My experience with scientists in college was that they staked out a position, got tenure and then spent the rest of their lives defending their original position no matter what the facts said.
That reminds me of an assertion by theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem about his opinion on a particular Biblical issue that came up during his systematic theology lectures. Before he dealt with the topic he pointed out that he had done his doctoral thesis on that particular subject. This meant that he was not necessarily right, but simply that you would not be able to change his mind. :)