me.

@Weberbros1

24 күн бұрын

Care to plug your novel?

@rileyhoffman6629

23 күн бұрын

@@Weberbros1 heck yeah! Thanks! Rachel Hoffman, SALTINE (Otis Books, 2021) No self-help, no politics, no trauma: just humor and humanity for smart adults who need a mental vacation...

@__rikaisuru

18 күн бұрын

@@rileyhoffman6629 that's the best pitch I've ever heard for a book in this day and age!

@jinfin221

4 күн бұрын

In the end you won.

I love your honesty. My brother got a PhD in theoretical physics from an Ivy League university and he felt the same way you do. He left academia a while ago and works in software now, but he still does his physics and math research every day in his spare time. I admire him a lot.

@tatjana7008

24 күн бұрын

And thats why number of patents in Western countries decreased in last years. Chinese mastered it team work long time ago and thrive because of it, while here its all divide and conquer of talented motivated people

@Lavabug

23 күн бұрын

@@tatjana7008 What? US issued patents are a historic high. Also the number of patents issued has zero connection with fundamental physics research - the measure is peer reviewed publications.

@tatjana7008

23 күн бұрын

@@Lavabug first of all, Sabine is not from US, she tells about experience in Germany and Europe. Second, number of confirmed patents is much important then applications, and China leads there. Third, science is interconnected and discoveries in fundamental physics might influence practical applications as well. Thats why I do theoretical computer science, because it can influence every branch of science. About papers and publications, many chairs in my university interconnected with industry, and they often end up in patents.

@allan710

23 күн бұрын

I also left academia, I really didn't like the way it works.

@Lavabug

23 күн бұрын

@@tatjana7008 The US issues more utilities patents than any other country, and many Chinese enterprises seek US patents as well. Practical applications have little to do with fundamental science, they are an accident. If you're using patent number to measure scientific progress, you have no knowledge of how science works or what counts as innovation. Patents only measure commercial products, not the generation of knowledge which far outpaces what patents indicate (I am a former patent examiner).

Never doubt yourself in this respect. You've just encountered the true face of the current academic establishment. You spoke nothing but the plain truth not more, not less, unfortunately.

Thank you for sharing! We need not only more people like you, we need to be like you!

I'm a gardener with a lay interest in physics. Gardening is no bullshit in an otherwise cynical world. It makes for good health both physical and mental. I already had enough bullshit as an undergrad. The boffins careened off into ideological space and lost touch with the natural world, and all the brain-work made me depressed, so I started digging holes, moving rocks and planting shrubs, and this is a much happier place. I'm glad you escaped that miserable, dishonest path and took the path of truth. It is an inspiring story, and I'm a big fan. Most inspiring comments section here, too.

@GregorShapiro

19 күн бұрын

Gardening is dramatically helped by cow manure and bullshit is not shunned either. (The REAL bullshit, not the bullshit bullshit!) ;-)

@george1187

19 күн бұрын

Hear , hear !

@yourface07

19 күн бұрын

Good for you lloydy! I wish you great success

@gldfsh_

19 күн бұрын

I’m actually thinking of going this route! It’s nice to hear someone who’s done so!

@soulscanner66

19 күн бұрын

The fact is, the amount of screentime required in any academic pursuit is unhealthy unless it is rigorously managed.

I am glad you posted the video! As a female academic approaching retirement (and not with a pension), I can definitely relate to what you experienced. With 24,614 comments as of my posting, it is unlikely that you will see this, but THANK YOU.

@swingambassador

18 күн бұрын

Sorry about your pension

@82jp

18 күн бұрын

I see you and you deserve better

@eroraf8637

15 күн бұрын

I see you.

I learned 11 years ago. When a dream dies, one has to build a new dream. Congratulations 😊❤

The fact that what you are describing is an experience universal enough for me to relate to the point where I am specheless (have in mind I am in the other side of the world in the completely diferent field of social sciences) shows how important is for people like you to share their experiences THANK YOU!!!

I'm a PhD. physicist who never really had any hope of a career in academia. I really appreciate your honesty and telling it like it is. I have always found academia to be pretentious, arrogant, and intellectually stuffy. Thank you for making this video. You've earned my respect.

@jeravincer

23 күн бұрын

And you’re a man?!?

@FernandoChaves

23 күн бұрын

So, what do you do?

@Happyduderawr

23 күн бұрын

Only academics use words like "intellectually stuffy" hahaha

@glennwoodruff2398

23 күн бұрын

Hopefully you didn't get a job as a "Calibration Technician" for a company that does NIST certification of equipment. So many physics majors with BS degrees seem to enter that job market.

@jarnoldp

23 күн бұрын

I was a PhD student, but I only finished with my masters. This was due to the lack of consistency between classes and the PhD exam. They would put problems on there that even the professors could not solve. They had an extra credit point system to wear a few published papers prior to the exam, you would be given credit towards the exam. There was at least one student who never took the exam and passed because they had enough papers within two years. and this is only because the professor was putting that graduate students name on the papers, even though they just started.

Perhaps the most honest and refreshing video I’ve ever seen on KZread. Thank you for sharing.

I have a lot of respect for you. Keep up the good work.

I cannot even begin to say how much this video resonates with me! Thank you so much for talking this out loud! People should know the dartk side of academia and I think this is a great step! I believe what you did here is far worthier than publishing 100 papers, and I mean it!

Glad you left the ending in; that sums up everything you said in one sentence. _"Societal pressures too often make me unable to speak, but here at least I can choose what I say."_

@berniv7375

23 күн бұрын

This is by far your most brilliant video.❤

@07Flash11MRC

23 күн бұрын

That conclusion is no true. YT's terms and the algorithms decide what you can and can't say and or write on this platform.

@penponds

23 күн бұрын

We will in fact, never know if Sabine can actually choose what she can say on KZread until the point she get’s regularly de-monetised or de-platformed. Rumble is where she’d be if in fact she did want to comment in a non-KZread compliant way. Sabine is simply just operating in a field that is less socio-politically contentious. She’s far too intelligent to imagine her sitting in Plato’s cage with her back to the light, which makes that final statement very puzzling. Rather than underscoring her position, it undermines the viewer’s confidence that she truly understands the assaults on freedom of thought and expression and journalistic investigation that so very very many are experiencing right now.

@kadmow

23 күн бұрын

@@07Flash11MRC - edit that comment, to make it say what you intended... ??

@Racistobama

23 күн бұрын

The fact that this statement is apparently no longer in the video is incredibly suspicious. I assume Sabine was either was forced to edit it or did so out of concern that those "societal pressures" were going to come to bear on her.

Thanks for sharing your story. We love your style, your humor and your honesty! The world needs more of you.

@legbert123

24 күн бұрын

100 bucks well spent

@lyrapuff7502

24 күн бұрын

@@legbert123you clearly know nothing about her channel and the things she's working on man o.O

@parodynet3004

24 күн бұрын

@@legbert123Lmfao, so salty that you have to scroll down and talk shit about a person enjoying and supporting a content creator. It's his/her money and instead of being a douchebag, you could have used that time to actually start looking for a job!

@Usefulmusic

22 күн бұрын

@@legbert123 What a nasty man!

@petewest3122

21 күн бұрын

@@lyrapuff7502 Such as?

Thank you for posting this, Sabine. Big enough chunks of this are also my experience. What a world :-(

I for one, am glad you posted this video. It had me on the edge of my seat right from the start.

F**ing brilliant. This just elevated Sabine and her channel to another level for me. And I will venture to say- for many others as well.

@nagualdesign

23 күн бұрын

100%

@petestanton1945

23 күн бұрын

absolutely. not surprised, but wow ya. This is a big moment.

@shackusratus

23 күн бұрын

Agreed

@vincentzevecke4578

2 күн бұрын

She is beyond brilliant

Female biologist over 40 from Germany here. That's exactly how I see it. Not only from my own experience, but also from that of many acquaintances. At the beginning, you're quite happy that you can do what you like without being bothered. By the time you write your thesis at the latest, you realize the difficulties of the system that you describe. I was also irritated by the inaccuracy with which results are produced, at least in biology. As soon as you are in the system, you also see the incompetence (technical, organizational, human) of other researchers. I often had the impression that some were simply in the right place at the right time and were just willing to play along with this application circus. As a woman, it's particularly difficult if you want to start a family. It's hardly possible without help, including financial help, from grandparents. I know some who have made it at least some way, but only with the help of their parents. Yes, the system is weak. I've seen many excellent young researchers leave because they didn't want to play this game. Nevertheless, I have also met nice, very competent colleagues who have made it - but very few.

@Coolbunny-

19 күн бұрын

"I was also irritated by the inaccuracy with which results are produced" THIS, ohhh you can't image how this makes me angry.

@gdiwolverinemale4th

19 күн бұрын

In the beginning, we were all ignorant and delusional. Then the realities of this world became apparent. Why be bitter about it?

@AnglophobiaIsevil7

19 күн бұрын

You're supposed to be able to have a husband bring you, the mother the resources to give birth and raise your child. We have always been able to do this until the petrol dollar was invented and bankers realized they would need more workers or the system would crash too soon. One parent gets the resources and contributes to society. The other parent raises the child and contributes to your family. Corporations have demanded that both parents be tapped for work and our children have suffered dearly for it. In Ireland it's actually in their constitution that should this ever happen they have a right to dissolve the gov and start over(should a mother ever be forced to work in order to raise her child as this is the entire point of society, we know we can make a society where only one parent needs to work and so any society where 2 must is a failure and they KNEW THIS). I don't think they enforce it or they just give welfare checks to them. Regardless, only serfs and indentured servants were made to have mothers work. We have been enslaved and told it was empowering.

@lovepeoplehu9883

19 күн бұрын

At least you are an independent, strong empowered wahman❤

@SchalaZeal1

19 күн бұрын

I thought scientists were infallible? Sounds like we've been sold another lie by the atheists.

What a great video. You present beautifully. I worked as a musician for many universities. I became very disillusioned with the type of material studied - always something which is fashionable or could attract most students. Core skills tumbled into irrelevance and being 'current', even if artistically lazy, was prioritised . I also felt students were selected according to the revenue they would attract rather than their passion and love for art. I now live in the countryside next to a field of cows, work the land with my family, play guitar in restaurants and teach in a tiny music school where pupils are motivated and courteous. I also have time to be creative. What you're doing now is very valuable. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing, I can't help thinking how many great potentials are squandered away...

Thank you for your work on KZread. You touch millions of people, some of which will become the next Einstein thanks to you. I'm excited every day about your next video.

@sjl197

24 күн бұрын

As an unemployed former multiple postdoc, I feel her pain. This emotional and actual support here above is epic. I wish I too could give such financial gift. The honesty in the video was refreshing, the absurdity of academia failed her, not the other way around. It’s bull****

@markandbeck

23 күн бұрын

@@Elo-hv3fw Just like He Who Shall Not be Named made Harry Potter.

@elbuggo

22 күн бұрын

Unfortunately Albert was a HUGE HUGE fraud. Weird so many bright people are unable to grasp that. Read Phyllis Schlafly's book.

@davidg4288

20 күн бұрын

@@Elo-hv3fw Yeah, that guy.

A video that ends with I’m not sure I will post this, is the one that needs to be posted. And we the internet are glad you did! Go Sabine!

@hittitecharioteer

21 күн бұрын

✅🙏🏻

@mmille10

20 күн бұрын

Well, given the censorship and meting out of punishments, even by governments, for "saying the wrong things" online, which she may be aware of, I get the concern she has, but my guess is that this discussion would not get her in trouble. It doesn't directly prod any politically protected sacred cows (not yet, anyway).

@krishnapartha

20 күн бұрын

Yes.

@user-lz6dm5lk9y

20 күн бұрын

Amen!

@umitertin4932

19 күн бұрын

I am glad this was not another unfinished symphony.

At 65 and working on my second masters,,, NO I didn’t use the first one either, I'll pass on the PhD. Follow your passion, I serve as a volunteer in our local Honey Beekeepers Association teaching beginners and intermediate Beekeepers to be successful with their bees.

Thank you for making this video. Its very important for people to know what its actually like.

Also a retired academic. I had decent employment, was intellectually challenged, had more free time to accomplish what I wanted than I ever would have found in any other job, but at the same time was always disappointed by the lack of collegiality and any sense of cohesiveness in the department. The milieu - populated with tremendous egos, some earned, some not so much - made for a very lonely existence. I did my research, taught my courses and went home, spending as little time on campus as possible. There were very few friends to be found in such a environment. I loved my students - the only real saving grace. Thanks for your videos.

@mattinykanen4780

23 күн бұрын

Is it the doctoral defence which turns ourselves so offensive afterwards?

@tiro0oO5

23 күн бұрын

Hey, sad to hear that. This sounds like bad luck, but you are definitly not alone. I build a new team at a company, interviewed many phd‘s. The easiest way to get them excited, was telling them that they would work with others on a common goal. I could literally see the spark in their eyes, as if they saw light for the first time after 3 years. I myself got lucky, my time during my phd was great. Insanenly interesting topic, bde ent success in my work and outstanding colleges.

@fly_8659

21 күн бұрын

The only way to get a sense of cohesiveness was to threaten to merge the department... the only time Architects seem to get along is when you suggest that the department might be replaced with a double degree of Arts and Engineering.

@bill8216

3 күн бұрын

@@fly_8659 hehe good story.

Sadly, your diagnosis of the problems with academic research institutions is spot on.

@Lamarth1

23 күн бұрын

Actually, it's worse than that. There are other parts of the system that she hasn't yet looked at closely enough to realise how rotten they are. Most people don't reset their expectations for the parts they can't see to keep in line with the parts they can.

@johndor7793

23 күн бұрын

@@Lamarth1 what parts?

@paintspot1509

23 күн бұрын

​@@Lamarth1 nonsense

@darkmatter21_xx

23 күн бұрын

​@@johndor7793gotta be a flat earther or something Lol

@amigalemming

23 күн бұрын

@@johndor7793 For instance the Perpetuum Mobile that allows scientific publishers to generate revenue from thin air.

Beautiful, truthful and touching. When science has been rotten by money and admin, it leads to that kind of disillusion

This is very eye-opening re how academia works, Academia's loss is our gain via KZread--thank you so much Sabine!

This level of honesty is why I follow your channel. Thank you for sharing your story.

@legbert123

24 күн бұрын

The truth is she has spent all her time and effort into a you tube channel.

Dropped out of my PhD six years ago. Still struggling with the alcohol and tobacco addiction I took from those three miserable years. Constantly made to feel worthless and not doing enough. My career in industry has been amazing and constantly rewarding. Academia needs to change.

@fraewn2617

19 күн бұрын

There are so many people stuck in long, unhappy marriages because the hard part is not the divorce itself but to admit that they made the wrong choice/wasted their time. You were strong, you realized it was not right and left. You can be proud. Time flies and soon these years will be distant memories, substituted by new, happier ones. Fight for yourself you deserve it and you are worth it. It's the opposite: this bullshit is not worth having you. And btw I don't know what a PhD tells you about a person but I don't think it's intelligence tbh. Maybe it's resilience or endurance... I think in this academia world not playing their game is (street) smarter..

@danxie-mg8yv

19 күн бұрын

The best way is to list the problems in indurstry.

@davidduffy9806

18 күн бұрын

My son is gifted, he excelled in high school we delivered to the prestigious Uni he enrolled in, a young, fit and able young man with extraordinary intellect. The Uni almost destroyed him.

@nebblepoppishire3037

18 күн бұрын

Dropped out of biochem to do industrial radiography. No regrets financially- but wow, I loved biochem so much. Just the thought of 8-10 years of extremely hard schooling with tons of debt, only to hold a proverbial beggars cup to fund my research and the institution, and also with very little take home pay, was more than I could bear. I also felt like me and my colleagues were not really on a team, everyone wants to one up each other, everyone is competing for the same money. As I became adjusted to what academia really was all about, I was no longer happy with my career direction. Biochem is now only a hobby, building up a nice home lab. 1000% academia needs to change. I was so passionate but simply could not continue, I cried all the way back from the dean’s office and the whole ride home. Never was more lost in my life until that point. That was what I always loved.

@jibbyjoms7689

18 күн бұрын

Dropped out a year in. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. I moved in to language assessing and teaching for the University instead. Academia is a game, but it's a game covered with a safe friendly progressive face. Universities in my country only care about bringing in international students, so I pivoted. I gave up on a dream, but the dream was an illusion anyway.

Thank you for your courage in telling this story. It's important to listen, because many go through this.

No. Your video wasn't to much. It was just what was needed.😊. Thank you for sharing this.

After 18 years, this is my first comment (and likely last comment) on KZread. Thank you for posting this. I don't work in academia, but so much of the world feels this way. I have always admired your forthright courage, and I am saddened that somehow, academia cannot find a way to benefit from your tremendous intellect, talents, and convictions. Good luck out there!

@paintspot1509

24 күн бұрын

This is just a single person's opinion on a huge field.

@TheMelik85

24 күн бұрын

THIS IS ACADEMIA.

@donnasummer6285

24 күн бұрын

@@TheMelik85 unfortunately

@EinsteinsHair

23 күн бұрын

crs, sometimes I understand your reluctance to comment. I have left reasonable, helpful comments, and someone took them the wrong way. On occasion I tried to follow up, but too often got more anger back. Now I generally ignore angry comments, and move on with my life. I have seen other KZreadrs talking about some of the problems with academia. There are comments to this video in which they talk about leaving academia for other careers, such as medical, software, or industry. Unfortunately, nothing unique about this video.

@danielh.9010

23 күн бұрын

@@paintspot1509 Unfortunately, many in academia share the sentiment of Sabine. Just read the comments by fellow scientists.

As a disillusioned academic who retired years too early even after tenure and professorship, I agree 💯 Unless you are recognized as an Einstein or Dirac, you need to bring in money however you can (hopefully without cheating).

@bornach

24 күн бұрын

Except that even Einstein and Dirac today would be required to get sufficient grant funding for their respective institutions or their research will go nowhere.

@Greenfroggyit

24 күн бұрын

Even Einstein didn't get much benefits or acceptance "in" the academy, he got a job as a patent office clerk, check your history however he did became a professor later on

@leenewsom7517

24 күн бұрын

Exactly the same of me, including stepping away, retiring early.

@Catastropheshe

24 күн бұрын

​@@Greenfroggyit wanted to say the same, it's all sad stories of people fighting with academia

@albertmockel6245

24 күн бұрын

I am not sure even guys like these would succeed in tthe academia world of today

Wow - Amazing and heartbreaking. Thank you so much for sharing your journey - I’m sure I’m not the only one to be encouraged by your brave words.

This video was so validating for me. Thank you so much for posting it