The Two-Body Problem in Science

Posted on February 14, 2007 by | 5 Comments

Jennifer Ouellette has an article in the new issue of Nature about the travails of married science couples.

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5 responses to “The Two-Body Problem in Science”

  1. Scott Belyea's avatar Scott Belyea | February 14, 2007 at 4:06 pm |

    Interesting enough, I suppose, but what does it have to do with science as opposed to business, highschool teaching, or a variety of other areas?

  2. coturnix's avatar coturnix | February 14, 2007 at 4:09 pm |

    All of those are much more moveable than science. You can do business, teach school or be a nurse anywhere. You can be hired to do a very particular type of research likely at only one or two places on the planet – if you are lucky to get picked amond 200+ candidates who are equally good. Other departments in other school have no place for your specific type of research.

  3. Scott Belyea's avatar Scott Belyea | February 14, 2007 at 4:35 pm |

    You can do business, teach school or be a nurse anywhere.

    Right. Everyone thinks that their problems are unique …

  4. coturnix's avatar coturnix | February 14, 2007 at 4:41 pm |

    There are shortages of nurses and teachers everywhere and one can start a business anywhere. An astronomer can only work at a telescope.
    Every job opening attracts hundreds of highly qualified candidates who cannot find jobs elsewhere becasue only very few places on Earth are interested in (or have infrastructure needed for) any particular type of research. It is hugely more competitive than more other professions.

  5. Mark's avatar Mark | February 14, 2007 at 5:07 pm |

    I’m afraid it’s not quite that simple. While it’s true that there are professions that allow a great deal of freedom in location, there are some limits even on those. For example, if a nurse wants to work in a decent hospital, he or she is limited to communities with decent hospitals, which usually excludes smaller towns. For many professionals, you work where the job is. For example, I have to work about 120 miles from where I live. I could (maybe) find a job at home, but it would not be in my field and it would mean taking a 50+ pecent pay cut.