Uprooting Researchers Can Drive Them out of Science. Garwood, R. Nature, 510(7505):313, June, 2014.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
Making early-career scientists change institutions frequently is disruptive and – with modern technology – unnecessary, says Russell Garwood. [Excerpt] For some scientists, of course, the opportunity to move around is wonderful. It is perfect for people with wanderlust, who lack personal ties or who thrive in varied surroundings and on ephemeral contracts. However, for many others this migration-centred system is hugely disruptive, and can add to the forces that squeeze talented scientists out of academia and into other careers. The 'young' people whom science labels as in their early careers can actually be in their late twenties or thirties. Many are in long-term relationships, which causes a 'two-body problem'. It is often not possible, or wise, for them to drop every­thing and move every few years, especially if they have children. Yet making the best decision for their families can harm their careers. [...] Simply put, the career framework for young scientists was established at a time when wives and partners did not necessarily work and were expected to follow the – generally male – breadwinner as he worked his way up. That (thankfully) is not the world we live in now. Society has changed and science should change with it. [...] There are some straightforward steps that we can take. First, guidelines for grant reviewers, job panels and academics should make clear that personal factors are as important and legitimate as professional ones when it comes to making career choices. [...] Second, principal investigators could ensure that young scientists have the chance to pursue independent research without leaving the lab, and to publish the results.
@article{garwoodUprootingResearchersCan2014,
  title = {Uprooting Researchers Can Drive Them out of Science},
  author = {Garwood, Russell},
  year = {2014},
  month = jun,
  volume = {510},
  pages = {313},
  issn = {0028-0836},
  doi = {10.1038/510313a},
  abstract = {Making early-career scientists change institutions frequently is disruptive and -- with modern technology -- unnecessary, says Russell Garwood. [Excerpt] For some scientists, of course, the opportunity to move around is wonderful. It is perfect for people with wanderlust, who lack personal ties or who thrive in varied surroundings and on ephemeral contracts.

However, for many others this migration-centred system is hugely disruptive, and can add to the forces that squeeze talented scientists out of academia and into other careers. The 'young' people whom science labels as in their early careers can actually be in their late twenties or thirties. Many are in long-term relationships, which causes a 'two-body problem'. It is often not possible, or wise, for them to drop every\-thing and move every few years, especially if they have children. Yet making the best decision for their families can harm their careers. [...] Simply put, the career framework for young scientists was established at a time when wives and partners did not necessarily work and were expected to follow the -- generally male -- breadwinner as he worked his way up. That (thankfully) is not the world we live in now. Society has changed and science should change with it. [...] There are some straightforward steps that we can take. First, guidelines for grant reviewers, job panels and academics should make clear that personal factors are as important and legitimate as professional ones when it comes to making career choices. [...]

Second, principal investigators could ensure that young scientists have the chance to pursue independent research without leaving the lab, and to publish the results.},
  journal = {Nature},
  keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-13233286,education,fragmentation,research-funding,research-management,science-ethics,tipping-point},
  lccn = {INRMM-MiD:c-13233286},
  number = {7505}
}

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