Nature's (one of them) Editorial: Geoscience on the chopping block

[Hibush]

Another Nature-related paper:
Highlighting altruism in geoscience careers aligns with diverse US student ideals better than emphasizing working outdoors

"...We also find that many respondents know little about what a career in geoscience entails. We argue that better informing students about the altruistic potential of geoscience careers would be an effective strategy to broaden recruitment...."

Combined with the article that started this thread ("Geoscience on the chopping block"), this forms a disturbing pattern:
"Dimming career prospects reduce appeal of geoscience majors to the traditional [privileged] demographic?
=> Let's attract underprivileged students who have no idea about actual careers and condition them to help others for free"

That states the pattern well. I hope they are not doing it intentionally but that is the dire consequence of a tactical expediency.

[Wahoo Redux]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

[Durchlässigkeitsbeiwert]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

Misdirected sarcasm will not make problems disappear, but can stifle honest discussion.
Nobody denies that geoscience post-secondary education is needed. The problem is that people seem to be in denial about technological changes reducing demand for graduates in many markets (first article) or openly suggest recruitment strategies that are intentionally prey on students' lack of awareness (second article).

By the way mining engineering programs are in decline for pretty much the same reasons. So, it is not engineering vs sciences situation.

[Wahoo Redux]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

Misdirected sarcasm will not make problems disappear, but can stifle honest discussion.

!!??

Tone is hard to get across online.

There was honestly no sarcasm.

This is the way out schools are going, and if it is what people want, so be it.  I used to argue for that there was a "higher purpose" for education, and this tended to generate some heat from people who pointed out sustainability, ROI, dying majors, and demographic cliffs----and these are all facts.

I am sure there will be a version of college in which the less popular majors are represented somehow, but this editorial simply confirms what I posted above.

[secundem_artem]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

I'd rather we just educate people for what they said they wanted to be as children.  So we would have the College of Cowboys, Departments of Police & Firemen, and offer a major in Ballerina.  Maybe minors in Army Guy & Princess Studies.

[mamselle]

Several state and private dance programs have good preparatory ballet programs.

However, the age for identifying potential professionals is about 14 overall, so college is too late.

M.

[Hibush]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

I'd rather we just educate people for what they said they wanted to be as children.  So we would have the College of Cowboys, Departments of Police & Firemen, and offer a major in Ballerina.  Maybe minors in Army Guy & Princess Studies.

As noted in a different thread, student demand would likely result in the College of Princess Studies and a minor in Cowboy. We have an Army Guy major already (with more women than men).

[Wahoo Redux]

It's time to let our colleges just become business and engineering trade schools.

It's what everyone seems to want except for a handful of academics.

I'd rather we just educate people for what they said they wanted to be as children.  So we would have the College of Cowboys, Departments of Police & Firemen, and offer a major in Ballerina.  Maybe minors in Army Guy & Princess Studies.

To which I quote myself:

I used to argue for that there was a "higher purpose" for education, and this tended to generate some heat

Which is simply the way it goes.

I still want to be a rock star.  No majors for that.

Okay, I'm out.

[mamselle]

Berklee School of Music.

M.

[Wahoo Redux]

Berklee School of Music.

M.

Alas, I am simply too old to rock'n'roll.

[mamselle]

Berklee School of Music.

M.

Alas, I am simply too old to rock'n'roll.

Huh.

There are some who would say the old rockers are the best...!

You don't agree?

;--}

M.

[Wahoo Redux]

Berklee School of Music.

M.

Alas, I am simply too old to rock'n'roll.

Huh.

There are some who would say the old rockers are the best...!

You don't agree?

;--}

M.

Devoted to:

Ramones
Stones (RIP Charlie, you were a classy guy)
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Van Halen (RIP my teen idol, Eddie)
Dead Kennedys
Sex Pistols
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
The Who (RIP, thunderfingers)
Queen (RIP Freddy)
Bowie (RIP)
Even E.L.O. sometimes

Unfortunately they were all rocking the heights well before they started worrying about bald spots, hairy nostrils, and hairy shoulders.

[mamselle]

I played for Neil Young once in the ....hmmm 1990s?.

It was the day before St. Patricks, he was opening for U2, and came to the restaurant I was playing at.

He asked for "No, Nay, Never."

I played it.

M.

[Wahoo Redux]

I played for Neil Young once in the ....hmmm 1990s?.

It was the day before St. Patricks, he was opening for U2, and came to the restaurant I was playing at.

He asked for "No, Nay, Never."

I played it.

M.

Whoa!!

That's like...on Olympus!!!

[mamselle]

Yes, he was very nice.

I remember a dhurrie jacket.

He gave a number of comp tickets out to the wait staff as well.

M.