12 Jul 2003
Sex and the Scientist
There's a report in The Times covering a study done by Satoshi Kanazawa studying the age of peak achievements for high-flying (male) scientists:
In the study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, Satoshi Kanazawa, of the University of Canterbury, examined the biographies of 280 great scientists. He found that 65 per cent of the mostly male researchers had made their biggest discovery before their mid-thirties. Their "productivity curve" follows almost exactly that of male common criminals, whose illegal activities peak in late adolescence and early adulthood. The explanation, according to Dr Kanazawa, is simple: they are seeking to impress women with their virtuosity. "They do whatever they do to get laid," he said. "Scientific productivity indeed fades with age. Two thirds will have made their most significant contributions before their mid-thirties." Marriage, he found, dampens menâs drive in science and crime. Within five years of marrying, almost a quarter of the scientists had published their last work of any great importance.
Hmm. Since I'm over thirty and married, this doesn't bode well for me. However, I am also female, so maybe there's a different trend. Apparently Kanazawa didn't have enough data on high-flying female scientists (this isâin itselfârather depressing), but he does cite Marie Curie as perhaps bucking the trend (isolating radium at the age of 43, and while married), but then the article mentions that Rosalind Franklin (who imaged the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography), was only in her early 30's when she made the discovery. Sadly, it neglects to mention that she died tragically early at the age of 37, so who knows what she might have been capable of later in life.
I don't even think that these findings are very fair on men. After all, if you make one of the 20th Century's most important scientific findings at the age of 251, all of your subsequent research is likely to be an anti-climax.
[via BoingBoing]
1James Watson, who worked out the structure of DNA with Francis Crick, along with a lot of help from Rosalind Franklin and her colleague Maurice Wilkins.
2
for some reason, there isn't a nobel prize in mathematics -- the usual story is that nobel's missus cheated on him with a mathematician, so to spite the world of maths he deliberately snubbed the discipline when creating his awards, but there's actually no evidence that this is true. however, there is the fields medal, awarded to mathematicians of outstanding ability below the age of 40, and i'm a few years off that yet...
3
I relayed this story on to my family and two comments have come back. "I have to agree with Dad, a crock. I would like to know what Satoshi Kanazawa's marital status is....." and "Who is that guy? Isn't he a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners?"by James Drogan @ 15/07/2003 3:07 pm • Permalink
4
Seems to me to be a comment on the effects of marriage on scientists rather than age.by dave m @ 18/07/2003 10:08 pm • Permalink
5
Good to know that 'mind over muscle' can be true when it comes to 'spouse hunting'. I personally don't think 'getting laid' has anything to do with it. Stiffnes is not only a problem of the bones but the brains aswell. 'Rigidis cerrbelus' or some thing like that if you catch my drift. And it can hit you early in life. -----by JoRo @ 21/07/2003 11:07 am • Permalink
1
they were discussing this study on 'the news quiz' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/newsquiz.shtml ) yesterday, which led to them talking about scientists and fame. dave gorman related the tale, which i hope is true, of einstein moaning to a group of colleagues about being famous and what a pain it is being recognised all the time. one of his audience offered a solution: 'it is simple -- just cut your hair.'----- That's a great storyby bsag @ 14/07/2003 8:08 am • Permalink