Science is inherently competitive

Science is a competitive system with a high pressure to perform. All students and scientists in early career phases should be aware of this. All those who decide to work in science must basically accept competitive framework conditions.

However, there are many opportunities for improvement in the science system that should be implemented to improve working conditions and prospects for scientists. This concerns, for example, the ability to plan career development in early career phases.

Tenure-track positions - after a successful postdoc period in which scientists have demonstrated their conceptual and practical capabilities - can contribute to better plannability, but by no means to "absolute security." The postdoc period that precedes an application for tenure-track positions must not be too short. It must be sufficient to gain enough experience and to build up a scientific profile; both are prerequisites for successfully mastering the next career steps. Both scientists and research institutions should have a strong interest in this.

Significantly more tenure-track positions are needed than are currently available. Establishing tenure track on a broad scale requires a transition period in which new positions and structures are created without jeopardizing the performance of the institutes. This requires a willingness to change and sufficient funding for the transition phase.

The Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz is important, but far from sufficient to improve the situation of scientists in early career phases.

The entire interview "Wissenschaft ist immer kompetitiv — Die Rahmenbedingungen lassen sich trotzdem verbessern: Tenure Track, Dauerstellen, Finanzierung" can be read here as a PDF. The publication is only available in German.

The questions were asked by Dr Norbert Arnold, expert on science, technology and ethics in the Analysis and Consulting Department at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.