How many of you really are doing research as a passion instead of for survival, and really believe what you are doing is going to solve some real problem. I believe over 90% of us will respond "no" including myself.

well, for me, doing research is half passion and half survival. I like what I am doing, but most of the time I am frustrated by the results I get. probably that is what research is for.

netron on Apr 9 2009, 07:38 PM said:

me, yes

I worked as a volunteer technician for 6 months, then worked as a fully self-funded PhD student for 2 years in the same lab.

If it is not for passion, I would do a MBA instead...
A small investment company offered to pay for my MBA tuition and gave me a brand new BMW if I do MBA and continue working in their company.

Minnie Mouse on Apr 9 2009, 07:26 PM said:

It is quite hard to keep that passion like you. I guess most of people doing research for survival. Although I like doing research, I have to say that it is also for survival. I live on it and I make money from it. It is my job. I can not do the same thing as what Minnemouse did because I need money to live. But I like it. So, It is Ok for me because my job is my interest.

I do it for the passion, when it gets old then I will do something else 'for the passion'. Sure, I also make my money this way and have a wife and two kids to support. But heck, why live just to survive? You can work at the quicky mart and survive. Do something to make money, but make sure it's something you love - I really understand people using the money excuse? Look at the stock market, your money could be gone in an instant, if you're only living to make money then it is going to suck when you lose money. Learn, discover, create, enjoy.... those things can't be taken from you.

....okay, I'm sick of research , just sick of how the funding and politics is set up, but that's every job

Minnie Mouse on Apr 10 2009, 04:56 AM said:

it would be easy to self-fund my phd if my dad owned the largest amusement parks in the world (ie disneyland, disneyworld and eurodisney)

i also do it for passion, however, i get paid to do this, so it could be considered to be done for survival, no charity is supporting me economically. and i think it's not worth it to do a phd only as a job, too much frustration involved, as minnie suggests do an MBA instead if you're after money...

I would have to say passion too. If it were not for the enjoyment and satisfaction that I get out of doing what I do- I could easily be earning 2 or 3 times more money doing something else.
But happiness and fulfilment is more important than money and material things to me

netron on Apr 10 2009, 04:38 AM said:

For me it's all about the passion!

But I fear that I may have to turn to survival mode and turn to Industry if the "credit crunch" can no longer feed my passion.


Clare

Passion, what else? Why should anybody take all the frustrating moments with experiments that do not work out, nights of writing papers or grants......without passion for doing research?

ok, you need to survive and make your living somehow, but if netron is right there should be enough space for them....for the others there are BMWs and MBAs

But serious: if you do not like what you are doing....you spend most of the time of your life at work; it is horrible to imagine that 90 % of the people out there are only thinking when to go home and really start living I like my work and hope that I will never have to take up a job I do not like just for surviving

I do it because i wanna know my answer. Curiosity brings me this far and along with curiosity comes the passion.

How it works ? why it works? etc. it's all part of the game.

If u do research , i think it's better to do it with the right reason.

Because when other ppl are doing the same thing everyday, you're finding and discovering new knowledge.

i do it because i don't know and i want to know.


it's 10.46pm and i am still in the lab lol on a public holiday.