CSIRO head Larry Marshall wins 2014 Bent Spoon Award

[Helix]

For being an advocate of water divining.

The Bent Spoon Award is issued annually by the Australian Skeptics.

Skeptic of the Year goes to Reasonable Hank for his work on anti-vax chiropractors.

[Teleost]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry....

[Helix]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry....

Same here!

Here are the nominations. A big round of applause to the person who nominated Larry Marshall. The name might be familiar to some of you -- it's the real name of a well-known member of SSSF.

[*jj*]

That's hilarious!
And what a great letter ;)

THIS is what you cry over.

https://twitter.com/Asher_Wolf/status/5 ... 97/photo/1

[Teleost]

I have have a group of studients I do some field work with. It's really disheartening to think these guys are having their career options cut out from under them before they even finish their courses.

One of my mates from uni has never had a job that utilises his zoology degree. He works as a tree surgeon. He's been away from science so long that his degree is now pretty much worthless :(

[*jj*]

I'd never be game to encourage kids to go into science like we used to do.
:(

[Teleost]

It was about following my interests for me. The career/money thing didn't really feature in the equation.

I'm lucky in that I've been able to get paid to follow my interests so far and I love what I do, but I think I'd be looking hard at potential jobs prospects if I were considering doing a science degree now.

Sad to say, but I recommend getting a trade to most young people I meet these days. By the time they complete an apprenticeship, they're earning more, with a better career path than most graduates entering the workplace.

[buffy]

Skeptic Pete is going to be so pleased.

:)

[buffy]

I wonder if Skeptic Pete was at the dinner. He's a member of Australian Skeptics.

[*jj*]

I don't know whether I should laugh or cry....

Here's a clue :(


"CSIRO researchers need to "tweak" their science to better suit the needs of the customer in a bid to become more entrepreneurial, incoming head Dr Larry Marshall says."

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-te ... ntm6vx592q

[Teleost]

Oh Lord!
It gets worse.

I wonder how long it will be before the CSIRO journals are deemed unprofitable and the rest of the publishing wing is declared to be publishing books that are too specific that hardly anyone wants to read.

I can see the funding proposal interview now:

"I'd like to investigate aquifer extraction and recharge rates in marginal agricultural regions".

"Yeah, sounds nice. What'd be more saleable is if you were to concentrate on better dowsing techniques. Then we'd have all the water we'd need".

Putting the monkeys in charge of the zoo.

*shakes head*

[*jj*]

I thought I"d not be alone in this.

It really is ghastly; such long(er) term consequences as don't bear thinking about (and not only in science, either).

Also this from Ian Chubb ... not sure quite what he was saying ... beyond the bleeding obvious. the only science people I know working on Ag stuff are forever attending meetings to show and tell ... :(

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-29/s ... on/5776702
Thank goodness NZ plantand food is supporting some Oz work in way old state Ag Depts used to do in basic science & related communication etc.
http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/
Anyhow, enough whinging from me.
I hope you are well and that your ants haven't been dispersed.