The Threads of Inspiration To Study Science: More Than Academic Genealogies

Abstract

Academic genealogies track scientific lineages, usually through earned degrees. Such a view overemphasizes the importance of Ph.D. institutions, leading to some faculty at Ph.D. institutions devaluing students that will not further their academic legacy. This commentary argues that expanding the scope of discussion to include sources of inspiration and support increases the diversity of our view of science and more appropriately values the scientific contributions of those outside Ph.D. institutions. More thoughtful consideration of the biases implicit in academic settings may be beneficial for the scientific endeavor as a whole.