Scientists or Administrators?
The year 2013 is being celebrated as the centenary year of Bohrs Atomic model. The model given in 1913 by Neils Bohr is truly a milestone in the modern science era. Information on Bohrs scientific contributions is known worldwide (see link). He was a builder of institutions and people. He founded the Institute of Theoretical Physics in 1920 which is now known as the Neils Bohr Institute (see link) . Apart from this he pioneered many scientific programmes. He was truly an extraordinary scientist and an equally efficient administrator.
Neils Bohr belonged to an era where research institutes were less. In the 19th century the world did require maximum scientists to take on the role of administrators and nation builders, but in the present scenario, where there are institutes and funding for almost every aspect of science , do we require more than 50 percent of the scientific strength to take on the role of administrators? Aren’t the scientific brains better of doing research rather than charting out policies or doing some paperwork? How many scientists actually spend time for scientific thinking or solving research problems? Most of them are generally busy writing research proposals for some funds or they are busy drafting policies. Writing research proposals, acquiring funds and making policies though very important and researchers should definitely be involved at a certain level but the major focus should be research. A researcher’s true identity is his/her scientific contributions.
As a Phd student I ponder and worry that once I am an established researcher, (a looooong way to go!!!!!!!) how am I supposed to strike a balance between Science and Administration. The argument people put forward is that it all depends on person to person. However the problem is partly institutional and partly individual. There are examples wherein senior professors still participate in experimentation whereas some in spite of having a thirst for science are forced to do administrative work.
Neils Bohr pursued a scientific problem relentlessly and found a solution to it. It was only after he grew in stature that he went on to work for the development of sciences which was essential and relevant in his era. Similarly Sir C V Raman discovered the Raman Effect and it was later on in his carrier he participated in various developmental activities. These people were passionate about science and it was this passion which culminated in their participation for setting up institutes. Thus, the writing on the wall is One has to do science to develop science.
The things that will inspire the coming generations are discoveries and inventions. I firmly believe that a scientist should venture into administration only when he feels that his scientific temperament is wearing out and he/she can now contribute at an administrative level
More about Neils Bohr-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niels_Bohr
Link to Neils bohr Institute-
http://www.nbi.ku.dk/english/
Link to some interesting quotes by Neils Bohr
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/niels_bohr.html
