The tenure system (while highly controversial today) was created to provide protection for teachers and professors and acts as a major incentive to individuals interested in academic research. However, the mismatch of supply and demand and the erosion of tenureship have endangered job security for many promising young scientists, who are seriously feeling the heat.
David Keays suggests that “at the very least… universities should stop handing out PhDs like complimentary muffins.” But with the state of funding (stay tuned for the next post in this series), this is easier said than done.
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