I strongly disagree with David Helfand's view that tenure is the “social filter” that selects for professors who are “most attracted to lifetime security” (Nature 477, 158–159; 2011).
For most young scientists attempting to scale the ladder of modern academia, I wager that the promise of scientific and intellectual discovery and the chance to inspire younger people are the real incentives.
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Lewis, BA. Discovery inspires those seeking tenure. Nature 478, 37 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/478037d
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/478037d