Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How Science Runs

Impressions from a Scientific Career

  • Book
  • © 2022

Overview

Authors:
  1. Eric J. Mittemeijer

    1. Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Institute for Materials Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Presents a unique, insider account of the character of modern scientific research

  • Features a collection of fascinating stories, illustrating the workings of present-day science

  • Provides a retrospective with important lessons for the future

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. The Parents

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 1-3

  3. Growing Up

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 5-11

  4. Touching Science; School Years

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 13-30

  5. The Notions Science and Physical Law

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 31-33

  6. The Becoming of a Scientist

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 35-63

  7. “Publish or Perish”; The “Growth” and Progress of Science

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 65-79

  8. Academia, Academics and Academic Careers

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 81-90

  9. Immersed in Materials Science

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 91-121

  10. “Young” Versus “Old”

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 123-134

  11. On Burgers’ Chair

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 135-168

  12. Tarnished Science

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 169-178

  13. Mistakes, Deceit and Fraud in Science

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 179-196

  14. The Stuttgart Years; Science at the Max Planck Institute and the University

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 197-262

  15. Epilogue

    • Eric J. Mittemeijer
    Pages 263-266
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book offers a considered yet entertaining reflection on the progress of modern scientific research. The winding path of science can only be understood by revealing the personal, human side of scientific research, demystifying the actions of the scientist and exposing the human drama on the stage of science. The book looks at the true nature of contemporary science and scientists through the lens of the personal experiences of the author, a renowned and leading materials scientist, over the last half century. It examines the positive threads of modern scientific progress in sober juxtaposition to the manifest negative developments arising from stiff competition within the current academic landscape. A collection of stories and real-life anecdotes is presented in parallel to the career of the author, providing a first-hand account of important achievements in the field of materials science. As a result, this book provides fascinating reading for students, seasoned scientists, and anybody else interested in the workings and machinations of modern science.

Reviews

“This is a fascinating book that should appeal to anyone wanting to have a view of the life of a typical academic scientist. … this book is thought provoking and should be of interest to anyone already working in science, especially those intending to work in science. There are many warnings and, at the same time, delights to be found in the numerous anecdotes and descriptions provided by the author. It is a generally good and entertaining read.” (A. Mike Glazer, Journal of Applied Crystallography, Vol. 56, 2023)

“The book is a mixture of family history, the history of science, an insight into the politics of science, impressions of the publishing world … . It is recommended reading for researchers at all levels who are interested in materials-science research, funding and politics. … This book is a gem. A gem in the rough perhaps, but all the more genuine and valuable (to many) for that.” (C. Barry Carter, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 58, 2023)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Institute for Materials Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    Eric J. Mittemeijer

About the author

Eric J. Mittemeijer was born in 1950 in Haarlem, the Netherlands. He studied “chemical technology,” with specialization in physical chemistry, at the Delft University of Technology and acquired his “ingenieur (= Ir.)” degree (comparable to a M.Sc. degree) in 1972 and his Ph.D. degree in 1978. From 1985 till 1998, he was full Professor of Solid State Chemistry at the Delft University of Technology. From 1998 till 2017, he was Director at the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research (later renamed in Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems) in Stuttgart in conjunction with a full Professorship in Materials Science at the University of Stuttgart. He was Dean of the Study Course Materials Science of the University of Stuttgart and Speaker of the International Max Planck Research School on Advanced Materials. He has (co-)authored about 700 scientific papers in international scientific journals, published a number of books and has received a number of honors for his scientific work.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: How Science Runs

  • Book Subtitle: Impressions from a Scientific Career

  • Authors: Eric J. Mittemeijer

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90095-3

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-90094-6Published: 30 January 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-90097-7Published: 31 January 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-90095-3Published: 29 January 2022

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 266

  • Number of Illustrations: 14 b/w illustrations, 14 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: History of Science, Research Ethics, Science Education, Materials Science, general, Science and Technology Studies

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation