(18-11-2021, 08:11 PM)ReneZ Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Why attract people who want money?
Coz they're the only ones who get things done
(18-11-2021, 08:38 PM)davidjackson Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (18-11-2021, 08:11 PM)ReneZ Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Why attract people who want money?
Coz they're the only ones who get things done
Nope, not in the case of the VMS. What is needed is a mixture of enthusiasm and persistence, independent of monetary interests.
(18-11-2021, 08:44 PM)bi3mw Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Nope, not in the case of the VMS. What is needed is a mixture of enthusiasm and persistence, independent of monetary interests.
It was a joke.
Alright, not a very funny one.
I think one has to ask why do prizes in other fields try to attract people who "want money"?
In fact why are academics paid at all? In fact why is anyone paid at all?
I think it would be great if we all were of independent means.
I think there is certainly a case for a prize with relatively low monetary value, but which is a recognition of achievement. I think in reality any prize would have to go through and be run by Yale and the Beinicke.
Another possibility if one doesn't like the idea of a direct financial benefit would be the offer of a research fellowship or something of the kind.
Here is a very long list of scientific prizes:
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If scientific monetary prizes are such a bad idea why are there so very many scientific prizes?
A couple of articles explaining the merits of scientific prizes:
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Maybe the difference is the intention. Many of those awards are meant to recognizer excellence in a certain field. The recipient does not necessarily participate to receive the award, they may not even have been aware it existed.
With the VM prize on the other hand, the intention would be to change people's behavior. My fear remains that a monetary prize would simply increase the amount of Cheshires, people who get their solutions published through dubious means and defend it aggressively.
Edit: I hadn't seen the articles yet before I posted, but it confirms what I said:
"Let’s begin with two things that science prizes are not. First, they are not goals. They differ from Olympic Medals or Super Bowl Rings. In sports, the goal is to win the prize. If you don’t finish first, you are a loser. In science the goal is to discover truth – prizes are a pleasant after-thought."
(19-11-2021, 08:00 AM)Koen G Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Edit: I hadn't seen the articles yet before I posted, but it confirms what I said:
"Let’s begin with two things that science prizes are not. First, they are not goals. They differ from Olympic Medals or Super Bowl Rings. In sports, the goal is to win the prize. If you don’t finish first, you are a loser. In science the goal is to discover truth – prizes are a pleasant after-thought."
I agree that the goal has to be to discover the truth, but as in the case of the other prizes it doesn't preclude the value in having a prize.