Life in the old doc yet

摘要

There is a common misperception that genius and exceptional scientific achievement are the preserve of the young. A News Feature on page 772 of this issue shows the limitations of this view: some scientists are performing creative and groundbreaking work into their 70s and beyond. Yet many of them feel frustrated at what they see as unjustified obstacles in their path - including, in some countries, mandatory retirement for university professors. Mandatory retirement policies were generally introduced, along with decent pension provisions, to ensure dignity and leisure for the old, while opening up job opportunities for the young. But there is a big difference between being forced to work to avoid penury and doing so because you love what you do. Most scientists' work is far more than just a job - it is a vocation, pursued with a passion that cannot be switched off overnight.