It is rewarding to see our University continually expanding its horizons and placing our faculty and student body in a position our rankings at the top of the scale across our country.
Let us hope that the local graduates from the school system see the rewards offered in their own back yards as one of the best learning experiences in Canada

1. continue to quantify how glaciers respond to climate, (that sounds appropriate; it sounds as if this just deals with climate change, no matter whether it is cooling or warming)

2. the importance of glacier runoff in Western Canada, (that sounds fine too because it sounds to me that this will deal with warming as well as cooling) and

3. how quickly these ice masses will disappear from our mountains under future climate change.”

I have a major problem with the last one. It makes the assumption that climate change is warming at the moment and will continue to warm into the future.

I think to be credible research, Dr. Menounos will have to weigh in on the preponderance of evidence we have now and the risk that the projections of that evidence may change from the expected.

Without addressing that, we may be looking at science fiction rather than science.

Trackster. It might be interesting for someone at UNBC to write an awareness piece for those who do not understand the monetary rewards the “research grunts” in this country actually receive compared to some other countries.

A PhD might get a lot of prestige rewards for people in research, but meaningful monetary rewards are difficult to come by.

PhDs who want to stay in research and/or teaching typically have to do at least one, and more commonly, two or more “post docs” working on research projects which are lead by one mentor who typically gets most of the “glory” as well as monetary compensation.

If they are lucky, they will get around $40,000/year after seven to ten plus years of study towards the PhD. So, one is approaching 28 or more years of age by that time. Add two three year stints of post doc work, and you are 34 plus years old ……

You may then luck out and get a teaching position somewhere for $80,000 or so a year.

The person who became a welder at age 20 has typically financially surpassed the PhD track individual some time ago and the PhD will likely never catch up.

But, we assume that the PhD track is much more exciting.

wow gus, sometimes you get ahead of yourself. i don’t see where he said anything about employment, remuneration, or exciting career path of a PhD. he commented on the educational opportunities at the university.

i normally enjoy your posts, but sometimes, you miss the point.

Gus hit the point very well. Add the term climate change to your research and the money just flows in.