Some questions people asked me on science and my replies to them - Part I - SCI-ART LAB2024-03-29T01:16:59Zhttps://kkartlab.in/forum/topics/some-questions-people-ask-me-and-my-replies-to-them?groupUrl=some-science&feed=yes&xn_auth=no1225
Why is PhD mandatory for…tag:kkartlab.in,2016-05-19:2816864:Comment:1392732016-05-19T06:32:40.608ZDr. Krishna Kumari Challahttps://kkartlab.in/profile/DrKrishnaKumariChalla
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<div class="ans_page_question_header"><div id="KtyxtQ"><div class="QuestionArea">Why is PhD mandatory for Professorship?…<div id="PVUkDB"><div class="question_text_edit"><div class="question_qtext"><div class="QuestionTextInlineEditor InlineEditor inline_editor_content" id="__w2_wk4OnpR_inline_editor_content"><div id="gJzlTr"><a class="question_link" href="https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Phd-mandatory-for-Professorship" id="__w2_ZNXEeiv_link" name="__w2_ZNXEeiv_link" target="_top"></a></div>
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<div class="ans_page_question_header"><div id="KtyxtQ"><div class="QuestionArea">Why is PhD mandatory for Professorship?<div id="PVUkDB"><div class="question_text_edit"><div class="question_qtext"><div class="QuestionTextInlineEditor InlineEditor inline_editor_content" id="__w2_wk4OnpR_inline_editor_content"><div id="gJzlTr"><a class="question_link" href="https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Phd-mandatory-for-Professorship" target="_top" id="__w2_ZNXEeiv_link" name="__w2_ZNXEeiv_link"><span class="question_text"><span class="rendered_qtext"> </span></span></a></div>
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<div id="AizvMI"><div class="question_details"><div class="InlineEditor QuestionDetailsInlineEditor inline_editor_content" id="__w2_IymCv3f_inline_editor_content"><div class="expanded_q_text" id="__w2_P8IcCgD_text_snip"><p class="qtext_para">Do phd's make better teachers? Knowledge base of Phd's is in general very selective, that too only towards their 5-6 years of a focused research topic. Any simple question in other topic of their stream easily troubles them.</p>
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<p class="qtext_para">Agreed, Ph.D. does not determine teaching abilities. But without learning more and more about a subject, you cannot do research! A professor’s job is not only teaching but to do research and guide Ph.D. students. S/he cannot do this without getting proper training in research. A person with a Ph.D. degree is a trained scientist!</p>
<p class="qtext_para">And I don’t agree that ‘Any simple question in other topic of their stream easily troubles them’. You become a specialist after passing through general subjects. A Masters degree covers all the general topics of the subject. We passed through generalization before entering specialization. Yes, now we are both specialists and generalists. This really helps in understanding the world from a new and special points of view and our world has become very broad. And who says a specialist's world becomes narrow?</p>
<p class="qtext_para">Generalists tend to have a broad range of skills and experiences across a range of disciplines within their field, while specialists invest time and effort in becoming the go-to person in a certain niche. Usually, specific skills are valued more because they are more difficult to teach. Having a range of different experiences and skill sets can allow people to identify what their ideal role would be over time, and then look for specialist careers. Generalist skills are useful in becoming good leaders and trend setters because the skills help in dealing with different people efficiently. A <i>generalist</i>will be able to thrive in a wide variety of conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">A generalist can know more and more about more and more of various things if s/he is really interested in learning things and acquiring knowledge. S/he becomes more stronger and stronger mentally. A specialist can learn as much as possible in the subject s/he is specializing in and become very confident. Both processes deal with gaining knowledge. Then one can bring the vast amount of knowledge one gathers to creatively connect things and bring benefit to various fields one is working in.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">And when the situation demands it, a specialist can use the large amount of knowledge gathered in a single subject for specific purposes to help the world. It all depends on how well one can manage and differentiate things depending on the needs of the world around you.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">Read my blog on this topic here: <span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://kkartlab.in/profiles/blogs/being-both-a-specialist-and-a-generalist-helps" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">Being both a specialist and a generalist helps!</a></span></p>
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<div id="Qxsbxn"><div class="question_text_edit"><div class="question_qtext"><div class="QuestionTextInlineEditor InlineEditor inline_editor_content" id="__w2_GUsWzr4_inline_editor_content"><div id="txZspd"><a class="question_link" href="https://www.quora.com/unanswered/Is-pursuing-a-PhD-so-difficult-Is-it-worth-it-or-a-waste-of-time-Read-an-article-about-PhD-on-TOI" target="_top" id="__w2_u8DWtCa_link" name="__w2_u8DWtCa_link"><span class="question_text"><span class="rendered_qtext">Is pursuing a PhD so difficult? Is it worth it or a waste of time? Read an article about PhD on TOI</span></span></a></div>
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<div id="pXNSWB"><div class="question_details"><div class="InlineEditor QuestionDetailsInlineEditor inline_editor_content" id="__w2_cHBIxO6_inline_editor_content"><div class="expanded_q_text" id="__w2_tfRsKHv_text_snip"><p class="qtext_para"><span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://bit.ly/1Ph3HJ0" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">A premature, horrible death - The Times of India</a></span></p>
<p class="qtext_para">The article is about the recent shooting in UCLA.the shooter(indian) was pursuing a PhD in UCLA . The article suggests the pressures of PhD made him do this. And by 'worth' i mean my ability to produce 'useful' research during the PhD</p>
<p class="qtext_para">Yes, research in Science is difficult. If your relationship with your guide is not good and if you completely depend on him, that complicates the issue more. One should go ahead only if one thinks one has the courage and patience for years of hard work. But before going ahead<b> </b><b><i>realize that you are about to embark on a grueling several years of journey that will test your intellect, creativity, endurance, independence, and fundamental will power.</i></b></p>
<p class="qtext_para">There are thousands who took this test of physical and mental strength and came out with flying colours.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">This person who killed his supervisor, wife and himself couldn’t resolve the issues successfully and took the wrong turn. Several forces combined in his life to push him to the extreme and he wasn’t able to cope with them. Life is not just a bed of roses, one has to deal with thorns too. How you manage both shows what type of person you are.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">If you are intelligent enough you can do ‘useful research’. Let me tell you, a Ph.D. is worth doing . If you have the right mind set, nothing compares to the thrill you get when you reach the pinnacle of your education.</p>
<p class="qtext_para">Read my article that discusses pros and cons of research here: <span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://kkartlab.in/group/some-science/forum/topics/how-to-do-research-and-write-research-papers" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">How to do research and write research papers</a></span></p>
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<p class="qtext_para"><span class="qlink_container"><a class="question_link" href="https://www.quora.com/Which-5-scientists-were-the-greatest-geniuses-of-all-time" id="__w2_T6rpAkX_link" name="__w2_T6rpAkX_link"><span class="question_text"><span class="rendered_qtext">Which 5 scientists were the greatest geniuses of all time?</span></span></a></span></p>
<p class="qtext_para">Media hype! That is what I felt when I read the lists given here. Life sciences, which is one of the most important field because it’s discoveries and inventions can have impact on life itself, was mostly ignored. Likewise female scientists were ignored. Yes, I am complaining:)</p>
<p class="qtext_para">My list goes somewhat like this: <span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-historic-female-scientists-you-should-know-84028788/?no-ist" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">Ten Historic Female Scientists You Should Know</a></span></p>
<p class="qtext_para"><span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://discovermagazine.com/2002/nov/feat50/" rel="noopener" target="_blank" class="external_link">The 50 Most Important Women in Science</a></span></p>
<p class="qtext_para"><span class="qlink_container"><a href="http://www.infoplease.com/spot/scibio4.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">Scientists: Life Sciences</a></span></p>
<p class="qtext_para">Any objections?</p>
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