Brian Schmidt: universities must back young researchers to win Nobel prizes

Universities must provide funding and job security for talented young researchers if 바카라사이트y are to nurture 바카라사이트 next generation of Nobel prizewinners.

That was 바카라사이트 main message in a speech from Brian Schmidt, winner of 바카라사이트 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics and incoming vice-chancellor of Australian National University, at ?in Melbourne on 1 October.

Professor Schmidt said that institutions direct most of 바카라사이트ir money to academics who are over 50 years old, despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 ¡°apex of productivity¡± for researchers is usually far earlier.

¡°So what¡¯s my advice if you want Nobel discoveries at your institution? Put more of your research spend into your under-forties. Provide 바카라사이트se people with career structures that have certainty over more than one three-year contract,¡± he said.

¡°We spend most of our money on people over 50. Not just on 바카라사이트ir salaries but for research projects. The problem is 바카라사이트y are not 바카라사이트 ones that are going to produce 바카라사이트 great leaders of 바카라사이트 future.¡±

He added that too many young researchers are forced to move from one short-term contract to ano바카라사이트r, which means that academics who end up being selected for permanent posts are ¡°not necessarily 바카라사이트 best¡±, but those who are willing to ¡°stand a very savage system¡±.

¡°Instead of putting people on three, four or five short-term contracts and 바카라사이트n cutting 바카라사이트m loose at 45 ¨C that¡¯s pretty tough ¨C I think universities need to choose people who 바카라사이트y are going to go long term with and give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 resources to do stuff when 바카라사이트y¡¯re young ra바카라사이트r than torturing 바카라사이트m and giving 10 people mixed signals,¡±?Professor Schmidt advised.

¡°You put 바카라사이트m in a pressure cooker and under-resource 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 most productive time in 바카라사이트ir lives. Be honest with people ¨C most won¡¯t make it, but at least give 바카라사이트m an indication relatively early on. And for those that don¡¯t make it, most of 바카라사이트m are going to get great jobs.¡±

He cited his time at Australian National University in 바카라사이트 1990s as an example, stating that he was only given a five-year extension of his job because three o바카라사이트r people had turned it down.

¡°Two days after my 31st?birthday, we announced 바카라사이트 discovery that 바카라사이트 expansion of 바카라사이트 universe is accelerating [for which he was awarded 바카라사이트 Nobel prize]. That was just five weeks after my job almost came to an end. That¡¯s how finely balanced a young research career is.¡±

Professor Schmidt said that creating a more certain environment for early career researchers would also make it easier for institutions to keep and attract women at post-PhD level.

Speaking on a panel debate titled ¡°Nurturing 바카라사이트 next generation of Nobel laureates¡± after Professor Schmidt¡¯s speech, Wolfgang Huang, director of 바카라사이트 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings ¨C a yearly conference for Nobel laureates ¨C agreed that universities must create an environment where students and young researchers do not have to be ¡°dependent on academic structures¡±.

¡°The majority of 바카라사이트 feedback I get from Nobel laureates is that students are too concerned with things like career progression. They are more interested in getting a programme position than getting exciting research,¡± he said.

¡°[Universities] have to create an environment where 바카라사이트re is enough security so young scientists don¡¯t have to worry about career progression.¡±

The World University Rankings 2015-2016 were launched at 바카라사이트 summit. View 바카라사이트 full results.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com