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To: wiggen
Some scientists seem to think "I have a data point -- I better come up with a theory".

If the best that can be done with the information available is nothing better than guesswork, then I think it ought to be kept in the lab until such time as it is more mature. Science should be about known results which can be repeated and verified. Those results should be published. The results which are simply guesswork should be held back.

But it's all about the grants. Having a fancy theory based on almost no data is a fine thing to publish and make some noise. Afterall, if it's the best that can be done with the information available, then you can get A for effort.

But I consider it more Creative Writing than Science.

37 posted on 12/08/2010 5:54:20 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: ClearCase_guy

Okay,take the dino story. How does one get a grant to find out more without some sort of exposure? Nobody gets a grant sitting in a lab and not publishing. A scientist working for a corporation on the other hand will be paid while not publishing.


54 posted on 12/08/2010 8:00:34 AM PST by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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