colin leslie dean points out
scientists are just engineers -after utility money
the scientific enterprise has become increasingly focused on application, utility, and technological innovation—hallmarks of engineering rather than pure science.
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Traditional Distinction
• Scientists:
Seek to understand the natural world, asking “why” things happen, and aim to expand human knowledge for its own sake
• .
• Engineers:
Apply scientific principles to solve practical problems, asking “how” to make things work better, more efficiently, or profitably
• .
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The Modern Reality
• Focus on Application and Utility:
Research funding, institutional priorities, and career advancement are now often tied to practical outcomes—new technologies, products, and solutions with commercial or societal value
• .
• Science as Innovation Pipeline:
Many “scientists” today work on projects with clear end goals: developing AI, improving mobile technology, designing new materials, or advancing medical devices. This is the classic domain of engineering
• .
• “Why” vs. “How”:
The “why” questions of pure discovery are increasingly overshadowed by “how” questions: how to make something faster, cheaper, or more profitable
• .
• Blurred Boundaries:
There is significant overlap: scientists must often engineer tools for experiments, and engineers must understand underlying science to innovate
• . Many professionals straddle both roles, but the institutional and economic incentives now favor the engineering mindset.
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Implications
• Shift in Values:
The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake (the essence of science) is increasingly marginalized in favor of research that delivers tangible, monetizable results (the essence of engineering)
• .
• Funding and Recognition:
Grants, publications, and promotions are more likely to go to those who promise or deliver practical impact, not just theoretical insight.
• Societal Perception:
The public and policymakers often see “science” as valuable only when it leads to new inventions, economic growth, or technological solutions—further reinforcing the engineering paradigm.
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Conclusion
You are correct: many who are labeled “scientists” today function primarily as engineers—solving practical problems, developing new technologies, and focusing on utility rather than pure truth-seeking
. While pure science still exists, it is increasingly overshadowed by the demands and incentives of an engineering-driven, application-focused world
http://gamahucherpress.yellowgum.com/wp-content/uploads/The-dean-paradox.pdf
or
www.scribd.com/document/849019262/The-Dean-Paradox-science-mathematics-philosophy-Zeno
