#idk scientists should learn the sociology/history of our field (beyond responsible conduct of research classes mentioning nazi experiments) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

pyritize · 11 days ago

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I know it's useful to consume perspectives that make me feel defensive and self-conscious but I wish it was easier to tell when that feeling is coming from unexplored reactionary tendencies or whatever and when it's because I have a fair criticism that I just don't know how to articulate yet.

#I have such a knee-jerk reaction to criticisms of science as a concept or an industry idk #and most scientists imo aren't super interested in talking about the role of science in colonialism or flaws in the pharma industry #but I also feel like non-scientists don't Get It enough to know where to point the blame necessarily #spent a half hour the other day typing and retyping a response to someone on askamanager before just deleting it and walking away #because they said that in an ideally structured society R&D wouldn't be too expensive #and it's just. it takes SO much work and time and money to develop one single drug #and sure some of that cost is bloat from pharma and insurance companies #and from the vendors of scientific reagents overcharging because they know they can #but some corners can't be be cut #idk I think patent law for scientific/therapeutic tools needs massive reform and some things should legally have to be open-source #but science is going to cost money. there's a crisis in academia right now because the NIH won't raise the minimum postdoc salary #and that's not good for anyone #idk scientists should learn the sociology/history of our field (beyond responsible conduct of research classes mentioning nazi experiments)#and we need to learn to talk to non-scientists without being condescending #personal

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