tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post277991051812584582..comments2024-03-28T04:15:44.459-05:00Comments on nanoscale views: Responsibilities, rational and otherwiseDouglas Natelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-4630546045665740622012-04-04T10:16:57.378-05:002012-04-04T10:16:57.378-05:00What enhances credibility of an idea is not the do...What enhances credibility of an idea is not the doctoral degree but its acceptance by the community. For e.g. If there aren't enough number of people citing his work, the idea is lost in the rubble. <br /><br />Let the community decide the worth of an idea than a single person on the thesis committee. <br /><br />That said, it still is the responsibility of committee members to test the candidate rigorously for reasoning behind his ideas.entanglednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-1663271805310140842012-03-29T12:24:17.947-05:002012-03-29T12:24:17.947-05:00The same can happen when the student is your own a...The same can happen when the student is your own and the student needn't even be on the fringe. Common dilemma : student is excellent in the lab but his/her grasp of theory is unsound. Earlier, written exams and/or tough vivas did the needful but many universities have shifted to softer oral exams. Now it is up to the superviser and the committee members to maintain standards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-47222592173627882982012-03-28T20:22:55.528-05:002012-03-28T20:22:55.528-05:00Anon, I did say it wasn't rational. Still, I ...Anon, I did say it wasn't rational. Still, I sympathize - it can't feel good knowing that one has enhanced the credibility of someone on the fringe.Douglas Natelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340091255404229559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-36939178683802042022012-03-28T12:23:54.680-05:002012-03-28T12:23:54.680-05:00I don't understand what the problem is. Plenty...I don't understand what the problem is. Plenty of people with phds espouse fringe ideas - Freeman dyson has a nice piece in the nyrb this week about physics on the fringe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13869903.post-45952706609555211712012-03-28T11:15:46.408-05:002012-03-28T11:15:46.408-05:00Interesting! At first I would say, a thesis makes...Interesting! At first I would say, a thesis makes the PhD. But lawyers' speech is regulated outside of the courtroom, so I guess there's some precedent for restricting credentialed woo. But don't they get new certification every few years? Could this be handled as a Professional Scientist/Engineer License? Can members of the NAS be expelled?Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01594209357651579786noreply@blogger.com