How to balance what the accepted wisdom demands vs. what the conscience demands in advising young trainees? [closed]

Question

This post is focused on the life sciences. Encouraging students to pursue a career in biomedical research is taken as indisputably the right thing to do. For example see, this page from the U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Yet, a more sober evaluation shows that such career path is fraught with some serious shortcomings that are usually minimized or even ignored. For example see this article, not to mention ridiculous funding “success” rates.

The question is: with the rosy picture of biomedical research career path typically painted - should one go with the conventional wisdom and encourage young people along that path, or should one go with what the conscience demands and warn these same young people to beware? Or perhaps there’s a third alternative.

Answer 1

Sometimes, I'm conflicted when advising for multiple reasons (for example, when I have a personal interest in the matter, etc. )

What I have done, which has always worked for me is that I don't offer advice. Instead:

1. I offer facts (like you did in your question).
2. Then I offer where the person can get other facts (publications, your network, etc.)
3. Stop
4. If asked (frequently), I offer my opinions, not advice.
5. Then I indicate that my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.
6. Then offer other people (your network) so they give opinions