刚才跟一个在芝加哥大学留学的计算机系同学聊天,他们系最受学生欢迎的一位assistant professor在associate tenure的考核中没有过关,只好准备离校。这位年轻助教授的科研能力毋庸置疑,他被拒绝的唯一原因是,他是一名应用型学者,而芝大是一所理论型学府。
在他的主页上,他这样介绍自己:
I primarily spend my time working on practical programming tools---usually aimed at solving problems related to whatever application I happen to be working on at the time.
这位助教授受欢迎到什么程度呢?
在他讲授的操作系统课上,和国内一样,学生们被要求填写课程测评表,国外叫course survey。不少同学这样回答问题:
"What do you not like about his class?"
--- He has no tenure.
"Please give your suggestions for improving the class"
-- Give Dave tenure.
Dave就是指这位助教授,David Beazley。
他的主页上,我还看到了他的离职感言,令人感喟心酸:
Leaving the University
In December, 2004, I was denied tenure by the University of Chicago. Although unfortunate, that outcome wasn't unexpected, unjust, or all that tragic. To be honest, I'm just not sure the ivory tower is the right place for a free-wheeling code slinger and aspiring "evildoer" like myself anyways--in fact, I'm pretty sure it's not. I don't really have any sour grapes to air about my University experience except to say that I tried it, but never really felt at ease in the rarified world of academia. If anything, I was never able to reconcile the isolation of the academic world with the fact that I've always done my best work while working on practical real-world problems. So, with my departure I'm hoping to get back to that kind of work (eventually).
A number of people have asked me about my future plans. Currently, I am planning to take a much-needed creative sabbatical that might last for a couple of years. During this time, I intend to pursue projects that I find interesting without regard for their practicality or profitability. For instance, I've recently been learning how to play jazz piano so I'll probably spend considerably more time woodshedding on that---you know, so I can play all sorts of wicked bebop lines and hang out in smoky jazz clubs. In addition, I'll probably be travelling around, skiing, and doing things like that. As for the long-term future, I haven't made any specific plans although I'm certainly open to ideas ;-).
I'd just like to wish the best of luck to all of my former students. May you always find the courage and strength to follow your muse--no matter where it might lead you.
-- Dave
又看到他附的两张图片,不禁悲从中来。
document.body.clientWidth*0.5) {this.resized=true;this.width=document.body.clientWidth*0.5;this.style.cursor='pointer';} else {this.onclick=null}" alt="" />
Hey, maybe I could be an "associate" here....
document.body.clientWidth*0.5) {this.resized=true;this.width=document.body.clientWidth*0.5;this.style.cursor='pointer';} else {this.onclick=null}" alt="" />
Dave, getting his academic groove on... uh, yeah...