391
votes
Upset by male classmates openly comparing female students according to physical appearance
You don't say where you're going to school but if it's here in the US, I would report the problem to the university and demand they do whatever is necessary to fix it. Title IX requires them to ...
- 30.9k
242
votes
Accepted
Does it violate academic social norm to email someone around midnight?
The good thing (maybe the only good thing) about email is that it's by nature asynchronous. A phone call in the middle of the night is intrusive, because there is an explicit expectation that the ...
- 135k
230
votes
If you know a family member who is much more qualified and capable in mathematics than you are, should find another field of specialisation?
Research in math (and I assume in general) is hard. It doesn't get better over time, but rather we seem to get used to the accompanying depression and angst.
When I feel down, I try to remind myself ...
- 20.4k
180
votes
What good is engineering research with no practical relevance?
The short answer to your question is that you are vastly overestimating your, and other engineer's, ability to judge what techniques will ever have practical relevance.
I think it was Michael ...
- 135k
173
votes
Upset by male classmates openly comparing female students according to physical appearance
If there is a local Women in Computing or Women in Science and Engineering group you may be able to get face-to-face support and advice.
Failing that, I suggest joining Systers. Even if you get ...
- 33.2k
168
votes
Is "flowery language" frowned upon in engineering and STEM related research?
There's nothing wrong with long words. The real issue with your writing is that it is redundant.
"these related works are germane to our present discussion."
In this sentence, "...
- 3,807
163
votes
What is this "can I hire you as a tutor" scam?
This is usually a version of a "babysitting scam", where some generous out-of-town person wants to pay you a royal ransom for some minor errand or babysitting someone you've never met. It goes a few ...
- 21.3k
156
votes
I wasted six years of my life getting a PhD degree. What should I do, and how will I survive?
It looks to me like you did not do so badly as you think. Two publications and 3.7 GPA are not so bad. It might depend on the field, it might not be the best ever, but I have seen much worse. If your ...
- 8,411
148
votes
Accepted
Why do academics prefer Mac/Linux?
It's not entirely accurate to state that Windows 'dominates' in the commercial world. While this is generally accurate in Desktop and Laptop computers, keep in mind that the vast majority of web (and ...
- 746
132
votes
I am interested in retracting my old journal articles. Would it have any negative effects on my academic career?
The way to "retract" old work is to publish better work that references the old work and its errors. There should be nothing embarrassing about having found earlier errors and correcting them.
You ...
- 344k
131
votes
Does academia have a lazy work culture?
Different areas of work look differently. A mechanic, a tailor or a miner perform visible physical operations and deliver an objective and measurable result by hour. Compared with them, office work ...
- 53.6k
124
votes
Upset by male classmates openly comparing female students according to physical appearance
First of all, acknowledge for yourself that what you're going through is 100% not OK, and you have every right to be upset and looking for a fix ASAP. I start saying this because very often, with any ...
- 1,390
115
votes
Upset by male classmates openly comparing female students according to physical appearance
I’m not sure what to do. I am friends with some of these men (or so I thought) and have committed to working on software projects with them that I can’t back out of. What do I say?
You could try ...
- 13.3k
112
votes
As a Head of Department, how can I make my faculty happier?
It might be uncommon, but just ask them.
You could use a basic questionaire if you want to do it anonymously, or you could talk to everyone in person.
Just showing some activity does not help as ...
- 13.1k
106
votes
What makes academic failure different from failure in another career?
Many other careers are not structured around "success" and "failure" in the same way that academia is, and the jobs that are are acknowledged to be high stress. I agree strongly with what Anyon ...
- 6,758
106
votes
Does academia have a lazy work culture?
Do not fall into the trap of assuming that "Value of work done" is proportional to "Hours spent at a desk".
Some HR departments do think this way, but it's rarely true.
- 9,398
105
votes
How do really talented people in academia think about people who are less capable than them?
I wouldn't say I'm a 'top' professor - hopefully someday, heh - but here's my take on it.
I couldn't care less how 'smart' my students are or aren't. It's tough to quantify, and different people have ...
- 4,631
98
votes
Accepted
Was my student being disrespectful by using shouting language in her email to me?
For a one-off or short-term rudeness, my policy is to respond with pure facts, served chilled. If you have a good instinct for delivering comebacks at just the right level, a hint (but just a hint) of ...
- 46.6k
96
votes
Accepted
Why doesn't the academic year start on January first?
Basically because schooling is the inverse of farming. That is: Historically farming and feeding the family (and community) took precedence over all other considerations. This is primarily a job that ...
- 34.7k
96
votes
Is it socially acceptable to directly contact renowned academics as a student?
Yes, it's perfectly fine to do so. To maximise the chances of a response, make sure your email is clear, concise and polite.
94
votes
What should I do the day before submitting my PhD thesis?
I would suggest reading through it one more time for pleasure. Savor the writing you labored so hard on, marvel at just how much work has gone into this, and reflect on where you are now compared to ...
- 187k
91
votes
Math Ph.D. does not know what to do with life?
Let me just comment on what you say towards the end, wich I believe is the root of your predicament.
I hate being poor and lonely. I am approaching 30 without any relationship (even friendships). ...
- 35k
88
votes
I am interested in retracting my old journal articles. Would it have any negative effects on my academic career?
I am interested in retracting my old journal articles. Would it have any negative effects on my academic career?
Yes, it would have severe negative effects. Don't do this.
Retraction is intended ...
- 132k
87
votes
Contacted by head of school regarding an issue - should I be worried?
I think you should be worried that you and your colleagues might have to go without pizza the rest of the semester if you've already (unknowingly) burned through the budget, and not much else.
You ...
- 104k
86
votes
Accepted
Is it okay to send a thank-you-for-teaching to a professor who taught a course a few semesters ago?
Yes, it is entirely appropriate and will be appreciated. Let the person know a bit about your current activities - especially successes.
Even better, if it weren't for the pandemic, would be to pay ...
- 344k
83
votes
Accepted
"Academic time": why is 110 minutes called two hours?
The 10 minute interval given here seems to be common in the US, while in Europe 15 minutes is also in widespread use, but some universities also use 5 minutes.
It is to solve a rather practical ...
- 694
83
votes
Was my student being disrespectful by using shouting language in her email to me?
No, "shouting" in an email isn't "normal". And, yes, it might imply disrespect. But I think that, given everything else you say, it is more likely that it indicates extreme PANIC ...
- 344k
82
votes
Accepted
What makes academic failure different from failure in another career?
I think the reason is simply that a lot of people go into academia with the, often unrealistic, goal of becoming a professor. No matter the circumstances, if you don't get to the point where you want ...
- 24.3k
82
votes
What is the best way to deal with cranks?
Ignore the crank.
Unless you are in some location where you are required by law to respond to communications (I remember reading here about one country where it was indeed the case that it was ...
- 173k
82
votes
As a Head of Department, how can I make my faculty happier?
It sounds like you already have a well-functioning department, without interpersonal problems, so be careful that any changes don't make it worse. Thus, I would suggest approaching the problem with ...
- 64k
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