Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!varol
From: varol@cwi.nl (Varol Akman)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: U.S. Mathematicians dying breed
Message-ID: <147@piring.cwi.nl>
Date: 15 Dec 87 16:03:38 GMT
References: <1878@pdn.UUCP> <2424@killer.UUCP>
Organization: CWI, Amsterdam
Lines: 41
Summary: Degrees aren't that important

In article <2424@killer.UUCP> elg@killer.UUCP (Eric Green) writes:
>
>Have you looked at the reports on production of CS majors lately? I don't
>recall the exact numbers (which I saw in an issue of IEEE Computer while
>searching for the article on the AMD29000), but they were quite disappointing
>for the MS and, especially, the PhD level. Apparently all us folks get a BS
>and then ride out upon the winds to gain our fame and fortune :-). Maybe some
>of these underpaid underemployed BS's will come back for an advanced degree,
>but it looks pretty doubtful right now. For one thing, someone capable of
>gaining a MS or PhD isn't very likely to be either underpaid or 
>underemployed. 
>
I've come to believe that degrees aren't that important.  True, a PhD
has more research potential than an BSc but then again this is more or
less a rule of thumb.  A lot researchers without advanced degrees
come up with important, even revolutionary, results.  I explain their
success with an appeal to their intelligence, hard work, experience, etc.
For example, various advanced products are created in companies which
employ many more BSc's than PhDs.  Although it is true that research
divisions of these companies have many PhDs, it is probably not true
to assert that these solely are the people who do the major inventions or
innovations.

I believe that one cannot expect to have a huge number of PhD's
without really proving that they are the ones (and the only ones)
who are creating our ``knowledge.''  Even if this turns out to be
the case, so what?  Should all industrialists be as successful as
Ford?  Should all physicists be as good as Weinberg?  The examples
can be multiplied.  Basically, I'm trying to say that a lot of
useful work can be done without being perfect.

One last thing ...  A capitalist society is based on the great law
of economic supply & demand.  When there is enough demand, there'll be a lot
of people who would like to study for an advanced degree.  Demand
in the sense that the employers will be willing to give e.g. a lot
of money, respect, responsibility, what have you.  Until then only people who are
really motivated, idealistic, etc. will go for an advanced degree
but I don't see anything wrong with that.

-Varol Akman
CWI, Amsterdam