The meeting with Professor Camble had gone well, Jack thought. He had explained that he wouldn't be able to come back for at least six months, doctor's orders. Professor Camble had been understanding and told Jack he had his full support and that Jack's health was the most important thing. Jack left the meeting feeling confident that someday he would be able to return to his research at the university.
Jack went looking for Phylicia, finding her in her office. They decided to get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria before her next appointment. “How did the meeting with Professor Camble go?” asked Phylicia after they were seated.
“He was actually very understanding. I was afraid that he might be upset when I told him I would have to take six months off.”
“Six months!” exclaimed Phylicia before she could catch herself. “I'm sorry Jack, I didn't mean to, I mean it is such a long time.”
“That's okay Phylicia, I should have told you more about my condition before.” Jack then told Phylicia the details of his illness. He found it easy to talk to her and ended up telling her the story of his past few years. It was the first time he had opened up to someone since Miri had died.
After he had finished Phylicia said, “Jack I just want you to know that I will help in whatever way I can, even if you just need someone to talk to.”
“Thanks Phylicia. I appreciate your concern and I will let you know if there is anything you can do.”
They talked a bit more before Phylicia had to get back to her office. Jack returned to his apartment.
It was the following evening that he got an email from the university research committee. It informed him that his research had been suspended. That it was the property of the university and that he should not use or claim any of the results as his own. And that Jack had been taken off the roll of Ph.D. candidates. If he should wish to renew his application for Ph.D., he would need to reapply with the proper forms. The email wished him well and mentioned that official paperwork would follow.
At first, he was a bit stunned at the bluntness and speed with which the committee had seemed to make its decision. After talking to Professor Camble he expected a more tactful approach to be taken. But he knew how competitive research positions had become in the past few years, especially following the employment crisis.
Though young at the time Jack remembered that the crisis had started as the automation of jobs became more common in the developed world. Transportation was automated, jobs were lost. Fast-food was automated, jobs were lost. Retail was automated, jobs were lost. By the time automation spread into the developing world, the crisis was too visible for governments to dismiss it. To quell the rising unrest governments all over the world had no choice but to establish a guaranteed lifetime income. The income was to be paid by a tax on automation, a tax to which businesses vociferously objected but became resigned to pay as they realized that without purchasing power people simply couldn't buy the goods the now automated businesses produced.
Conservative pundits predicted that a government-provided life-income would lead to a majority of the population spending their time in virtual pursuits such as gaming. And while a lot of people did spend their days in virtual worlds others, feeling liberated from the immediate need to earn a living, were pursuing learning and advanced degrees as an outlet for their energies. This had created a huge demand for positions in undergraduate and graduate programs. Universities found they could pick and choose the students they admitted to their programs.
By the time Jack entered graduate school many disciplines had stiff competition for admittance and continued enrollment. He had seen others lose their positions in labs because they were deemed not to be serious enough about their research. Or because they hadn't put the hours in or because they had questioned their assignments or they had questioned their adviser's motives. Anyone that didn't show complete devotion was subject to immediate dismissal without recourse. Jack knew he wasn’t unique.
It was decided then, he thought. He went out for a walk.
His Annie alerted as he reentered his apartment. It was Phylicia. “Hi Jack, this is Phylicia. I was just calling because I heard what happened with your research.”
“You found out already?”
“Well, I was in the lab when they buttoned up your experiment which I found disturbing, so I started asking around. I guess I've developed some good sources over the years, it didn't take long to find out what was going on.”
“Then you know that I've not only lost control of my experiment, I've also lost my standing in the doctorate program and any use of the results of my research.”
“They kicked you out of the program too? I didn't know that. I don't understand, I mean how could they do that?”
“Supposedly it is in the agreement we signed when we entered the Ph.D. program. If for any reason we abandon our research, we can be required to forfeit our place in the program. The research committee claims that my request for a six-month sabbatical constitutes abandonment. But I guess it's to be expected, you know how competitive research positions are today. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't replace us all with research Annies.”
“Jack that is so unfair! They just want to get their hands on your research, that's what I think.”
“I've been thinking I haven't made as much progress as I should have and besides,” Jack paused, her words sinking in. “Why do you think that someone is trying to appropriate my research?”
“Because, no matter what you say, you've made more progress than all the others. There is a lot of jealousy in that lab. Someone has decided to take this opportunity to steal your research.”
“Do you think steal is the right word?”
“I'm afraid it is the right word. That is the state of university research these days. Did you know that most of the research done in that lab can't even be reproduced? I've tried and I for one question their results. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kenneth doesn’t take over your research, he’s always been Professor Camble’s favorite and Camble is under pressure from the administration to show some results out of his lab. That's probably why he didn't stand up for you.”
“Well, I don’t like to think of science being practiced like that, but you may be right, I’ve seen others treated not much better. I will just have to do what I can to keep my research alive while I recuperate.”
“Jack, if you need anything from the lab or the university just call. I’ll be glad to help you with any research you pursue.”
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