A researchers motivating and driving forces is obviously irrelevant for evaluating his/her research, but important for the researcher to proceed. Seriously, which mix of motivations do you have? Or answer generally: can really good research have career/salary background only? Or is there researchers that are only driven by curiousity or by wish to change the world? Or anything else?
A great question. One that I discuss with my students when choosing a career path or indeed at open days when students are choosing a career. Problem is, we Change and so do our priorities as we age. It’s difficult to forecast our needs and desires in 10, 20 or 30 years time. I think career and advice should contain discussions on the individual personality.
Thanks David! I agree with you - age probably plays in a lot here, at least for some academics. Maybe increasing experience and professionality saves the situation anyway, even if curiosity or ambitions to cause real change in the world should diminish.
However, among the researchers I respect and admire most, curiosity and to some degreee ambition to cause real change in the world does not deteriorate much with age, on the contrary. If a person is successful with curiosity as driver, the impetus to continue this way seems strong.
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