ADASS 2004
So today, I gave my first oral presentation since college. It was at ADASS 2004, an astronomical software conference being held here in Pasadena. My talk was actually a ‘focus session,’ which meant I had a little more time than normal “talks” but a much smaller audience. The focus sessions take place in between the main sessions, and they were also supposed to take place in a smaller room hidden away in the basement. The point of my talk was to demonstrate how to use Montage, software to create astronomical mosaics, and talk a little about how it’s being used for actual science.
Last night, I made Jeff come to IPAC and watch me rehearse my presentation in the small conference room, where I could play with a projector and laser pointer. By the end of the evening, I felt pretty confident that I could deliver my talk without speaking too fast or twisting up my sentences, and comfortable with the thought of talking in a small room to a few people.
So first thing this morning, they announce that the focus sessions have been moved into the main talk venue. This room holds about 250 people, has a big chandelier blocking part of the screen, and you have to use a finicky lavolier microphone. Eek!
My talk was at lunch, though, so I didn’t have too many attendees – maybe 30. I didn’t stumble or talk too fast, I finished in plenty of time, answered all the questions (and there were lots – people were actually listening), and only had a little bit of trouble with my hair brushing noisily against the microphone.
So the upshot is, my first post-college presentation went great. Got a big pat on the back from my boss and fellow Montage colleagues, and several people assured me I was animated and intelligible. Nice.
As for the rest of the conference…
It turns out that the academic equivalent of “So, when are you getting married/having kids” is: “So, when are you going back to get your PhD?” Awithout exception, the topic of graduate school has come up with all the new people I’ve been met at ADASS (and I didn’t bring it up). Several people have even gone so far as to point out that there’s really only so much I can do with only a bachelor’s. One implied that without a PhD, the work I was doing would eventually get boring and I wouldn’t have any options, because I wouldn’t be one of the people coming up with new ideas to implement, but would just be stuck implementing other people’s ideas.
Huh?
First, it feel like kind of a personal question, especially from people I’ve just met.
Second, I do pretty much the same type of work as the people in my department with PhDs. So I haven’t come up with any revolutionary ideas yet, but HELLO, I’ve only got 2 years of experience at this. Most of my colleagues have greater than 10 years, and I’m pretty sure that’s where they get their authority from, not their PhDs.
At my next conference, I’m going to write “DON’T ASK ME ABOUT GRAD SCHOOL” on my forehead.
It sounds like they’re of the mindset, “*I* suffered through graduate school, so I’m going to look down on anyone who HASN’T … because if I don’t make a fuss about it, people might not recognize that I’m smarter because I’ve got my PhD!” I don’t doubt your career path at all. Take it from me … if you’ve got a job you like and you didn’t need a PhD to get it, you’re got it made. You’re doing interesting stuff. You’re making a contribution. And you didn’t have to sell your soul to a bunch of snobby professors to do so. I think you’re right about the experience part, too. I think, also, that in some ways you can learn MORE if you’re not in graduate school because you’ve got time to explore other intellectual things just for fun, like digital photography or reading popular science books. So … they’re idiots, just ignore them! :) And if you get “Don’t Ask Me About Grad School” T-shirts, let me know :)
Comment by Kathy Brantley — 10/26/2004 @ 11:12 pm
How DOES this even come up? When I went to the nursing home, one of the residents suddenly urged me to get a Master’s degree (thanks — sometime after I get that second bachelor’s).
Comment by Sarah — 10/27/2004 @ 8:24 pm
“Whatever, doc.” You’re doing great. :)
Comment by Jeff — 10/28/2004 @ 11:48 pm
Pat-on-the-back for your presentation! And IMHO, the only legitimate reason to get a PhD is to be able to do a job you like. Which you’re already doing. So you’ve saved yourself a ton of time and money, and these people you’re meeting at the conference are probably feeling threatened about it :)
Comment by Mir — 10/31/2004 @ 5:44 pm
My friends I did my undergrad with (Colorado School of Mines) are mostly of the opposite viewpoint.
They can’t understand why I *would* go to grad school, since from an experience / hire-ability point of view, it is better to have 4-5 years of experience than to have 4-5 years more of college.
I guess the experience part mostly can’t be learned in school, but certain details and even fundamentals of your field will only be glossed over in the workplace… eh. just my $0.02
Bottom line: If you like your job, you are doing better than many; funny, most of my engineering friends complain about how boring their jobs are, but it is the money that keeps them from going back to school.
Comment by Kris — 11/1/2004 @ 1:33 pm