Universities HATE Me Saying This: My Hot Takes on Academia

In this video, I dive into the real issues and challenges within academia, sharing what I call “my hot academic takes.”

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If you've ever wondered about what really goes on behind university doors or if the academic system is truly as it seems, you're in for an eye-opener. I’ll explain why I think academia can be a place where creativity and innovation get stalled rather than encouraged. One of my hot takes? The idea that, instead of always bringing new ideas to the table, many established professors actually stick with their old methods and approaches, creating a space where new ideas might struggle to thrive.

Another important topic I explore is why academia is a scam in some ways, especially when we look at how it’s structured financially and in terms of career advancement. Research and publishing are core to academic work, but I raise questions about how fair this system is. For example, I discuss what I call the “peer review scam.” This refers to how the peer review process—a vital part of scientific and academic publishing—relies heavily on unpaid labor from academics themselves. Despite all the work put into peer review, much of the published work ends up behind paywalls. As a result, even taxpayers, who often fund this research, don’t get to access the findings without paying. This setup benefits publishers financially but can make knowledge-sharing harder and less accessible for everyone else.

This video also covers why universities can be a challenging environment for young academics. Although the university setting promises intellectual freedom, financial pressures can often lead to safer, more traditional research rather than riskier, innovative ideas. I argue that some of these issues make academia less about advancing knowledge and more about keeping certain systems and hierarchies intact.

In exploring these hot takes, my goal isn’t just to criticize but to encourage fresh thinking about how we can reshape academia for future generations. If you’re interested in understanding what really goes on in universities and have questions about how research, publishing, and academic careers actually work, this video is designed to provide insights that are rarely discussed openly.
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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:04 Professor ideas
00:55 Science for kids
03:16 Academic Journals
04:19 Old Professors
05:29 Academic and Industry collaborations
07:19 If you're part of the privileged few
09:16 Outro

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