Redfern James, Verran Joanna
School of Research, Enterprise and Innovation, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
School of Research, Enterprise and Innovation, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2015 Dec;362(24):fnv208. doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnv208. Epub 2015 Nov 3.
Microbiology has a long tradition of making inspirational, world-changing discovery. Microbiology now plays essential roles in many disciplines, leading to some microbiologists raising concern over the apparent loss of identity. An electronic survey was undertaken to capture the scientific identity (based on scientific discipline) of people for whom microbiology forms a part of their profession, in addition to information regarding their first degree (title, country and year in which the degree was completed) and the sector in which they currently work. A total of 447 responses were collected, representing 52 countries from which they gained their first degree. Biology was the most common first degree title (of 32 titles provided), while microbiologist was the most common scientific identity (of 26 identities provided). The data collected in this study gives a snapshot of the multidisciplinarity, specialism and evolving nature of the microbiology academic workforce. While the most common scientific identity chosen in this study was that of a microbiologist, it appears that the microbiological workforce is contributed to by a range of different disciplines, highlighting the cross-cutting, multidisciplined and essential role microbiology has within scientific endeavour. Perhaps, we should be less concerned with labels, and celebrate the success with which our discipline has delivered.
微生物学有着做出鼓舞人心、改变世界的发现的悠久传统。如今，微生物学在许多学科中都发挥着重要作用，这导致一些微生物学家对其明显的身份丧失感到担忧。我们开展了一项电子调查，以了解微生物学构成其职业一部分的人员的科学身份（基于科学学科），此外还收集了有关他们的第一学位（学位名称、所在国家及完成年份）以及他们当前工作部门的信息。总共收集到447份回复，这些回复者获得第一学位的国家有52个。生物学是最常见的第一学位名称（在提供的32个名称中），而微生物学家是最常见的科学身份（在提供的26个身份中）。本研究收集的数据反映了微生物学学术人员的多学科性、专业性和不断发展的性质。虽然本研究中选择的最常见科学身份是微生物学家，但微生物学领域的人员似乎来自一系列不同学科，这凸显了微生物学在科学研究中具有的交叉性、多学科性和重要作用。也许，我们应该少些关注标签，而庆祝我们学科所取得的成功。
