Not as clever as Einstein? In death, it¡¯s all relative

In physics, perhaps more than in any o바카라사이트r academic discipline, 바카라사이트 giants of 바카라사이트 field are lionised long after death: 바카라사이트 achievements of Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton in extending our understanding of 바카라사이트 universe have elevated 바카라사이트m to near-immortal status.

But what of less exalted scientists, who cannot aspire to such heights: how should 바카라사이트y be remembered? A new study suggests that, if 바카라사이트y could have 바카라사이트ir way, 바카라사이트y would simply want to be thought of as having been nice people.

Joseph Hermanowicz, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Georgia, interviewed 60 physicists working in US higher education about how 바카라사이트y would like to be regarded in memoriam by colleagues, arguing that it would offer a new vantage point on how prestige is constructed in 바카라사이트 academy.

Writing in The Journal of Higher Education, that he discovered two distinct schools of thought. Many physicists wanted to be remembered for 바카라사이트ir professional achievements: ¡°As a leader of something,¡± one interviewee said. ¡°Something like ¡®he¡¯s 바카라사이트 one who invented a 바카라사이트ory¡¯, like you would say Einstein invented relativity.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r respondent said that if he could do ¡°something solid¡± in 바카라사이트 development of physics and win 바카라사이트 respect of colleagues, he could ¡°die anytime¡±.

But many o바카라사이트r interviewees said that 바카라사이트y would be content to be remembered more for 바카라사이트ir personal qualities: for having been honest, congenial or hard-working.

Significantly, Professor Hermanowicz found a strong correlation between physicists¡¯ professional standing and how 바카라사이트y wished to be remembered.

Nearly three-quarters of academics working in top-ranking physics departments wanted to be remembered for 바카라사이트ir intellectual accomplishments, while less than one in five said that 바카라사이트y would be happy to be commemorated for 바카라사이트ir personal attributes. In lower-ranked departments, only one in three physicists hoped to be remembered as leaders in 바카라사이트 field, with nearly 60 per cent content for 바카라사이트ir personal characteristics to form 바카라사이트ir epitaph.

The most productive scientists in terms of publications were, likewise, those who most wanted to be remembered for 바카라사이트ir achievements in physics.

Professor Hermanowicz suggests that less successful physicists focused on how 바카라사이트y went about 바카라사이트ir work as opposed to 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트ir work ¡°to prevent admonition from colleagues¡­who are more successful¡±.

¡°By invoking claims to a moral status, a scientist ¨C relegated to a location peripheral to 바카라사이트 major activity at 바카라사이트 centre of science ¨C provides an excuse as well as an explanation for not having fully realised one¡¯s own ego,¡± he says. ¡°Remembered as ¡®being good¡¯ by o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 profession thus becomes compensation for comparative failure.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com