I have difficulty to expand this question any further. I hope that my peers on RG will clarify the question I can't answer.
It makes a scientist professionally happy (1.) to see his own theories repeatedly confirmed by reality, and (2.) to receive recognition from his peers that his theories ring true to reality. If in addition other researchers carry his theories forward, incorporating them into their own without contradicting them, a further source of happiness arises.
It makes a scientist professionally happy (1.) to see his own theories repeatedly confirmed by reality, and (2.) to receive recognition from his peers that his theories ring true to reality. If in addition other researchers carry his theories forward, incorporating them into their own without contradicting them, a further source of happiness arises.
Dear Alexander,
This is interesting.
As much as I strongly believe that it takes more of one person's character than deeds, to make one happy, I can tell you from my personal experience in scientific research that even if I was the happiest person in the World, as soon as I noticed that I had credible results, there followed a sort of depressive hole of emptyness, after the presentation of results, ( a sort of post-partum depressive state), and in the overall analysis, I find that I was a happier person, throughout my research work, as I was building and working towards the development of my work. (because I could DREAM of several other different results to obtain.
(But I'm not a case-study in this field, because I am the happiest , joyful person, from since I can remember... It is in fact a question of character!)
Hope these personal notes were useful.
(I hope to keep on dreaming, the rest of my life!)
Once you have the results you stop working on it and the fun is over?
Thus, imagine a world where you would know everything? Not funny at all?
A scientist extracts and crystallizes happiness out his work. He feels contented when he brings out solution to a problem, some practicable ways to tackle a pressing issue and evolves means to make the life better. Recognition and appreciation of his accomplishments by scientific community and the public at large makes him professionally happy which is many fold if such appreciations comes from his own colleagues/competitors.
No, María, I never feel "post partem depression," and this has nothing to do with not being a women: the scientific problems that I propose are so difficult, that I know in advance the impossibility of solving them completely. Yet I set myself the goal of MOSTLY solving them, and in every paper I write, I indicate at the start what the problems are, how difficult they how, and to what degree I plan to solve them, leaving the rest to posterity. I attain some happiness by knowing that I have made the road easier for future researchers to follow.
A scientist will be professionally satisfied if and only if he/she is professionally successful. Success of a scientific profession is when fund is available and research is going well, with more results, publications and increasing active participation in promoting of the field and most importantly when results are seen to be used to solve problems of society or problems within the field, as works of science primarily are meant to solve problems.
Happiness is a subjective issue, so let's stick on an 'average view' of it.
- an income that can fulfil his/her financial needs
- academic respect from colleagues
- a kind of freedom to research by means of planning projects
- plus-probably- a kind of academic tourism?
Philadelphia, PA
Dear all,
There are many engaging answers here, and several had me chuckling to myself. I recall Aristotle on happiness: an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. The happy scientist, then will be the one conducting the needed work in accordance with the "virtues" of the trade. (Let's say, truthfulness, good methods, ...and empirical constraint, for example)
If happiness is genuinely an "activity of the soul" (psyche) then it is pretty hard, in normal circumstances, for the outside world to interfere. But it has always been debated, in spite of that, to what extent our happiness is within our own control. That is to say, we are all aware of the ways in which the outside world could or might interfere. For Aristotle, of course, the theme of happiness was closely connected to that of the health of the polity --a topic of much debate, of course.
H.G. Callaway
«Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults»
Thomas Szasz (1920-), Hungarian born psychiatrist
A scientist will be happy if he is convinced of the new work which he has discovered
Dear Mohamed,
Beeing convinced of the own works doesn´t make happy, it satifies. Happiness is much more. It comes from the innerst regions of human soul and emotion. A typical example is true friendship.
Dear @Alexander, I think that scientist would be happy professionally if he could avoid thinking on funds, time, deadlines...! The real one wants to do science, to make research that will bring results to be applied for the sake of human!
Dear Friend, Alexander:
Part of it for me is to accept when I am wrong regarding a hypothesis or theory (having to retain a null hypothesis is always hard); it adds just as much to the body of science as if I were right. Still disappointing. But, one has to be happy in life to be happy in their profession; or they could always teach.
Your friend, Marilyn
Scientists will be professionally happy if their works are cited well by researchers in their fields, also applied and carried forward to related and diverse areas by researchers in their fields.
For a Scientist to be broadly cited he/she should work in the field, where many other scientists work. In the case a Scientist works in a narrow field, he can't expect large number of citations. But a narrow field may be very important as well, lays foundation for future works.
To Alexander: it take for a Scientist to be professionally happy that his/her theory useful for the community and their colleague.
Even very successful scientists may not be happy because of stress! Feeling the stress of an academic career? Think happy thoughts! Fine reading as an research output from UT Austin! "Thinking positively can do more than bring a transient smile to your face."
http://nothinginbiology.org/2014/07/22/feeling-the-stress-of-an-academic-career-think-happy-thoughts/
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2014_07_21/caredit.a1400184
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smi.2589/abstract
Dear All, I believe that for a scientist to be proffessionally happy to get published his research in widely recognized high rated journal, cited by other professionals widely and solving the problem of socieiy practically, getting recognition for it from all corners make him happy further. Regards
Work results makes them feel professionally happy.
However, they have all motives and needs as common as other, which makes them happy as well.
A scientist would be happy to see his findings being recognized and adopted by the end users.
I agree totally with Nelson Orringer. I am happy with my accomplishment so far.
Science is not only a disciple of reason but, also, one of romance and passion.
(Stephen Hawking)
To Sarwan: I am fully agree that publishing would make the scientist happy, because the trend is force them to be. Especially to fulfill their KPI.
To Banovac: I am fully agree. What a brief response. Simple and to the point.
Result is the main point....!!!!!
All the best
Hengky
I think a scientist could be professionally satisfied with his/her results and achievements in conjunction with the professional organization of the institution, the salary, the liberty of creativity, the respect, the recognition among the peers.....
Happiness is another dimension which includes the social, emotive and psychological factors
Many times it's not money that's the primary motivation factor; it's the passion for your job and the professional and personal satisfaction that you get out of doing what you do that motivates you. I this a scientist's professional happiness lies in his passion and self motivation for his endevours and attainment of his set targets. .
The process of analyzing is an intellectual pleasure. Sharing is other plus. If your theory is working in practice-it is victory, if it gives positive results- your life isn't senseless.
@Alexander: In my opinion, discovery of new finding gives stimulation and happiness better than just the flow of funding. Furthermore, i believe that scientists are also "spirit in the material world," so the ultimate source of happiness come when he/she could feel closer to the Supreme Being through his discovery. Hopefully our contribution in science will not only advance knwoledge of humanity but also transcend the humanity itself.
It is said that "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever".
As a mathematician, there are some geometrical results (differential geometry, that is) that I have discovered in Control Theory, which made me very happy. I am glad that these results have been applied in varied fields as well.
It can be said that all scientists will be very happy if others in the field, especially eminent Professors, cite our results or apply our results to discover some new insights or applications in their fields.
Dear Alexander: Be totally free. Go on with the dreams and does not waking up for the long nightmare that can be some mediocre reality. A scientist cannot give up of accomplishing the good idea in the reality.
Working with famous Professors also make us professionally happy. I was very fortunate to do my doctorate under a famous Professor. After my doctorate, I continued working under the same Professor as "Post-Doc" and we published a paper together. As my guide passed away a few years ago, I get warm memories when I look at this joint paper!
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1099-1239%28200101%2911:1%3C87::AID-RNC550%3E3.0.CO;2-J/abstract
Professional successes lead to happiness and engender predisposition to seek out and undertake new goals thus reinforcing positive passion. Happy researchers are more likely to achieve favourable life circumstances and may experience positive moods and these positive moods prompt them to be more likely to work actively toward new goals and build new resources. When a researcher feels happy, he/she tend to feel confident, optimistic, and energetic.
I am agree with Yogesh: "When a researcher feels happy, he/she tend to feel confident, optimistic, and energetic", I endorse it.
But sometime, as human being, there is cycle feeling, which would disturb the emotion of the researcher. So, it happened our friend Prof. Sundaranpian, who miss his beloved and humble Professor ...................................
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