Are scientists more concern about chasing money than true research ?

Question

I wondered can scientists do research that can be beneficial to mankind, and receive financial rewards forperforming further research and studies, instead of the other way around. I have been reading that people in many scientific fields receive less money than other careers. Can this be true?

Answer 1

It is true.  In many fields of science the overwhelming desire is to do something worth while.  To that point, monetary rewards may take a back seat.  However, I don't know any scientist that are poor and most retire very comfortably.

Answer 2

there is no such thing as "true research" unless you think there is a load of victorian scientist about with unlimited trust funds to pay for their expensive hobbies.  

The bulk of research is conducted using the monies of interested parties either the public or private sectors.  all want some measure of return on their investment.

that said, our "rewards" are a basic paycheck and our integrity for that reason is no more or no less than anyone else who gets a paycheck for their efforts.

my financial status is somewhere between Bill Gates and a nun

Answer 3

in comparison to the amount of training scientists have to go through, they are way underpaid.

that's one of the reasons that there is a trend in less americans pursuing science careers than before.  now there is a rise in foreign scientists.

the second reason for that trend is that scientists in other countries are generally well respected.  Here in the US there is this religious/political backlash against science.  The church and the gov't come out and portray scientists as anti-God (stem cell issue) or incompetent/lying (evolution).  it's a tough and pretty much thankless profession in the US.  we do it because we think it's worthwhile

Answer 4

It depends on what kind of person they are. I want to believe that they all want to better mankind, but that may be unrealistic. When I become a researcher someday, I will care about bettering humankind because that will increase my chances in getting a Nobel Prize.

Answer 5

As a scientist, I can tell you that any successful researcher pursues that career for love of science and discovery. Not for money, because we just don't make that much. Research is very expensive, and universities do not pick up the bill so all researchers must pursue outside funding. This makes doing research a competitive endevour, and as such increases the quality of the research while at the same time providing an advantage to well-established ideas rather than new and exciting but unproven hypotheses. No one wants to spend money on something that has a low chance of success. This creates a major problem for new investigators and new ideas. If you are in research to benefit mankind I would say become a doctor, research is not for you. If you are in research for love of science and appreciate that you can help mankind if you put your mind to the task then by all means try to be one of the less than 10% of PhDs that actually make it to being a professor. Also, the only way for scientists to receive rewards is by either contributing in a major way to the advancement of science or by working for or providing critical data to private biotech/pharma companies who exist to make money.

Answer 6

Scientists are paid much less than other profesionals, because most scientists work in universities and government.