Colin Paul de Gloucester
2025-03-22 12:22:04 UTC
Antworten
Permalink. . .
Academia is not about science anymore. Academic "science" now revolves
around the principle of unaccountable censorship.
A physicist in Portugal emailed me about this Deutsche Welle News report:
"German top research institution 'Max Planck Society' accused of abuse and
institutional silence" by Deutsche Welle News.
"by speaking out he hopes he can improve things for others." says this
report about a computational physicist. Compare with my torture because I
wrote that email: HTTP://Forum.Bolseiros.org/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1132
about that still unanswered letter:
HTTP://Gloucester.Insomnia247.NL/Evil_Slandering_Arseholes/parasite_Paolo_Donzelli_demanded_time_travel.pdf
about that unworthy pretender:
HTTP://Gloucester.Insomnia247.NL/Ariane-501-explosion_waste_of_taxes/Portugal_protects_deliberate_ineptness_which_destroyed_years_of_work.HTM
"This is a small world [. . .] all the lying" says Dr. Daniel Leising via
this Deutsche Welle News report. Compare with the multiple warnings by the
first lawyer whom I paid who warns me that the scientific World is a small
world such that she expects all witnesses except myself to lie to protect
themselves from my former PhD so-called tutor. So Physicist Dr. John
Alexander Hewitt said to me that he is sorry that "I agree with your
lawyer."
THE NAVIGATOR TRILOGY
BOOK THREE
THE CUCKOO PARADOX
DISCOVER WHY MIGRANT BIRDS CANNOT USE COMPASSES TO NAVIGAT
by Ted Gerrard is a good book about scientific fraudster Professor Dr.
Peter Berthold ( HTTPS://de.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Berthold ).
âA few of you may recall the ridiculous excuses put forward by John Maddox
on Scifraud (5th Oct 1995) following accusations of unethical behaviour as
Editor of NATURE by [. . .] and myself.
Subsequently as a direct result of Maddox's dishonesty I was wrongfully
accused of defaming a Max Plank director and placed under house arrest in
Portugal for over 5 years whilst awaiting the outcome of 3 consecutive
court cases. I was acquitted [. . .] and then re-charged and acquitted [.
. .]. I announced this result on Scifraud and repeated my accusations
(11th August 1999) and once again provided proof that the MPI director had
knowingly published false data in a NATURE article; and of Maddox's
connivance. I was promptly re-arrested and re-charged but again acquitted
[. . .]
I shall not be attending the funeral of Sir John Maddox F.R.S (hon).â says
Ted Gerrard since 15/04/2009.
Ted Gerrard had warned myself to stay away from Portugal before Portugal
has tortured me in 2013 by court order granting immunities from
prosecutions to the persons who tortured me.
"German top research institution 'Max Planck Society' accused of abuse and
institutional silence" by Deutsche Welle News. showed 5900 thumbs up and
927 comments. . .
A comment which this webpage quotes alleges:
"Also recording secretly is illegal in Germany even if it's for your
safety, so it is impossible to get good proof in many instances..."
Contrast with: âUNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
[âŠ]
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an
independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and
obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11
1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which
he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act
or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or
international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier
penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal
offence was committed.
[âŠ]
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers.â(UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 1948)
Cf.:
âConvention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Rome, 4.XI.1950
[âŠ]
ARTICLE 6
Right to a fair trial
1. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any
criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public
hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal
established by law. [âŠ]
[âŠ]
ARTICLE 10
Freedom of expression
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall
include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and
ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of
frontiers.â(Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms, 1950)
Cf.:
â26.10.2012 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 326/391
CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
2012/C 326/02
[âŠ]
Article 11
Freedom of expression and information
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall
include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and
ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of
frontiers.
2. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.
[âŠ]
Article 47
Right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial
Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of the Union are
violated has the right to an effective remedy before a tribunal in
compliance with the conditions laid down in this Article.
Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time
by an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law.
Everyone shall have the possibility of being advised, defended and
represented.â(CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 2012)
Cf.
HTTP://Gloucester.Insomnia247.NL/drochdhliodoiri/mun/Phortagail/Sandra_Roxo/taifead_dlithiuil.2017-06-29.htm
and
HTTP://Gloucester.Insomnia247.NL/drochdhliodoiri/mun/Phortagail/Sandra_Roxo/without_Truth_there_is_no_Justice/
Less than 1% of these YouTube comments that I read are bad. Such bad
comments seem to be by non-scientists who do not appreciate how difficult
scientific works are and how many years it takes to produce a single
indicator of scientific productivity when slagging off Dr. Computational
Physicist Gabriel Lando. Furthermore these abusive YouTubers do not
appreciate that almost any interesting computation is intractable.
Dr. Gabriel Lando departed from the Max-Planck-Institut fÃŒr Physik
komplexer Systeme: Dresden, Sachsen in 2021 but this does not mean that he
did not work there in the first year he used to be there. Bear in mind
that he did his work for Tobias Heldt, Jonathan Dubois, Paul Birk, Gergana
D. Borisova, Gabriel M. Lando, Christian Ott, and Thomas Pfeifer,
"Attosecond Real-Time Observation of Recolliding Electron Trajectories in
Helium at Low Laser Intensities", PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 130, 183201
(2023) in his first (and second) (i.e. 2020 and 2021) year there, but the
Max-Planck-Institut fÃŒr Physik komplexer Systeme: Dresden, Sachsen did not
bother to submit this work to this journal until a year after he departed!
Cf. "(Received 30 September 2022; revised 20 February 2023; accepted 16
March 2023; published 5 May 2023)" says Tobias Heldt, Jonathan Dubois,
Paul Birk, Gergana D. Borisova, Gabriel M. Lando, Christian Ott, and
Thomas Pfeifer, "Attosecond Real-Time Observation of Recolliding Electron
Trajectories in Helium at Low Laser Intensities", PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
130, 183201 (2023)!
@a.allenharvey9005
4 hours ago
I was told once by a senior citizen that there are advantages and
disadvantages of being in Germany and a foreigner can surmount the
negative aspects only through hard working, diligent being and moral
values and supporting others at sheer will. I mean this is common sense
and almost works everywhere in life. However, the summary of today's
Germany makes me disconnect from this belief. When it comes to
bureaucracy, schooling, admission to different things in the country, they
portray such an utopia as if when you pass their exams and processes,
adapt yourself and become a naturalized & culturally neutral person; you
will be a model human being setting example to the rest of the world.
In reality, you can find questioning yourself for the choices you have
made in life once you witness in some situation how uncivilized, immoral,
and wild behaviors they exhibit against those that were not born there or
that were born there but not from "them" originally. There is always some
"Us versus them" attitude.
I do not know what causes this much hate and fear to accumulate in them
and reflect all of that on innocent people that have nothing to do with
those.
My comments may seem subjective but unfortunately the amount of people
experiencing these have skyrocketed and no longer considered
minority/exceptional/sided group of individuals.
The scaring part is, people are proud of all this and find nothing wrong
about it. The only response you can receive from even the most educated
and mature over the average age person is "If you don't like it why don't
you leave fhen, jaa?"
2
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1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
4 hours ago
I'm 100% with you!! Thank you.
Reply
@MichaelRainboy
5 hours ago
Wow! I am so very much surprised! I cannot believe this could happen in
such a sophisticated scientific institution! Like it hasn't been known to
be happening for centuries!!! Wow!!
Reply
@CloverMind
41 minutes ago
Is there a reaction/response video from Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder yet.
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@Killer_Kovacs
2 hours ago
You guys make it sound like rape.
Reply
@Amir_arash6384
3 hours ago
In comparison with other research centers in different countries they are
paradise despite these complains, there are countries with a least
attention to novelty!!
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@Abigail-nc6in
6 minutes ago
First off, thank you so much to everyone who spoke about their experiences
of discrimination, bullying and silencing. I really hope that there will
be some consequences for this and that we will start seeing changes in
German academia. I am doubtful but I can hope. My experiences are quite
similar. I have worked as a lecturer at 4 renowned German universities and
have little but bullying, back-stabbing and silencing to show for it.
Unfortunately my experiences working as a teacher in German schools proved
no better. Please excuse me for mentioning this here, but last year I
wrote a book aimed at foreigners and expats in Germany which outlines what
I've experienced and goes some way to describe the German mentality. It's
called "Swallow the Toad: from Britain to Germany". I see this as
solidarity with all those who have suffered here, and a tool which may
prove useful to those who wish to move here. It wasn't easy writing, but
necessary as I too was sick of suffering in silence.
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@vitorflavio3641
13 minutes ago
I drove an aquintance to the airport , who left germany also because of
that.
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@SkyaRuna
12 minutes ago
Well, many problems in academia are not reported because many PhD students
are being gaslighted into thinking this is normal and itâs futile to even
try changing the status quo.
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@Sebasimionatto
38 minutes ago
In my place is the same.
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@greatcesari
3 hours ago
I began a master program in Potsdam, Germany. My professor was so
narcissistic, abusive and toxic that I had to quit. Unfortunately, for non
German citizens whose Visas are tied to the program, they have to continue
to put up with this. I was shocked to find out that thereâs no proper
complaint system and that professors have unlimited power as long as they
donât commit any crimes. Academia is broken
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1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
45 minutes ago
It is. I'm sorry to hear about your experiences. I hope you have since
found something rewading.
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@ramr7051
6 minutes ago
Last comment: i admire Gabriels Courage. Thank you.
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@ramr7051
7 minutes ago
Thanks again for reporting on this. Hopefully there'll be some
improvements.
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@ramr7051
8 minutes ago
Thank you for reporting this, DW. academia is sadly full of abuse, as if
it were a different world, a different time.
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@nahidtaheri2271
11 minutes ago
I was a phd student at Max Plank of Psychiatry, and LMU, I experienced
sexual harassment, power abuse, and plagiarism. Authorities kept distance
from me after speaking up , I am now struggling with submission of my
thesis because of the obstacles in paperworks, and I faced serious
financial problems although I was a Marie Curie Fellow. My research can
help many patients for early diagnosis and it can be published in a top
rank journal but I donât get support for submitting
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@summumbonum1619
16 minutes ago
Itâs so gross the situation in Germany. My son wants to go to this
gymnasium in trier Marx plank next year.. they said they are full⊠should
I be glad? I am Mexican
@Rajivkumariitkgp
2 hours ago
The problem lies with the Fund, which is only available for three years.
Consequently, the PI would check the new employee, and then the abuse
began.
Reply
@UnderTheSummerSun
4 hours ago
I started my career as a PhD student not in Germany but in Austria. Very
quickly I noticed that working in academia meant 80% politics and 20%
research. People were fighting to get a permanent position but those are
reserved for favorite ones and mostly for locals. So the others were
forced to move to another university, city, country at the end of the 3
years contract. After I finished my PhD I was lucky enough to get into
industry and I never looked back ever since. My advice to everyone is,
donât waste your time in academia.
Reply
@andreselectrico
7 hours ago
It's not only at Max Plank, it pervades the entire German academia. And
this is how this country bleeds knowledge and qualified workers.
Reply
1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
12 hours ago
Thank you so much for saying this. It is exactly what I have experienced
working at 3 prestigious german universities and in German schools.
Reply
@luisluiscunha
8 hours ago (edited)
Truth always comes to the top. Brave Gabriel.
Reply
@ivonekowalczyk5823
10 hours ago
All funding should be suspended pending investigations. Stop giving the
Institute money until you can root out the problem. People have this funny
way of suddenly paying attention when their money is at stake.
2
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@fabio.1
10 hours ago (edited)
I hope it's an isolated issue and the institute deals with it properly. My
other comment here was removed for no reason.
1
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@HR-yd5ib
11 hours ago (edited)
Worked at a MPI near Munich and did the PhD at a MPI in Berlin ... there
was not more or less misconduct than at any larger institution or company.
Absurd to single out the MPG. This is life. If you don't get along with
your boss you will have a problem and likely to leave as in any other job.
Reply
@sardicsaba9010
11 hours ago
Boycott Germany!!!
Reply
@lifephilic
vor 2 Minuten
It is everywhere in India.
Antworten
@jacquespictet5363
vor 23 Minuten
Nothing surprising here. Like any institution, competition - natural or
pushed byond that - is the norm, and some people are ready to do what it
takes to win it. Better to look at it like feudal entities.
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@mayarosana_md
vor 1 Stunde
Itâs not surprising to hear
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@abdurrezzakefe5308
vor 1 Stunde
I have two close friends who went to msc.'s under two of the mentined unis
in the video in Germany and their social life is gone. They are depressed,
fed up but cannot talk about it. I hope we can somehow solve this dark
side of academia because if we cannot, there is no hope for scientific
progress at the hand of good people.
Antworten
@MindBody9339Soul
vor 2 Stunden
that's life in academia unfortunately, I left my PhD program because I
found myself in a lab like that. There are no actual protection from
toxic, fraudulent, and threatening research group, you just have to keep
quiet else you'll be pushed out of academia because it's always regarded
as the student fault.
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@EvgenyTalantsev
vor 3 Stunden
Not only for Germany.
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@Solscapes.
vor 3 Stunden
This kind of stuff is why I don't believe in the Plank Length. That and
the assumptions with a complete lack of evidence.
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@akashbala5123
vor 6 Stunden
They always blame developing and 3rd world countries,,,now look ,,who are
the monsters!!!
1
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@vinaychandratre4188
vor 13 Stunden
It rampant in most of research institute in Germany. But Germans on the
street are wonderful people.
1
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@kamartaylor2902
vor 13 Stunden
So his boss wanted him to work harder?? ð¢
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@steveking7719
vor 15 Stunden
Everybody thinks the science research community is all chatty and
happy.... not so. There are huge egos so large it unbelievable ... where
I've seen two PhD's who had disagreement literally yelling at each other
in a conference room. More than once. It's not all bonding and happiness.
Antworten
@John-ol5vk
vor 16 Stunden
The Scientific Community has gotten worse over the years!! I am sure that
Elite Scientists like Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and many others would
be very disappointed at the direction that Scientific Research is heading!
This is probably why Scientific Discoveries have grown stagnant over the
years!! Something needs to be changed soon!!
1
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@Olukser
vor 18 Stunden
that's so sad
you can even study psychology there an learn how bad it is ð
it's almost a joke
people know it's wrong but since everyone ia doing it, they'll just keep
at it
Antworten
@MauroRincon
vor 19 Stunden
Interesting. The problem goes both ways, though (yes, I understand the
mismatch of power, but hear me out). The flexibility Academia offers is
also abused by many postdocs. I've personally had incredible postdocs, but
have also had people who completely disappeared for weeks, did not know
what they said they knew, did not comply with their 35 hours work week
consistently and a total impossibility to fire them before the contract
(sometimes 2 or 3 years) was over. I think the best option is taking 1 or
1.5 years contracts with the possibility of extension, so both parties can
make informed decisions if there is a good match. There absolutely is
abuse, no denying that. However, compared to what I saw in industry during
my experience there, there is certainly more civility in Academia.
1
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@filelist692
vor 19 Stunden
Check across the fence at EMBL also
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@maciekleszczynski8414
vor 19 Stunden
What a bunch of crybabies. They wouldn't last long in normal job where you
are being abused almost every day.
2
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@attenberg
vor 20 Stunden
So, did the guy from the video deliver actual research or was his angry
superior correct in his assessment of the situation?
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@Chuy1988
vor 21 Stunden
In the world of science we have impartial rules and axioms, but in the
human world we have discrimination and humans that don't like other
humansð¢
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@lisaj5769
vor 22 Stunden
i lived in germany for 3 years from 2018-2021 and while i was there, i
heard many stories from acquaintances and friends about them being treated
in a similar manner at their work. Maybe this kind of work culture is
something that is tolerated in germany or considered norm? not that it's
ok, but what that brazilian post doc guy was saying just sounded like the
stuff i used to get told all the time when i was there,.
Antworten
1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
12 hours ago
I think this is largely the norm in Germany. At least it correlates with
my 12 years of work experience.
Reply
@egonkirchof
vor 23 Stunden
Public sector. Private sector. Academia. Same sh*ty dynamics everywhere.
Antworten
@MaryKroll
vor 23 Stunden
copied from an open note on Linkdin
Autocracies offer several advantages over democracies. Chief among them is
the ability of a fair and all-powerful leader to implement decisions
quickly and efficiently, without delays caused by consultation with
superfluous advisors.
If such statement sounds potentially dangerous, that's because it is.
History has repeatedly shown that a lack of accountability harms
societies, organizations and individuals alike. Nowhere is this lesson
more evident than in Germany, which has built one of the most
well-developed democratic systems in the world. It prioritizes deliberate,
democratic decision-making over the risks of unchecked power, precisely to
prevent the dangers of oversight and abuse.
Why, then, do many institutions under the Max Planck Society still operate
under a structure reminiscent of the old German Empire?
Letting aside Nobel Prizes and honors, the absolute power of Max Planck
directors has long been an open secret. In physics, we have all heard
about harassment, trauma, and young researchers suffering under toxic
leadership. Some leave needing therapy or medication. Most leave Academia
for good.
Now, thanks to a group of talented journalists and a massive number of
brave victims, the general public can finally witness a small part of what
young researchers endure in Germany, particularly at Max Planck
Institutes. Having been a postdoctoral researcher in one of these
institutes, I witnessed this firsthand. Though my experience was brief, it
left its mark. I can only admire the strength and resilience of PhD
students who endured years of abusive supervision... I couldn't last even
one. In the documentary below, my voice and face are mere references to
the people who had a much harder time than I did, and were and are much
stronger persons than I am.
This story is a testament to the outstanding work of Lewis Sanders, Esther
Felden, Kristin Haug, and many others at Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel.
My hope is that it will encourage young researchers and postdocs to
believe that change is on the horizon--not just in the Max Planck Society,
but maybe across German academia as a whole. Given the overwhelming
response (countless comments, emails, people reaching out to DW, sending
me messages of gratitude, etc) it seems that momentum is building.
I am not an optimist, but I have a feeling that big changes are coming!
Paired with this documentary, Der Spiegel has also published an article
(in German), which I will attach in the comments. It provides more details
for what is currently going on in the Finite Systems division of the Max
Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems.
Antworten
@sriram_raghavan
vor 1 Tag
Unfortunately it is true all over the world and it cannot be spoke about.
Good that DW is documenting it.
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@PhilipiCenataro
vor 1 Tag
Le hecking
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@CuratedScienceAI
vor 1 Tag
Stop crying, let me replace your position. More are willingly follow and
work hard.
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@HeyHelloWello1234
vor 1 Tag
I think this happens in all counts with similar research societies and
structure of academia
1
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@MartinGeorgiev-zp6nm
vor 32 Minuten
The same happens in Japan. I advise everyone to leave their program, if
they are in an abusive environment and not to wait the program to end
because otherwise you will be traumatized for the rest of your life.
Nothing is more worthy than your own wellbeing
Antworten
@TarekMaza
vor 1 Stunde
They're right! If you're there to research you need to produce results.
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@Remotetraderathome
vor 1 Stunde
This is nothing lol
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@justineTar-j9e
vor 1 Stunde (bearbeitet)
It's so alarming how many victims in academia are starting talking about
this.
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@Justwhereamgoing
vor 3 Stunden
This is hilarious ð not because verbal abuse is funny, but because DW
journalists are so disconnected with the reality of academia. The violence
is also systemic, in the lack of jobs for everyone, and corruption exists
at all levels.
Antworten
@KhushalBadhan
vor 4 Stunden
9:16 true, I almost quit research because of power abuse.
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@KhushalBadhan
vor 4 Stunden
At the university of Lux. I was discouraged from pursuing prestigious
projects, because of racist professor who favoured someone else. I was
told, "don't come here in Europe". While on my first day in Lux. in EU, I
was asked from bribe by a university accommodation staff.
Another friend of mine who was doing his PhD in statistical Physics was
called "Monkey" by his racist supervisor at the same university in
Luxembourg. And another of his PhD student was was often asked to sweep
office floors of this professor.
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@KhushalBadhan
vor 5 Stunden
Alot of positions are paid 75% but are asked to work 100%.
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@ici70yz49
vor 7 Stunden
Some scientists think they will win Nobel price and they keep pushing PhD
students and postdoctoral to do huge effort to compete with other
scientists . There is huge competition and animosity among researchers
worldwide, politics is strong in scientific community . It is cliquish
society .
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@sa34zo5em
vor 9 Stunden
Any Tuesday in Turkish universities
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Standardprofilfoto
Kommentar hinzufÃŒgenâŠ
@paleoinformatician
vor 38 Minuten (bearbeitet)
So, now what is the result? Which "big bosses/professor" lost their job as
many young scientists did?
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@kirof6811
vor 4 Stunden
Welcome to the private sector ð
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@astroboy01
vor 4 Stunden
Itâs not about gender inequality. Itâs about the pervasive system in
academia that damages students and aspiring scientists. The problem can be
found worldwide.
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@quiztestuz
vor 4 Stunden
Unfortunately , untill this video I had dream to do research in German top
universities , after that I came to the idea to do business instead of
doing rrsearch work
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@zeromangahunter
vor 5 Stunden
As an academic, I confirm that this is not uncommon, unfortunately. And of
course, this is not a "German" problem, it happens everywhere in the
world.
1
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@DrAtomics
vor 5 Stunden (bearbeitet)
I had extremely abusive behavior from a German Phd Advisor who was at NCSU
who went to MPI for his PhD. No wonder he was so abusive. He drove me out
of his lab after just one semester. My department head said âhe doesnât
have a mean bone in his body â when I went to report these abusive issues
well before I was driven out.
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@abc_ratio
vor 5 Stunden (bearbeitet)
Omg after watching this video, I vomited. My heart is palpating so much. I
think it revealed some of my traumas regarding topic.
I am not sure but this act could be the biggest harassment. These traumas
in academia is creating permanent damage on young people.
1
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@krama2420
vor 6 Stunden
Sounds like German bosses
1
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@abc_ratio
vor 6 Stunden
Itâs all just to get a Nobel prize. But if they continue like this, they
will never have!
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@nessolson
vor 7 Stunden
Seems like the German way to me ð
1
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@ledasdaughter_
vor 8 Stunden
German universities next, please!
2
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1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
12 hours ago
I've written about that in my recent book! Awful experiences I had there.
Reply
@andrewryanwasright
vor 8 Stunden
I wonder if Professor Dave is going to apologize to Sabine Hossenfelder
for talking about this. Or just double down that academia isnât corrupt.
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@mrtienphysics666
vor 8 Stunden
is there evidence?
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@Nova-n0v4
vor 8 Stunden
Horrible. Thank you for speaking up.
1
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@jiayu7448
vor 8 Stunden (bearbeitet)
Thanks to my near five years of service at MPI as an early career
researcher, I lost most of my motivation in scientific research and now I
personally have very strong opinions against sciences, even though I used
to be very proud to be one of the memebers sharing this beautiful Minerva
totem.Yes in MPG you are surrounded by either so many talents or restless
workaholic people, but you also realise that you have to survive in a
sterile working environment with little humanity. You know personally your
colleagues are nice people, but with stressed and unhappy facial
expressions all the time. Most of the young researchers are just part of
the big factories and heavily overworked for their PIs' big scopes or
plans but gained very little, sometimes their contributions are just
neglected. To them, science is no fun at all, but only their temporary
job, because very simply they have been long trained with some very
specific skills.
It is common in academia that young researchers are so vulnerable in their
careers because of so much uncertainties, namely the contracts. However,
what I saw and also experienced at MPI was something more stressful:
people are only offered a 3-6 months contract for extension to wrap up or
to plan something bigger. But there's never an 'end' of a study, so many
people just renewed their contracts for a few months again and again....
It's not just a a torture for early career scientists who are struggling
to find their own pathways, but it's even worse for the researchers who
are not from the EU (because they need a fairly long wait for new
'Vertragsdokumente' to get new visas). Does the whole MPG really care
about these? Probably they will only send you a huge pdf with all fancy
numbers about what the whole MPI system achieved in the past year.
2
Antworten
@visheshdeep9
vor 8 Stunden
This is at every level in Academia in Higher Education, from UG courses to
all the way to Research & Internship.
All these institutes, whether popular or not, hardly teach anything in
qualitativr manner, which is a ridiculous thing, as the studies get
harder, the teaching aim should be to simplify more and more, but the Ego
is attatched to it and even students like it bcz they want to feel like "I
did it on my own" or something.
This leads to students going for Pvt courses, which is again costly, and
only with rich background make it through top grades, many with great
conceptual understanding & critical thinking still don't make it bcz they
didn't follow the system which is highly unorganised and student
exploitative.
All these institutes, I like to call them, are just "Testing Agencies" ...
While many cringe people on social media make loads of money, these
students with research aptitude suffer and get so much humiliation...
I myself submitted a Thesis, where in the first session, they didn't give
any topics, you'd to take on your own and work... I did it and that Prof
was generous and understood it very well and accepted it.
The next time they didn't notify that you couldn't take topics on your own
and when I went on... (I continued research on the same topic from last
time and some new chapters in it) ... I was humiliated like crazy.
Although the thesis was submitted, but the humiliatioj causes so much... I
mean, when we do research, nobody is there to support, no guidance at all,
but to reject it, they take just a glimpse and pass judgements like they
knew about us from a very long time.
Accusing of Plagiarism and that you people just make thesis by giving it
to a third party, which is actually a popular case in my country, but they
generalise it.
Seeing that all these things are happening in top institutes as well, this
is just so horrible, bcz so many hard working and actually passionate
people, who cut themselves off from the world, for all this, suffer
financial loss, as many of them are too smart and could actually do wage
jobs in Pvt and Public industries, but choosing to contribute into the
human knowledge and understanding has become such a place where there are
hurdles all around, people with Power can threaten you, destroy your image
and the worst, make you so miserable that you start to even loose the
passion for your subject, bcz it was never the fault of the subject, but
many quit bcz they can't continue in this toxicity.
Reforms are a must, support these students, please!
2
Antworten
@AlessandroZir
vor 8 Stunden
thank you so much for showing this!!!
people shouldn't think that public institutions, including supposedly high
level ones in education and research are necessarily any better than
private predatory ones: they can be worse; this is a real problem for
people simply wanting to get rid of neoliberalism by relying on state
bureaucracy;
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@dhirajk5457
vor 9 Stunden
I love DW news reporting it without partiality
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@shubhadakulkarni4605
vor 9 Stunden
This is true. And not just in Germany but worldwide in academia. I
remember my ex-boss saying "Married women in my lab don't work long hours
like men"!
1
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@rubna6726
vor 9 Stunden
I was just starting the application process for PhD in MPIDS. ððð
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@Ellen-Monet
vor 10 Stunden (bearbeitet)
Abuse in academia, underpaid work with unpaid overtimes, even illegally
high accommodation rent - everywhere is an exploitation of a foreigner
whoâs often scared to lose their visa if they complain and lose those
jobs, study places or end up with no place to stay at all if itâs the case
of rentals
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@marcoathayde42
vor 10 Stunden
DW didnt hear the other side. Thats disturbing, but thats DW...
1
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@zrmsraggot
vor 10 Stunden
Power is a liability, weak people can't handle it
1
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@marcoathayde42
vor 10 Stunden
The fact is that the Institute presents results, Nobel Prizes. Thats
important
2
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@joshuawang9401
vor 11 Stunden
I think it is dictatorship. why no one dares to say that?
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@trusttheyoga8303
vor 11 Stunden
Thank god they didnât select me for admission.
1
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@sofialara9837
vor 12 Stunden
Hello. We should create a group in social media to make visible the abuse.
A group called "love to science respect your PhD student". We could help
other PhD students.
Antworten
[. . .]
@verimaunier8761
vor 1 Tag
Thank you so much for this report!! I also heard the same and worse things
about Max Planck institute in Munich at the German conference for women in
physics. These professors and advisors need to face consequences like in
every other field too, if you abuse your power you should be able to lose
your job
2
Antworten
@vidyas1044
vor 1 Tag
I was at LMU, and it's no different! I faced bullying, scientific
misconduct, and isolation from my research group with little to no support
at all! It was so extremely exhausting and traumatic that my therapist
suggested that the only way to save myself is to leave that place. I quit
in my 2nd year PhD. and moved to my old lab in the UK, but I am still
struggling with depression self-doubt and contemplating whether academia
is worth it!
4
Antworten
1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
12 hours ago
Best of luck!
Reply
@Swanicorn
vor 1 Tag
Sabine exposed it months ago and experienced it for quite a while herself.
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@ruyasude
vor 1 Tag
Uni student in France here. Youâd be surprised by the amount of racism,
psychological abuse and inappropriate behavior here. Academia needs to be
controlled more !
4
Antworten
@MaryKroll
vor 1 Tag
My director at MPI was such a nasty dictator that I nearly lost my faith
in human, let alone the science and academia. Few years of therapy and
good working environments later, I am just able to talk about it.
2
Antworten
@Jan96106
vor 1 Tag
Sounds like graduate school in general.
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@vevasam
vor 1 Tag
I have experienced this not just at my university but experience
discrimination quite often in Germany. Non-inclusiveness, passive
aggression are the most common that immigrants face here. Such things are
quite hard to complain as well. It's sad I've gotten used to it and
doesn't do anything about it as I'm also to fulfill the needs of my
family. I feel very bad for Gabriel and others who experiene work place
bullying, discrimination and harassment. I highly appreciate him speaking
up.
5
Antworten
1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
12 hours ago
I have experienced the same things as you and I write about them in my
recent book. I hope things will get better for you!
Reply
@clankb2o5
vor 1 Tag
It's a good thing that professors are held accountable for their actions
more and more. As a PhD candidate myself, this makes me more likely to
report unacceptable behaviour if it happened to me.
1
Antworten
@ye333
vor 1 Tag
All those jargons in the beginning tell us all we need to know.
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@tulenik71
vor 1 Tag
Likewise...
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@sandbll8952
vor 1 Tag
Itâs sad because this happends everywhere little ones and big institutes
and universyties.
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@asjadazeez
vor 1 Tag
germany is now controlled and weakened by israile
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@chrisb.5104
vor 1 Tag
This happend everywhere in Germany... almost imposible to live and work
here... German Personality still the same as in 1939...
2
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@chinmayswami9358
vor 1 Tag
Kudos to Germans for bringing this to light. Academia is corrupted by
faculty members with god complex. US is same, maybe even worst. I have
suffered at the hands of 2 toxic advisors and departments did nothing even
in the presence of several testimonials. Departments generally work like
mafia and gang up on the students/post-docs.
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@rrrajlive
vor 1 Tag
It's still 100X better than Indian PhD and post doc system. You can't
recover from it within 1 year.
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@narniadan
vor 1 Tag
It sounds just like DW; abuse, silence and human rights abuse.
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@FermatWiles
vor 1 Tag
This is essentially an open secret within the German science community.
I've seen that community from the inside, it's toxic and driven by
incompetent people.
1
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@ladzerty
vor 1 Tag
German guys abusing power??? What a surprise....nopeðððð
1
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1 Antwort
@josephk4932
vor 1 Tag
What is your ethnicity?
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@BrassAmbassador
vor 1 Tag
Ah yes, here comes the woke wave against the universities. No big loss on
this case, they are all rotten to the core worldwide.
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@CollectiveAction664
vor 1 Tag
It's such a pity that researchers goes through in Germany. A doc program
position in top universities in Germany pays about 1.800⬠net salary, when
a 60qm apartment in Berlin rent costs is about 1.200â¬. And they have to
manage with abuse aggression and oppression while leaving in poverty. It's
a real struggle to pursue an academic career here. We have to stop
accepting this organised aggression ð¢
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@user-hd8yv2mg7b
vor 1 Tag
People of color have to have the names of white colleagues on their
publications even though they may not have contributed
1
Antworten
@chetanbangarvader
vor 1 Tag
The way i remember any movie which i watch related to science there comes
professors where they think highly of them all over world this problem is
not, related to germany only and having studied in highly reputed
institutions this is true
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@mynameis251
vor 1 Tag
Finally someone speaking about this ð
1
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@SirojiddinBoboqulov
vor 1 Tag
This should not be the case. Scientists are not rich like businessmen and
in most cases they sacrifice a lot for the greater good of the humanity.
But such cases discourage young people from pursuing a career in this
already troublesome area.
1
Antworten
@bruhpang
vor 1 Tag
I heard that it was somehow well known within academic society...it is
time to change it.
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@HeatherRussak
vor 1 Tag
"Over stating your own contributions and undermining others is a common
practice" 𥲠As a female postdoc, I can't resonate more with this
statement ð
1
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@try.to.think.
vor 1 Tag
Such as saying that such issues persist so much even in environments of
science
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@dzsman
vor 1 Tag
Look at UCL in the UK too
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@drjagadishdasari2294
vor 1 Tag
This is true everywhere ....these profs need research papers on top of
that they dont know anything they just act ...God please save
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@ThePinkVillain
vor 1 Tag
This is horrible, politics and optics are all that matters nowadays and
the psychos of the world are a reflection of how much evil is allowed in
the world⊠it looks like alot is allowed.
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@spacemeter3001
vor 1 Tag
Remember: This is "the science" they told you to trust.
1
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@luckybarrel7829
vor 1 Tag
Same problem here in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin
1
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@TheFarrukhzain
vor 1 Tag
This is Finally coming to light. My brother went there as doctoral fellow
two years ago and left within six months, he is a brilliant scientist and
he was crushed by his supervisor, some Bert guy and after leaving MPI he
is finally recovering and enjoying his work again. These places are so
toxic and one of the main reasons Europe is left behind in any conceivable
matrix of scientific research. Thankyou for making me understand more of
what he went thru.
Antworten
@Dessloch
vor 1 Tag (bearbeitet)
Unfortunately, this is not only an issue in Germany. Toxic scientific
workplace environments are also an issue in other countries. Sometimes
those of us working in science tend to think that academia is like an
"island" and these issues do not happen here, but that's not true. Highly
competitive environments can be nasty, and abusive people can be found
anywhere. Thank you for bringing attention towards this, and thank you
Gabriel for publicly denouncing it.
Antworten
@flohandyacc6127
vor 1 Tag
Thats not only in germany but everywhere
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@Keithyt3962
vor 1 Tag (bearbeitet)
Academia is a playground of the elite among the elite and not a noble job
for the advancement of humanity!! And pursuit of knowledge!! I have read
very great articles in philosophy from Non academics. The elites want more
and more to do science so that they can profit for it and also people do
not think much about their material and spiritual conditions!!
1
Antworten
@AbhishekChaudhary-uq4xo
vor 1 Tag
It's 2025 and women scientists are still denied their share of
appreciation and credit. That too at one of the top most institutions in
the world. Just pathetic and shameful.
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@Rahul_Pramod-jy3xz
vor 1 Tag
Nothing new....
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@HabibArebu
vor 1 Tag
I will have a plan to apply to this university. But Now I will never and
ever come to Germany to study!!!
1
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@milayalcin7567
vor 1 Tag
This is usual german Management style
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@jacquesenboit6351
vor 1 Tag
Sabrina Hossenfelder the physicist turn YTber shared her bad experience in
her YT too. And many commenting viewers share their firstchand experience
of getting abused. German society is actually far more sick than this,
from first-hand experience multiple times. Fundamentally, German culture
doesn't seem to have moral scruples to hold its people back by individual
conscience.
Antworten
@madwid7938
vor 1 Tag
Really hard hitting reporting by DW
ð€£
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@mohammadinamullah9380
vor 1 Tag
That is why china is getting advantage. Chinese are attracting post
doctoral scholars in china.
Antworten
@MohamedSamyAlRabbani
vor 1 Tag
He got yelled at, man up!
2
Antworten
@rav_ku
vor 2 Tagen
I have seen this too ð I did my master's in Germany, and later dropped
out of my PhD for variety of reasons including but not limited to my
current business ... I am doing well in life, but I first hand witnessed
the amount of mental torture and credit stealing some professors inflict
on grad and post grad students... Also, it directly related to immigration
status of the students for logical reasons... You can't complain to anyone
without jeopardizing your career so toomany students keep quite and suffer
alone and quietly.... They have to put up with verbal and bureaucratic
harassment also which is very hard to prove... Also recording secretly is
illegal in Germany even if it's for your safety, so it is impossible to
get good proof in many instances... ð¢ð¢
I'll add that the harassment is not only done by Germans, and not
necessarily racism... I have seen it done by professors of South America,
Asia, etc doing to other immigrant students too... But they usually don't
do it German students... It's very complicated, but I am happy that DW at
least using their reputation in Europe to bring this thing to surface
because Europeans will not accept other media easily....
ðððððâ€â€â€â€â€
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@rubygoldfish4706
vor 2 Tagen
I thought it was only in india but it happens everywhere....good luck to
all of us in academia â€
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@francoisperrin7397
vor 2 Tagen
The big problem in Science is that there are far more demands than offers
so the scientists on permanent positions abuse on the ones who are on
contract-based. That's the sad reality. As a former scientist, I went
through the same abuses. I have seen talented people being abused and
expelled. You wanna do science? Be prepared to lose it all.
Antworten
@danielreiss-cy4zr
vor 2 Tagen
Max Planck Gesellschaft? It's called Institute in English.
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@wash_out
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Academia and research in Germany is broken in general. Itâs a road to
nowhere. Precarious and not worth it anymore. And on top of this you get
THIS. A sad truth for a while now.
Antworten
@soubhagyaranjansahu6404
vor 2 Tagen
I am a science student from a not so good background I dreamt of going to
Germany as I believe it is the epicenter of modern science, I am
absolutely devastated by hearing this
5
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1 Antwort
@tapoprasadjena3139
vor 3 Stunden (bearbeitet)
Sameð¢.
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@tortoisetraveler5815
vor 2 Tagen
Please do an investigation in India's IITs.......
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@sardonic81scream76
vor 2 Tagen
Same experience here!
1
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@AbcDef-jh7rw
vor 2 Tagen
Ive heard stories that go into this direction. A friend is working 60hrs
per week on a 25hr contract. Sometimes hes not even on the paper he wrote
on his own.
1
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@mr04r32
vor 2 Tagen
Hahaha. Bro thats normal in Germany and Companies. People do not quit
Jobs. They quit the Boss.
1
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@mattlab5289
vor 2 Tagen
The same in France
1
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@BudFox575
vor 2 Tagen
They always protect their own. No accountability.
2
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@tejasrigopi7368
vor 2 Tagen
Imagine working your socks off and doing two peopleâs work with one
salary. A salary that wonât see an increment or bonus for years together
.. Iâd still be scared to go and complain only cuz of the fear that I need
the recommendations from my current work place!
Antworten
@SiddharthPednekar-sk6nb
vor 2 Tagen
Research should be independently conducted without depending on approval
of single person we need to change system of phd
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@pdannysan13
vor 2 Tagen
Can't wait for Sabine's video on this!
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@nakulgote
vor 2 Tagen
Sad to hear this is happening in TUD, my uni.
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@phanindrakumar3221
vor 2 Tagen
Same problem in indian institute 9f technology luckily i left the toxic
group amd now i am under a best guide
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@crick__1127
vor 2 Tagen
This is just the tip of the iceberg... Here in the U.S., many postdocs are
facing similar problems. Itâs a small world. Your professorâs words are
often taken more seriously when they speak to colleagues, deans, or even
the president. I was intimidated by my advisor, who claimed to have spoken
to higher-ups, and I ended up being accused of "misconduct" rather than
addressing his toxic behavior, without any opportunity for discussion.
At the end of the day, if you want to apply for a professor position, you
need reference letters from your former advisors. Speaking out against the
toxicity of your advisor negatively affect or even ruin your career. Iâve
seen cases where just a reference letter alone has ended someoneâs career.
This is how the modern scientific "slave" system works.
I am truly impressed by Gabrielâs courage to speak out on this serious
issue. I am in your back.
28
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@SuperRocky1223
vor 2 Tagen
Racism is an incurable virus...world would have advanced more in
technology and science if PHD student's research are fairly evaluated and
funded without discrimination.
Antworten
@VichetAng-u8s
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Shame on the toxic scientistsðð. Remember the more famous your
supervisor is, the more toxic behaviour he/she is. Thanks DW News for
uncovering the elephant in the room, you deserve my subscription ðððð
3
Antworten
@AdityaPandey-cr5xy
vor 2 Tagen
Academia has this problem. Issue is that coming from a developing country,
it is further problematic as almost half of age gets passed.
Then, job opportunities become further shallow. Many of our friends
committed suicide.
I always share and say to many colleagues and friends,
Academics is fine, but become more powerful politically. Only then can one
survive in academia today.
Antworten
@AlokSharma1
vor 2 Tagen
I was looking forward to come there but I am reevaluating
Antworten
@AdityaPandey-cr5xy
vor 2 Tagen
Same here in India.
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@robertpagen2770
vor 2 Tagen
His boss yelled at him ð®. Poor baby
2
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@oscaruzielcruz5538
vor 2 Tagen
That's the same thing Germans did with the enabling act of 1933...
Antworten
@RogEsCo
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
In 2017 I went to a PhD recruitment event from them, great experience but
fortunately, didn't get to the final stages. I remember, there was an old
professor at that time who made very rude comments demeriting my previous
work, saying I could not have done it. This lines up. Bullying in Academia
is quite common anyway, and PhD students are dismissed all the time.
1
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@frozen8477
vor 2 Tagen
Leave academia, its scam. They do not track your working hours!
Antworten
@elijahogolah1497
vor 2 Tagen
Academia is known for allowing smart people to be mean and get away with
it - Dr. Monica Cox.
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@alexanderyendell995
vor 2 Tagen
This is very normal not only at MPI. All Universities in Germany suffer
from toxic professor's.
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@ehsaneftekhari-zadeh3145
vor 2 Tagen
Great taboo topic to be openly investigated and followed up by DW. As a
former PhD and currently postdoc in Germany, I have observed many bullying
cases in nearly all universities from supervisors to students.
2
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@averyphallichat8779
vor 2 Tagen
The first interviewee described his superior as saying "you arrived here
almost a year ago, you have done [...] s**t, you're not working at all,
you're f**ing useless" while slamming his table and frothing at the mouth.
I kind of get the impression there's more to the story here? I mean if you
have a doctoral degree, are hired at a prestigious institution like this,
and then waste time and resources doing nothing for an entire year (if
that's actually what happened, which he doesn't explicitly deny) I can see
why some people might be enraged, that is totally unacceptable. Of course
you should try to be civil but everyone's human and people lose their
temper.
2
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@ginnan-1gt
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Totally true. And it had been going on for a while now. I have worked in 3
different countries before coming to Germany, and did not have any issues.
Here I was bullied in both working places: Charite Virchow and FLI in
Jena. I have left Academia after that in 2012. Many people are trapped,
though. Thank you DW for bringing it up!
1
Antworten
@asifjeckyl
vor 2 Tagen
Iâve worked in research institutions in 3 different countries, and the MPI
was by far the worst environment for blatant sexism and abuse of power.
From my experience I knew I needed to leave the country if I wanted to
continue to do research.
3
Antworten
@ZeenatJunaid-zt1gk
vor 2 Tagen
This also happens amongst doctors and with medicine professors during
mÃŒndliche Staatsexamen. Very subjective, biased, and often the results are
based on personal favoritism.
1
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@sauvikchakraborty1432
vor 2 Tagen
Yelling to the point of spitting sounds like the 1940s german leader
1
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@Rebofan
vor 2 Tagen
ð
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@johnnyheq
vor 2 Tagen
Most of Ph.D. candidates finish their program taking pills to keep going.
Unfortunately, academia became a very toxic environment.
1
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@Marcellina-l8p
vor 2 Tagen
I'm sorry but what exactly does this abuse consist of? Yelling and
snobbing students? Really?
Antworten
@annetteannette3808
vor 2 Tagen
UNPROFESIONAL SCHOLARS
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@gunnu-p4v
vor 2 Tagen
Does canada has this too?
Antworten
@Mnm-c4x
vor 2 Tagen
I'm shocked to see that so many people knew about the issue but no one
spoke up until now, or may be they didn't have a platform.
Glad DW and Gabriel took the initiative.
I was planning to apply for MP PhD position but not anymore.
1
Antworten
@2mrvamshi
vor 2 Tagen
Even my wife faced huge discrimination during her master's thesis by her
professor in Germany. The companies or universities should stop giving
more weightage to reference letters from professors and give attention and
more time in conducting interviewing the individual directly and to know
them as person and their technical skills through interview and not to
depend on professors reference
2
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1 Antwort
@minhan.893
vor 1 Tag
Totally agree ð¯... They shouldn't ask for reference letters at all as
they're always biased...
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@L_Y_R_A
vor 2 Tagen
As an undergrad at a State school (UTM) Lemaster demanded me to perform
outrageous tasks that were not feasible for anyone other than certain
large corporations. About like "build the Brooklyn Bridge...build the
Hoover Dam". The courts gave him and the school legal immunity then
dismissed my case.
Antworten
@Carl-Ernst-Otto-Kunze
vor 2 Tagen
pco2,paco2,co,Co2 mining as old as time, to the Point of toxicology or so
called "histology" itself, affecting every fg atom on this planet.
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@TheMasteRTheo
vor 2 Tagen
What innovations has Gabriel introduced during his time in this research
institution?
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@goulnazgalieva3121
vor 2 Tagen
I had a case where my work was stolen and i was gaslighted at the
university in my country. I also heard where a female student took several
years to report sexual harassment from a German university in Bonn from a
friend who was furious when ahe found out. And ehile it was being
investigated,the guy kept working there
1
Antworten
@salonisaxena2820
vor 2 Tagen
I was a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex
Systems from November 2021 to January 2024. It was a dream opportunity and
I thought it would make my career. Instead I was repeatedly humiliated in
group meetings, not allowed to speak about my own project and ignored
completely. Requests to meet and work on a publication were ignored. After
my contract ran out and I left, I tried to communicate with my supervisors
to get the paper done and submitted. I never heard from them again. Not
having a paper ruined my chances in academia. My mental health is
permanently damaged to the point where I cannot apply for other jobs. The
people I worked with are Marko Popovic and Frank Julicher. I'm naming
names because they're probably not going to read this.
527
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18 Antworten 28 replies
@sonali20386
vor 2 Tagen
You should be unafraid to name names even if they do read it. That is the
whole point of having accountability and a system that holds them
accountable
72
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@wuestenfuchs1
vor 2 Tagen
I'm really sorry. The way our country treats foreigners and minorities is
a real disgrace. I wish Germans were more open minded and empathetic.
42
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@AlokSharma1
vor 2 Tagen
Maâam you are phd from iisc?
Antworten
@albertomelo803
vor 1 Tag
complex system with R Golestanian?
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@gondala
vor 1 Tag
same with my experience in Taiwan... It was NCKU university.
4
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@puneettripathi740
vor 1 Tag
bro u r much more capable than u think, dont lose hope, u were born for
greatness n not to perish by all this suffering u will do great trust
urself
2
Antworten
@Smsl-nh9sl
vor 1 Tag
I think this is not the place to name people. It's an allegation. It's
easy to denounce people on the internet who can't respond to the
allegations. Contact a complaints office and seek professional help.
Incidentally, you could be charged (Ìble Nachrede, RufschÀdigung etc.)
Antworten
@francookie9353
vor 1 Tag
â @Smsl-nh9sl Aber wahrscheinlich nicht wegen eines YT Kommentars.
1
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@francookie9353
vor 1 Tag
Du schaffst das schon! Du kannst auch auÃerhalb der akademischen Welt
glÃŒcklich werden! â€
2
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@katharinaweber7604
vor 1 Tag
thank you for naming them!
2
Antworten
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
@lilducha
vor 22 Stunden
@Smsl-nh9sl how well does that work when the place is accused of
institutional silence? meaning people have come forward and been ignored
already? also, seeking professional help probably costs money, money
someone who lost out on a spot du to this simple does not have means to
provide. on top of all that "you could be charged for being public when
potentially damaged by public organisations" pretty much gives blanket
cover for all corruption forever.
looking at your user name you're probably a bot, just commenting this in
hopes no one agrees with you on this
Antworten
@swrnr1551
vor 12 Stunden
Dear Saloni, I am sorry to hear that you are struggling from your
experience at the PKS. My personal experience with Frank (who was my PhD
supervisor) and Marko (who was a fellow PhD student at that time) is
completely different and I have never experienced them showing abusive
behavior. In fact, I remember Marko as very caring. Certainly, every group
leader in this environment has an insane workload and notoriously a
shortage of time (e.g. Frank puts emphasis on supervising his PhD students
but expects a lot of independence from Postdocs). Thus, I can imaging that
if somebody is struggling on a personal level, it might stay unnoticed.
While I don't recall any personally insulting comments in scientific
discussions, these discussions were typically very direct and not
sugar-coated content-wise and this can be quite stressful. (Especially in
the beginning, I was always tense when I needed to present anything to
Frank as I knew he might take it apart. Yet, this is very different from
the portrayal of J-M Rost in the video.) Nevertheless, mental struggles
should never result from an employment (despite that it probably happens a
lot). So, if you feel like it helps, don't hesitate to contact me - yet, I
don't think you should drop these names here, especially if you expect
them not to read it and thus not to have any chance to tell their side of
the story.
1
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@ZeckeGegenRechts
vor 12 Stunden
@swrnr1551 Just because you didnât have this experience doesnât mean
someone else didnât. Naming names holds people accountable for their
actions. Keeping abuse hush protects perpetrators and enables future
abuse.
1
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@swrnr1551
vor 11 Stunden
â @ZeckeGegenRechts First, I believe I know both people rather well, having
spent a lot of time with them during my 4 years at PKS. Second, just
dropping names without given them the chance to respond to the allegations
is highly problematic. It doesn't even have to be that there are bad
intentions from either side but a different perception of the case. For
example, maybe one side expected to get more help and guidance and felt
neglected, while the other side expected more independence. You already
assume you know who is to blame (without even knowing any of the involved
people), while I have actually a first-hand experience and still tried to
understand the case openly and even offered help (which I likely would
have done, even without the names being dropped).
2
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@quantumbrick1671
vor 4 Stunden
I strongly agree with @swrnr1551 here. It is very dangerous to make
allegations without giving the other side the right to reply. The
documentary does offer the possibility of fighting the allegations back,
and one can see that MPG and J-M Rost reply extremely poorly. The large
number of victims in the documentary also shows that it's not only a
single person's experience, but something corroborated by a lot of people.
Individual comments like this one that openly name people without
evidence, investigations or corroboration, are extremely dangerous and
akin to vigilante justice: They might work a couple of times, but on
average they unleash chaos and bring more evil than good. They also make
it harder for people to take the subject seriously in the future. I'm
really sorry for your experience in PKS, but the way to go is probably to
contact the DW helpline, tell them your story, and see if it helps them in
subsequent investigations. This comment, however, should be erased by DW's
moderation team.
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@husel4125
vor 1 Stunde
may god bless you
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@ryanmaloney5519
vor 1 Stunde
â@wuestenfuchs1 it's not just Germany!
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@BallBustersFC
vor 35 Minuten
â @swrnr1551 why is this comment the only contribution from this profile?
Antworten
@ZeckeGegenRechts
2 days ago
@swrnr1551 I highly doubt that the issue is a lack of guidance or help. It
sounds to me like that person has been traumatized to the point that they
are no longer able to work. If he is unable to find work in that field
because of those people and their bad-mouthing, why isnât he allowed to do
the same? People in power are allowed to destroy someoneâs reputation, but
the person affected isnât allowed to retaliateâespecially when pursuing
justice publicly in a court of law is bound to fail due to the hurdles in
place to protect abusers.
I think the person is doing the right thing by naming names. Itâs the only
option left. If the court is doing nothing and the university is doing
nothing, then the only thing left is to publicly shame them.
5
Reply
@swrnr1551
1 day ago
@BallBustersFC What do you mean?
Reply
@marydroid5801
1 day ago
Complaint office? You just don't get it...
1
Reply
@marydroid5801
1 day ago
How is he by the way? R Golestanian? What kind of a director?
Reply
@ms4749-r4o
1 day ago
I can imagine how discouraging it must be when your collaborators donât
prioritize you. However, I wouldnât consider what you describe as abusive
behavior. I also worked at MPIPKS and heard plenty of accounts about the
three directors. I never heard anything from Frank JÃŒlicher that seemed
unprofessional. Honestly, I think heâs a pretty exceptional case. Despite
his power, he doesnât seem to have much of an ego, which is rare. As for
Marko Popovic, he is a kind person, and while he has more power than a
postdoc as a group leader, he doesnât have the final say, and his career
still depends on the director.
Did they ever raise their voices, scream at you, or use inappropriate
language, either orally or in writing? Did they ever meddle in your
personal life or make assumptions that affected your professional or
financial situation? I have been the target of such behaviors at times
during my academic career. Maybe your expectations were too high? I get
why youâre frustrated, though. If you complain, youâre seen as difficult.
If you stay quiet, no one pays attention. You canât be too bold or you
seem defiant, but if youâre too nice, you seem apologetic. And if youâre a
woman, itâs even worse.
However, on a larger scale, this is just one symptom of academiaâs deep
dysfunction. The system is fundamentally flawed from every angle. It
forces us to waste time on grant applications and publishing irrelevant
papers rather than focusing on meaningful science. It fosters competition
instead of collaboration, self-interest over mentorship, and prevents us
from prioritizing what truly matters.
In short, you are not alone in your suffering. My advice: give yourself
permission to move on. This is not worth your life.
6
Reply
@Solscapes.
1 day ago
I never got as far as you, but I feel a kinship. My education was
sabotaged by similar behavior/systemic problems. I was in pre-algebra in
4th grade, then I moved, and they wanted to try me out in pre-algebra at
the new school and let me go ahead with algebra 1 after a year, at which
point we moved again, (military brat) to a place that didn't offer algebra
1 in 6th grade. 7th grade, new school again, same story as 5th grade; they
wanted me to take another year of pre-algebra to see how smart I really
was.
By the time I got into 8th at the next school, I hadn't learned any new
math in three years, and I got my first A- in the subject. Then, geometry
was almost beyond me. Trig absolutely was.
But the worst part wasn't the neglect by the schools or the behavior of
teachers who saw correcting their math as insult or the lost opportunities
and prospects of being a mathematician. It was the neglect of my family,
who let it happen and destroyed my mental and physical health long before
I entered school, setting me up as a target for bullies and narcissistic
exploitation.
Reply
@steveking7719
16 hours ago
You are not alone.
Reply
@upupina90
14 hours ago
mental health cannot be permanently damaged by mobbing or things like
that, you can recover :)
Reply
@ragas2845
8 hours ago
â @wuestenfuchs1 But the name Marco Popovic doesn't sound German to me. I
think he is either Serbian or Croatian.
Reply
@ragas2845
8 hours ago
â @Smsl-nh9sl You are either one of the perpetrators disguised as someone
else or you are their sycophants. Tell me which one is it?
Reply
@arzuevelioglu-kulavuz8496
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Benide - Almanya'da
23 sene sonra iÅden attılar TÃŒrk ve SÃŒnni oldum için Alman Yahudi Textil
Åirketi holding Yönetim iÅden attılar TÃŒrk ve SÃŒnni oldum için 23 sene
sonra - problem yapan - kisi Dresden den gelen doÄu Alman Dresden
geliyordu -
2015 ve 2019 = 8 tane bÃŒyÃŒk Alman Åirketinde çalıÅtım ve 10 tane iÅ
bıraktım -
Almanlar faschist, almanlar kendilerini beÄenmiÅ bir toplum - ve TÃŒrk
konsolosluÄu yardım etmedi
TÃŒrk konsolosluÄu Alman faschist lerle beraber sadece kahve içiyor lar!.
TÃŒrk konsolosluÄu yardım etmedi.
Ben tek - satıcı elamanı olarak çalıÅtım- sektörÃŒnde çalıÅtım -.
10 tane alman avukatına gidmek mecburunda kaldım - 7 Tane almsn avukatı -
3 tÌrk avukatı= hepsi - 5 para etmez.
2 mahkeme kapısı gösterdi Alman' Yahudi Textil Åirketi holding Yönetim
yÌzÌnden gördÌm.
Ve kimse bana - hakkımı anlatamadı.
Netflix International televizyon sayesinde öÄrendim - Compliance
rechtliche Richtlinien - Charta der DiversitÀt -
Böyle konuları.
Alman Arbeitsamt - bile - faschist ve ırkçılık yaptılar tavırları var - 8
kere Almanya'da Sanktion verdiler bana ırkçılık yaparak.100% Sanktion
verdiler Almanlar- hep bana.
Almanlar
Faschist ve ırkçılık yapıyor.
Birde Alman Headhunter ( Asker) mobbing de yaptı - almanlar ırkçılık yapan
bir irk.
Ãniversiteye gidenler - onlarda anlatıyor - bazi - zaman - mobbing ve
ırkçılık ve dıÅlanmak la ilgili konular 2013 duyorum.
Antworten
@Indyariya
vor 2 Tagen
YouTuber physicist Sabine hossenfelder had made a video why she quit
academy. The reasons were same as mentioned. She said she canât get a
place or job in the institute because she is woman and should get a
scholarship. Her superior mandated postgraduate students to write chapters
of books in which she declined. And this prof chased her out of office
!!!!
2
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@Abdulstolemyjob
vor 2 Tagen
Germans abusing power...................................................
1
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@OytunT-v7y
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
It isn't just the institutions mentioned, but also the universities. For
the same reasons, I had to leave my PhD. When I left, six others had also
departed from the group over the past year, all for the same reasons. We
collectively went to the workers' council of the university to file a
complaint, but nothing came of it.
3
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@DostKhanable
vor 2 Tagen
Racism is second name of Germany
1
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@supriyaverma3364
vor 2 Tagen
Unfortunately, most of the German universities have thatâŠ
2
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@wanderlust_adventurer384
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This happened to me first hand at another research institute in Potsdam
with my âmentorâ who was my direct supervisor, while my PhD advisor did
get me away from him, he went out of his way to cover it up - his words
were he wanted him to âsave faceâ. And my PhD supervisor projected a brand
of high integrity and empathy. So gross.
1
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@sailesteele4372
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This is everywhere in academia: I have worked in Italy, Holland, UK and
India. Same everywhere, especially India and Holland.
3
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@kayolmayer1621
vor 2 Tagen
Something similar is happening to my wife in the MPI CEC, in MÃŒlheim. ð
1
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@SanalMG
vor 2 Tagen
There should not be abuse, but there should be mechanisms in place to make
sure productivity is maintained and standards are maintained (through open
evaluations), which can be even posted on YouTube to gather larger
audiences and experts across the world!
1
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@gym5959
vor 2 Tagen
This is what i hate about universities , if you complain about teaching or
harassment, you get even more harassed and abused. universities are not a
place to learn but a place where one competes over another to see who is
more intelligent, a place where professors abuse their power to feel
better about themselves, teach without a care in the world, and continue
doing their research for more money.
7
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@distrologic2925
vor 2 Tagen
It takes pressure to make diamonds.
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@distrologic2925
vor 2 Tagen
Its not a problem, its a feature.
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@distrologic2925
vor 2 Tagen
Great, now highest research has to become woke too
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@wanderlust_adventurer384
vor 2 Tagen
This happened to me first hand at another research institute in Potsdam
with my âmentorâ who was my direct supervisor, while my PhD advisor did
get me away from him, he went out of his way to cover it up - his words
were he wanted him to âsave faceâ. And my PhD supervisor projected a brand
of high integrity and empathy and he followed Buddhist teachings. So
gross.
1
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@alainmarceux6817
vor 2 Tagen
God , I'm already applieng for a couple of institutes ,as scientist with 5
years experience in the zoonotice diseases and one health concept , that
report shocked me and made me paranoid , i left my home country for
descrimination and abuse of powers and corruption and direspect for
qualified and scientists and doctors !!and you would say the same $h!t
here tooo , devestating ...
1
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@CSmaniac10012
vor 2 Tagen
PhDs are always treated as a cheap labour across academia
1
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@Lena333-c3m
vor 3 Tagen
Also in Fraunhofer, one of the chiefs is abusive and he is protected by
the management, although everyone knows his toxic. The only possibility
for the employees is leaving
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@Toannguyen-hi3sf
vor 3 Tagen
to be honset , if some german dont bring their grumpiness and just work ,
it would help themself a lot.
Instead of yelling the person why not finding a solution ? isnt this
faster ,to do it together then yell at employees and make them figure it
out themself ?
1
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@monkcers
vor 3 Tagen
About time it was known how full of psychopaths the academia world is
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@JoséFerreira-h9b4c
vor 3 Tagen
This is not a problem of Max Planck Institute, this is a generalized
problem of Academia and how the whole system is built. Its a corrupt power
system built to benefit the ones at the top of the pyramid.
Antworten
@karljiks
vor 3 Tagen
I saw a report of such bullying by an international student at TU Leiden
as well.
1
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@ataraxico1
vor 3 Tagen
Geneva Graduate Institute
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@dreznik
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
i think i understand the dynamic, at least in some cases.
- professor is successful, with broad experience
- he expects his protégé to work at the same quality level and directed
focus (intensity is worthless if misdirected)
- he sees the student utterly failing his expectations
- instead of investing his time on reorienting the student both in focus
and working method, he explodes.
what u get out of your less experienced employee is proportional to the
amount of time you helped him correct course and work in the format u
expect. u need to monitor him on a weekly basis. to obtain quality from an
underling requires a lot of time.investment, patience, and kindness.
professors could be trained on those aspects.
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@monikashukla5257
vor 3 Tagen
Supervisor think themselves as god and researchers as his slaves.
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@ashleigh3021
vor 3 Tagen
This is hardly uncommon and specific to Germany though, Iâve heard the
same thing happens in Dutch universities and elsewhere.
1
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@914home
vor 3 Tagen
Such top institutions like the Max Planck Society should stand as an
example to the academic world. As a former PhD student (who could not
graduate despite completing my dissertation) from one of the MPIs, I'm
glad these kinds of issues are coming to limelight. Kudos to DW.
10
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@kaushikiyer4881
vor 3 Tagen
This is interesting because are there no union protections for phds and
postdocs?
1
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@ktinxx
vor 3 Tagen
Why am I not surprised... ð
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@igorlitvin1779
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I have 20 years of experience in physics. This is happening all over
Germany. I worked in another country before and never felt this. I have
been in Germany for 6 years and have been depressed all these years. The
main problem that turns a scientist into a slave is contracts. You work
like a slave to renew your contract. You came to this country and wanted
the best and will work a lot. They take advantage of this. There is
another problem. The lack of connection between production and science.
You are engaged in science and do not see where they will take you to work
next. This leads to deep depression. There must be a real connection. For
example, all my friends who are physicists in Germany went to work in a
bank or consulting. This is not true of course. Physicists should work in
production. Why does no one do this and offer physicists work in
production after graduation or when the contract ends? This is of course
very bad.
7
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@pseudotatsuya
vor 3 Tagen
These abuses are conducted by money from taxpayers.
1
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@handle_it798
vor 3 Tagen
Power imbalance is one of the main problems. Empower PhD. students and
postdocs.
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@DipankarNath
vor 3 Tagen
Welcome to academia!
1
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@fs_spds
vor 3 Tagen
exactly ma case.. i have become unemployable..
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@Himanshu12468
vor 3 Tagen
alright....so its happening everywhere
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@knight3481
vor 3 Tagen
I thought this was common knowledge for research institutes.
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@botschlars629
vor 3 Tagen
Don't just accuse. Let the accused present their side of the story
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@falcon010216
vor 3 Tagen
It is a problem worldwide.
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@Ash-bc8vw
vor 3 Tagen
Physics department is the worst
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@anasb.8681
vor 3 Tagen
Well the supervisor is correct. If you are paid you have to deliver or you
are out.
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@NerdyNerdUHeard
vor 3 Tagen
Well, German universities.
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@el_lahw__el_khafi
vor 3 Tagen
ضرؚÙÙا Ùا ØšÙØØ©
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@AlmaFuentes2516
vor 3 Tagen
ACADEMIA IT'S A MAFIA, IT'S RACISM, IT'S AN ELITE THAT WANTS TO CONTROL
ALL THE BUDGET, THE PRIZES, ETC.
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@MasterZeustastic
vor 3 Tagen
Speaking from experience as an Indian scientist, be it India or Germany,
abuse in academia is universal and rarely spoken about.
18
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@i4Lx8D
vor 3 Tagen
Thanks u just saved all people behind you
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@sannah1916
vor 3 Tagen
Sabina hossenfielder has been speaking about this for such a long time.
Finally it comes out in the world
1
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@vinestervega19
vor 3 Tagen
Nice, I am here in the US and have faced similar issues.
1
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@leonardodias2750
vor 3 Tagen
The same happen on the Fraunhofer Institute!
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@tiajin248
vor 3 Tagen
Even in hospitals , Uniklinik or non Uniklinik there is HUGE discriminaion
and mistreatment for doctors even at the Level of attending physician.
1
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@yukito6624
vor 3 Tagen
The academia is collapsing.
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@godblessCL
vor 3 Tagen
Max plank society of neurotics
1
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@jlsamsung5392
vor 3 Tagen
Unfortunately, this behaviour is not just in this institution, but in many
others as well.
The paternalistic structure in research institutions, where a PhD
supervisor is called "Doktorvater" places too much power in one person's
hands, unfortunately.
1
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@rabiulsikder4569
vor 3 Tagen
It is the story of every PhD student all over the world. Not only in
Germany.
Antworten
@dianecripps204
vor 3 Tagen
The PI in my lab at a US university was not only extremely abusive, he was
also a lousy scientist. When everyone in the lab united we found someone
in HR who listened, and he was disciplined. I left research not long
afterward. Recently I looked online and found he is now a director at the
NIH. Young people, beware when going into science. You don't need a
nervous breakdown.
1
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@freezepaladin
The truth is this is common practice everywhere. If they expand their
investigations to other institutes/companies, they will absolutely find
similar c**p that probably have been going since as far back as the start
of those institutes/companies. Many people with STEM background,
especially those who sit in high positions at STEM institutes/companies,
are better suited to be politicians and don't actually have the technical
knowledge. Integrity is something that most companies brag about but
practically almost non-existent.
Ideally STEM working environment must be separated from political bu**s**t
and that includes people with political mindset. Imagine how much
technological advances we could have achieved without all this c**p.
I'm not just saying opinions here but speaking from experience.
1
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@aa54f68
vor 3 Tagen
I am at NTNU norway, and it is much worst here, one international PhD lost
the only thing he had on earth in 2014. I am at the same situation.
1
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@7thlady
vor 4 Tagen
[The Professor] ". . . cannot confirm that he made the statements." Uh
huh.
1
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@alhamzaabu-ragheef8286
vor 4 Tagen
that's all bullsh*t, maybe it's just what so called "young scientists" are
not meeting the required high standards. so what if a professor was
shouting that some work is as good as it's supposed to be !! how could
that be considered as abuse or sexism!!!!
Antworten
@souvikchakraborty3620
vor 4 Tagen
The power dynamics in academia is literally skewed.
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@AprilLi.11
vor 4 Tagen
Same situation at the Max Planck Institute for Human
Developmentâgaslighting, micro-controlling... When you report this to HR,
you only find out that they are on the same side. So shameful for German
academia.
Antworten
@maritzafigueroa3197
vor 4 Tagen
Kudos to all the brave scientists speaking out! And to Dr. Gabriel .. wow
the only one speaking on this reporting!
This systemic problem it will take time and more brave people to be
addressed.. Thanks DW for your investigation!
7
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@ManuelGonzalez-ee1gx
vor 4 Tagen
Netherlands academia as well. Yes I mean Maastricht University at human
Biology departament. Subtle but equally harmful and damaging to PhD
students. I was lucky to finish but there were health consequences I had
to endure. If somebody asks I can say the name.
Antworten
@jeevaprakashdr
vor 4 Tagen (bearbeitet)
In the short time me being in Germany, I can clearly identify and say this
is very common in German Academia. Germany is a science fairy land. If one
is lucky can get into a good lab/project where people are supportive in
various levels. If not itâs unstructured abusive environment where there
is least accountability.
There is a clear gap in knowledge where many people are uneducated about
what is abuse, where one is crossing the limits of discrimination.
On the other side the bureaucracy is very hard for people.
Antworten
@striker44
vor 4 Tagen
The so called top listed British universities are similar.
3
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@reza310
vor 4 Tagen
The university is horrible ! We dont get paid full time, we work full time
and even weekends, the professor is no where to be find and when they are
there they are just demanding stuff without considering its feasibility !
Antworten
@anughosh
vor 4 Tagen
My husband suffered at Adelaide University, but nothing was done. He
suffered immensely.
2
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@RajeshSapkota07
vor 4 Tagen
I am shocked to see DW is covering this news.
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@Andrew-qs9fw
vor 4 Tagen
Doing my masters degree in Germany is one of my biggest regrets in life.
Very sketchy grading system and possibly discriminatory.
6
Antworten
@cc-pv6ep
vor 4 Tagen
Thank you for reporting on this and I hope this can finally get the
attention it deserves and the changes that are needed
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@riturao6565
vor 4 Tagen
There is a silent racism also in big companies in Germany, it is so subtle
that you cannot present a Proof.
2
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@tfrtrouble
vor 4 Tagen
This is absolutely not a Max Planck issue; this is an academic research
issue. I've seen all of these issues at other prestigious research
intuitions (in several countries). Like the interviewees say: there is
such a huge power imbalance and top academics operate with no meaningful
oversight and there are no consequences when they abuse their power (or
commit different kinds of misconduct like research fraud); their institute
just closes ranks to protect them.
7
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@L278-b7z
vor 4 Tagen
For every young student reading this: read Robert Green 48 laws of power
to understand how your PI and lab mates work.
2
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@Thj33
vor 4 Tagen
The effects: triggered just by watching this
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@vincentmokinu308
vor 4 Tagen
Utter woke nonsense
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@alisen4123
vor 4 Tagen
I personally experienced severe academic abuse in Germany. My supervisor
sabotaged my career by removing my name from research I worked on,
belittling my contributions, and threatening me with legal action when I
confronted him. He made sure I would not secure another position, leaving
me financially and professionally devastated. For months, I had no stable
place to live and no way to fight back in a system that protects abusers.
German academia is completely broken and pathetic. It functions through
outdated bureaucracy, unchecked academic abuse, and a toxic research
culture that stifles real talent. It can only attract people with mediocre
ideas and abilities because anyone with true intellectual ambition will
eventually leave or be pushed out.
171
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7 Antworten
9 replies
@sardonic81scream76
vor 3 Tagen
True!
2
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@LeonhardEgillieh
vor 2 Tagen
True!
1
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@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351
vor 1 Tag
'Abuse' is a really strong word. Can you elaborate?
1
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@alisen4123
vor 1 Tag
@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351 You are right that âabuseâ is a strong
word, but unfortunately, it is the only accurate way to describe what I
experienced in German academia. Abuse is not just physical or verbal
aggressionâit includes professional sabotage, exploitation, and the misuse
of power to control or destroy someoneâs career. Here is what my former
supervisor did to me:
1. Intellectual Theft: He removed my name from a research paper I had
significantly contributed to, falsely claiming sole authorship.
2. Threats & Intimidation: When I confronted him, he threatened me with
legal action instead of addressing the issue fairly.
3. Career Sabotage: He actively blocked my chances of securing a future
position, including interfering in job applications and discouraging my
research efforts.
4. Belittling & Psychological Manipulation: He mocked my work, dismissed
my research, and undermined my confidence, making it clear that I was
"working for him, not with him."
5. Financial Precarity as a Tool of Control: I was left in an extremely
vulnerable position, including periods where I had nowhere stable to live
after my contract ended, while he refused to acknowledge the systemic
difficulties I faced.
6. Isolation & Exclusion: He ensured that I was excluded from academic
circles, leaving me without meaningful integration in my department,
despite my efforts.
This is not just âbad mentorshipâ or âa difficult bossââthis is academic
abuse. It is the use of institutional power to exploit, silence, and
sabotage an early-career researcher, and the worst part is that the system
enables people like him to act without consequences. Many foreign
academics experience similar treatment in Germany, and that is why this
issue needs more visibility.
Antworten
@alisen4123
vor 1 Tag
@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351 During my time in German academia, I
experienced systematic sabotage, intellectual theft, and professional
exclusion at the hands of a senior academic. My name was removed from a
research paper I had significantly contributed to, with sole authorship
falsely claimed by someone else. An IPR contract was weaponized against me
to justify the theft, leaving me without credit for my own work. When I
confronted the issue, I was met with legal threats instead of professional
integrity. My research was repeatedly belittled, my lack of publications
was mocked, and I was reminded that I was âworking forâ my superior, not
âwithâ them. My job applications were actively undermined, my career
prospects were discouraged, and no institutional support was provided when
I faced financial instability. I was left in professional limbo, isolated
from academic networks, and discouraged from citing my own research. At
every turn, power was used to suppress my contributions rather than foster
my growth. This was not âtough mentoringââit was systematic academic
abuse, designed to strip me of credit, confidence, and opportunities while
protecting those in power. Unfortunately, my case is not unique. Many
early-career researchers, especially foreign scholars in Germany, face
similar exploitation with no real accountability for those who abuse the
system.
Antworten
@alisen4123
vor 1 Tag
@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351 In my experience in German academia, I
faced actions that went beyond difficult supervision and crossed into
deliberate harm. My name was removed from a research paper I had
significantly contributed to, stripping me of credit for my own work. When
I questioned this, I was met with legal threats instead of professional
discussion. My job prospects were actively undermined, my applications
were interfered with, and I was repeatedly belittled for my lack of
publicationsâdespite working under conditions that made publishing
difficult. At a time when I was financially vulnerable, no institutional
support was provided, leaving me in an unstable situation.
This is not just a case of âstrict mentoringâ or âtough academia.â It is a
systemic issue where power is misused to block, intimidate, and exclude
researchers, especially foreign scholars, with no accountability. That is
why I use the word âabuseââbecause when senior academics exploit,
threaten, or sabotage early-career researchers, it is more than just
difficult working conditions; it is deliberate harm that affects careers
and lives.
Antworten
@alisen4123
vor 1 Tag
@ I have written many replies, but YouTube has removed all of them.
1
Antworten
@Abigail-nc6in
9 hours ago
I hope things are better for you now! I agree and can relate to everything
you say.
1
Reply
@alisen4123
4 hours ago
@Abigail-nc6in Thank you so much! Things are slowly improving, but it has
been a difficult journey. It is sad that so many of us can relate to this.
Sharing our experiences is important, and I hope things are getting better
for you too!
Reply
@olesianitsovych4632
vor 4 Tagen
Thank you Gabriel, it is also happened to me in RWTH Aachen. I am not
gonna mention names.
3
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@rakeshdubey6750
vor 4 Tagen
Its everywhere
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@joshuamokwuah
vor 4 Tagen
Call in Doge!
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@danieldavidy5357
vor 4 Tagen
Unfortunately, these sorts of behaviors are widespread in scientific
communities. The main reason for that is the unlimited power of the PIs
and no one can question them. If they will be evaluated during their
career every several years, those misbehaviors won't happen. I knew two
people that were facing similar issues in Max Planck Society. Those
institutes are government-funded, and they have to be forced to answer
those allegations.
1
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@avi4francis
vor 4 Tagen
I left a Like so that stories like this are covered more often
Antworten
@pinakisahoo5413
vor 4 Tagen
Same in MPI
1
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@rora8503
vor 4 Tagen
Of course there is abuse in academia! The fact that people think there
isn't is just naive. Large organisations with steep power dynamics, power
abuse in there is a (sad) given.
I have head from women beeing misstreated at our university more than
once. And they aren't speaking up. What is even worse that one of the
female professors I know doesn't listen to the PhD students who told her
(almost the entire work group) that on of the PhD students is completely
disrespectfull and doesn't doesn't do the lab maintainances that everyone
has to share (he also haresses other female students and has abused at
least one, though they didn't speak up, so she doesn't know) She prelonged
his contact anyway for another year. Sometimes the complaint office people
are best friends at the Professors the abusers or are afraid of them that
too. My PhD supervisor was shopked when I told him that there is sexism
and abuse happening on campus. Sometimes nice white men can be quite
naive, never having faced any difficulty.
1
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@commonsense126
vor 4 Tagen
Welcome to academia!!
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@janee321
vor 4 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This happens in universities across the globe.
1
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@archanagautam2525
vor 4 Tagen
Its worldwide deeprooted issue. Reasons are many , but one of them is that
people highly value science and scientific community which let these
institions and societies have unequestioned power and accountability. When
things start getting worshipped, rotting comes into play.
3
Antworten
@aradhita1
vor 4 Tagen
It gets worse for people with visas as losing the job generally means
going back to their home country sometimes having spent a fortune
1
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@D.M.S.
vor 4 Tagen
It is everywhere in the German sciences. Every discipline! Every
institute! Every clinic! NOT JUST THE MPI!
3
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@isatousarr7044
vor 4 Tagen
Toxic power dynamics in research institutions are a significant issue that
can hinder progress, well-being, and the overall effectiveness of academic
and scientific endeavors. In these environments, hierarchical structures
often lead to the concentration of power in the hands of a few
individuals, which can create a toxic culture where manipulation,
exploitation, and inequality thrive. This dynamic is often reinforced by
traditional systems that prioritize seniority and position over merit,
fostering environments where younger or less powerful researchers,
students, and staff may feel silenced, unsupported, or even discriminated
against.
One of the most damaging aspects of toxic power dynamics is the
exploitation of junior researchers and students. These individuals often
depend on the approval and mentorship of senior faculty members for career
advancement, funding, and publications. In such environments, they may be
subjected to unreasonable demands, bullying, or even ethical violations,
with little recourse for addressing their concerns. This power imbalance
can prevent open, honest communication and create an atmosphere of fear,
discouraging collaboration and innovation.
Furthermore, diversity and inclusion efforts often struggle in
environments with toxic power dynamics. The concentration of power in the
hands of a small group can lead to a lack of diverse perspectives, where
marginalized groups may be overlooked, underrepresented, or oppressed.
This can stifle creativity, limit access to opportunities, and perpetuate
discriminatory practices, ultimately affecting the quality and breadth of
research.
Addressing toxic power dynamics requires a cultural shift in how research
institutions operate. It involves prioritizing mentorship, transparency,
and accountability over hierarchy, creating spaces where voices from all
levels of the institution can be heard and respected. Institutions must
focus on building a culture of respect and equality, where individuals are
valued based on their contributions rather than their rank, and where
feedback and criticism are handled constructively and respectfully.
By addressing these issues, research institutions can foster a more
collaborative, supportive, and productive environment that promotes
creativity, ethical behavior, and the well-being of everyone involved in
the research process. Reducing toxic power dynamics will not only improve
the quality of research but also ensure that future generations of
scholars can thrive in a system that values fairness, integrity, and
mutual respect.
2
Antworten
@bimDe2024
vor 4 Tagen
Thanks dw for bringing this unfortunate event to light. Please investigate
deeper, in every university, in every researxh group, the professors or
group leaders are abusing their power and breaking the code of conduct.
The normal people do not know it, because research world is totally
discrete to them. I hope german govt will take proper steps to stop this
misconduct
1
Antworten
@ferretsays
vor 4 Tagen
Reality of Academia
1
Antworten
@Wilbyfan
vor 4 Tagen
This is common for Phd level students at EVERY German university, the
power professors have is ridiculous. It is the norm that junior research
is stolen and presented as the professor's own. You cannot complain,
because they are your boss AND they decide about your degree - you are
completely dependent. If your professor is angry at you and decides to
drop you after 5 years of research, good luck finding somebody new in your
field. As it is hard to find a job in academia anyway, you will be left
with nothing, if you leave without a degree. If you are a woman who
decides to have children, you often will be excluded from "serious"
research programmes. It is common to be called by professors late at
night, at the weekend, during holidays and it is common to be personally
attacked if you choose to speak up. There are cases where the whole
university knows how badly certain profs treat their students and yet
nothing happens.
5
Antworten
@SadeghomanijehSadeghomanijeh
vor 4 Tagen
I have seen this happen in academia. Some professors insult and yell at
students, making them feel worthless. This leads to stress, depression,
insomnia, and many other problems. In these institutions, professors have
too much power, and it feels very unfair. Students donât speak up because
it could result in losing support for their future careers. Others blame
them, saying they were probably not smart enough for academia. They are
afraid of being judged. ð¢ Many leave academia in silence, while others
endure the pressure.
4
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@regulus8518
vor 4 Tagen
this is where people go wrong .... never do a post doc
Antworten
@am4261-b7o
vor 4 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Thank you so much for bringing this out..but it is not only in max planck
but other institutions too
Antworten
@nostalgia545
vor 4 Tagen
People with phds are crazy. It takes a special crazy type of person to
want to do a PhD.
1
Antworten
@YoYoutube11
vor 4 Tagen
If you are Indian and reading this comment, remember you are paid well,
and abuse in India can be worst, remeber our corrupt govt., broken system,
and worst part is your PhD in India may be a plagiarism or not original as
most universities do not have funding, quality of your PhD research will
be like you cannot publish it in good journals. REMEMBER where you have
come from. Put your head down and work. Relax outside and enjoy. Do not
take this documentry seriously. Life is not fair anywhere. Be tough and
get through it. Focus on aim, not hurdles. We are poor, we need money, and
most importantly we need QUALITY education and PhD. So, don't focus on
negatives. Complete your PhD and get out of there. ð
2
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1 Antwort
@Nationalist21
vor 4 Tagen
What if they never approve the PhD ? Whst if they steal your ideas. How
many years it took to complete your PhD
Antworten
@Cutest1TheGame
vor 4 Tagen
The issue I had when I sued Panasonic Avionics in Germany for bullying is
that HR & German society doesnât consider emotional and verbal abuse as
serious enough to be âbullyingâ - they have to hit you and you have to
have proof. German society will also gaslight you and tell you itâs not
bullying if itâs only coming from 1 person. I had to sue for something
different that I did have proof for and I won - but guess what you win in
Germany - two weeks salary if you worked there for only 1-3 years.
5
Antworten
@Cutest1TheGame
vor 4 Tagen
The issue I had when I sued Panasonic Avionics in Germany for bullying is
that HR & German society doesnât consider emotional and verbal abuse as
serious enough to be âbullyingâ - they have to hit you and you have to
have proof. German society will also gaslight you and tell you itâs not
bullying if itâs only coming from 1 person. I had to sue for something
different that I did have proof for and I won - but guess what you win in
Germany - two weeks salary if you worked there for only 1-3 years.
1
Antworten
@alipasha9898
vor 4 Tagen
Not all bosses are leaders, this is an important point to consider.
On the other hand, the temporary contracts for young scientists in Germany
can increase the tension and stress of having to manage a large workload
in a couple of years, etc.
Antworten
@Cutest1TheGame
vor 4 Tagen
This happens everywhere, not just at the Max Planck Institute. It happened
to me at Panasonic Avionics, very often at the HafenCity University by
professors and other students, at the HAW, and at Balzac Coffee Shop
(luckily no longer exists). I am female and a foreigner.
1
Antworten
@solemndivinity3
vor 4 Tagen
In Germany an institution is a tribe. You dont follow the tribe, you will
suffer.
1
Antworten
@MsNeither
vor 4 Tagen
To have the liberty for to think freely doesnât mean they, the so called
'scientists', have the freedom to humiliate and misstreatening whoever
they want.
Same happens in México every now and then and weâre not even talking about
top worldwide researchâs institutions.
The problem is within academia itself.
Antworten
@BieelsZaitsev
vor 4 Tagen
crazy stuff
Antworten
@anshumansahu1087
vor 4 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I wanted to apply here in the area of infectious diseases. But when
Gabriel broke down, a very scary thought dawned upon me. Going to another
country millions of miles away where you have nobody to back you is a
scary proposition indeed.
5
Antworten
@michaelshannon9169
vor 4 Tagen
Every organization has it's phases: abuse, toxic behaviour, bullying, then
addressing it, then it manifesting again, and so on on.
Antworten
@mullerm3010
vor 4 Tagen
Finally, this is coming to light ... What I can add here is that this is
not a recent problem, it was already there at least 15 years ago.
12
Antworten
@Shilling_Larping_Services_LLC
vor 4 Tagen
This is common worldwide. It is a consequence of big publishers and the
incentives they foster, amongst other related factors.
Sadly, cutthroat work environments are currently the norm in modern
academia.
Antworten
@twistinmysobriety-x2h
vor 4 Tagen
They only talk about sexism and sexual abuse but they should also talk
about racism. It is very common in Germany and all of its institutions. No
one address this issue
21
Antworten
23
Reply
1 reply
@ragas2845
8 hours ago
I agree
Reply
@twistinmysobriety-x2h
vor 4 Tagen
Not surprised.
1
Antworten
@roollamora
vor 4 Tagen (bearbeitet)
And still the racism is left out of the title and in a report on
discrimination despite multiple complaints ð€¡
1
Antworten
@ÐŒÑг-Ñ4й
vor 4 Tagen
They are not going to find many who will speak out.
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@polielie
vor 4 Tagen
This is just the tip of the iceberg. What was done to me at the MPI-IS was
unbelievable.
2
Antworten
@thesilkpainter
vor 4 Tagen
Oh, sure. Iâm beginning to believe this must be another discovery from Mr
Vance and co.
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@maneshipocrates
vor 4 Tagen
I am trying to recover from this too. Incredible that anyone even
highlighted this issue. Crooked professors have destroyed people in
Germany. Add racism to this and it is total destruction.
Antworten
@starpiet
vor 4 Tagen
Great this is coming to the surface. In my experience working for smaller
companies/organizations, it has happened over and over again dealing with
people in leadership and power causing burnout time and time again
1
Antworten
@mael5097
vor 4 Tagen
Strength to Gabriel for coming forward. Peace to all the victims.
On another note, itâs time to decentralize research.
$BIO
1
Antworten
@simonekussatzfreelancejour1215
vor 4 Tagen
I'm so glad theyâve finally addressed the abuse of power in highly
regarded institutions in Germany. I found working in Germany difficult on
many levels. I had a student job at OTIS, where my boss, who knew I
studied psychology, once commented, "Can I come to your home and put my
head on your lap to be analyzed?" I was then assigned tasks that didnât
require any skills, like filing papers in the basement, while other women,
who weren't educated, made international calls with their
less-than-flattering English. (This happened in the 1990s)
Then, I had a colleague at a prestigious cultural institute ask me what my
siblings were doing. I told her that my younger sibling wasnât doing
anything because he had a severe intellectual disability (he stayed in the
developmental stage of a toddler) and a medically resistant type of
epilepsy, so he spent most of his time at home. To my horror, my colleague
asked, 'Wouldn't it be better for him to die?' I was absolutely appalled
by this question, and surprised that I didnât receive any support from
within the institution, only from its guests. These are just two examples,
but unfortunately, abuse in institutions can be found beyond Germany as
well. (This happened in 2000)
4
Antworten
@sassanmoradi1586
vor 4 Tagen
what is the solution?
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@erhaveas
vor 4 Tagen
This is a universal problem. It is a product of the continuation of a
medieval structure of apprenticeship called PhD. We all definitely need
research-based academic program above and beyond the masters program. But
medieval system of apprenticeship will ALWAYS be abusive. So we all need
to update this archaic apprenticeship based PhD model that is very
conducive to abuse. We need a new system for advanced research program so
that we can avoid abuse and prevent toxic work environment in academic
setups all over the world.
1
Antworten
@jfdez1595
vor 4 Tagen
Huge admiration to those who air this sort of issues! Unfortunately, many
people develop Stockholm's syndrome and don't dare to speak a word and
it's their own collegues who will disencourage the abuse revelation...
2
Antworten
@preethi1057
vor 5 Tagen (bearbeitet)
As a former PhD student myself from the MPI, I am in complete support of
this video. Many might argue that this is a common issue across academia.
However, when it involves an institution as prestigious as the Max Planck
Society such misconduct becomes even more unacceptable. As a result, this
issue attracts greater attention. Prestigious institutions like these
should not only uphold the highest standards but also set a powerful
example for the rest of the academic world.
145
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7 Antworten
@BadAss_691
vor 4 Tagen
Which subject did you do your PhD in? What was your background? For us
researchers in India, MPI is the epitome of excellence and innovation .
1
Antworten
@AlokSharma1
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
What is MPI?
1
Antworten
@pilarherrerae.193
vor 2 Tagen
@AlokSharma1 Max Planck Institute
1
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@umar990
vor 2 Tagen
Max Planck Instituteâ @AlokSharma1
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@TopeshMitter
vor 1 Tag
Why did you go to Germany?? In India the condition is much worse .
Antworten
@KhushalBadhan
vor 1 Tag
â@TopeshMitter and in Afghanistan it is even worse than India, do you want
Germany to now become like Afghanistan and then only you will agree that
problem exists?
2
Antworten
@AlokSharma1
vor 1 Tag
@TopeshMitter you answered yourself
1
Antworten
@AnnaZakrisson
vor 5 Tagen
I was at Max-Planck. I recognize this a lot. I absolutely hated my time
there and left after a year for another institution. This was 20 years ago
and I still remember my time there with a shudder.
26
Antworten
@bxwei6454
vor 5 Tagen
A common and long lasting problem in academia worldwide. To make things
worse it's not just postgraduates being abused but undergraduates can also
be ignored and bullied, despite the fact that they pay for the education
service on loans. This is especially severe in science where females are
scarce and narcissists are so common that non-narcissists are singled out.
Academia is a toxic environment in general.
1
Antworten
@stancyk1480
vor 5 Tagen
It is not a Max Planck, but an academia problem. Research group leaders
have near absolutist power over their PhD student's fate, that makes the
system susceptible to bullying and abuse. That said, it is good that this
topic receives attention. If scientists do not have an intrinsic
motivation to kindly support their subordinates to become better versions
of themselves, then at least they should be afraid of not treating them
with respect.
Antworten
@elisabetepedrosa7155
vor 5 Tagen
Thank you DW. This is indeed a problem in many other universities and
institutions. I have also experienced sexism and bullying. I saw
institutes where the women work in the lab and the offices are full of men
that take all the credit. I also had problems with panic attacks and also
complained to the institute's administration. Had the same options, find a
way to live with him or leave. He even bullied me in front of them, i had
emails to prove it all. I had a network of other scientists: the men
defend the men and one female scientist in a higher position just said
"oh, that never happened to me" as if I was the problem. Anyhow, I am also
out of academia now for lack of support and being pushed away. But I found
ways to contribute to scientific development outside of academia. So, if
you are now suffering from this, you are not alone. Find a network of
people that can help you outside. Make a complaint to the administration.
They don't do much but they may at least keep the bully away for a while.
Good luck.
1
Antworten
@evemuhia2
vor 5 Tagen
Evil
3
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@yasincilingir809
vor 5 Tagen
Please make also some news about working conditions for doctors.
Especially for foreign doctors in germany
Antworten
@donnelljohanson5912
vor 5 Tagen
I wish that he will settle well in South Korea.
Antworten
@musicfanBRA
vor 5 Tagen
How can a country progress in science if they discourage young scientists
in such a violent manner? I guess professors behave like this bc they get
money from the gov. , they are not accountable to shareholders and
supporters, like in private business. A shame! What happened to ethics?
1
Antworten
@MuhammadAdnan-ti9nj
vor 5 Tagen
There must be a research institute which only focus on research
institutes.
Antworten
@anapenteado7227
vor 5 Tagen
A professor friend of mine does not send any of his students to the Maz
Palnck institute.
1
Antworten
@SaltyRamen.
vor 5 Tagen
I applaud the person standing up. Respectable and honorable. Abuse is so
prevalent everywhere it seems and the system seems to cover it with optic
programs and allow it to fester
3
Antworten
@ramarmele2039
vor 5 Tagen
Oh God, this dramatic language! How about this: some people are AHs,
regardless their intelligence. Plus, I don't think people are screened for
social skills and leadaership abilities before they are given a group
leader position.
2
Antworten
@mrbalci0762
vor 5 Tagen
It's really a shame for educational institutions. I got really nervous
while watching this and other documentaries. I felt really sorry for the
scientists there.
2
Antworten
@slawikus1982
vor 5 Tagen
Many here have mentioned that itâs a problem of country or institution.
But itâs not. As usually it boils down to people. There are profs who are
jerks, probably they have made their name with their scientific
achievements, but they cannot deal with other human beings who are âless
smartâ then they are. Being marginal, itâs still terrible to see that
those pros are anyhow are associated with Max Plank or Helmholtz societies
which are driving the science further, but those bad sheeps in a family
are casting the shadow to organizations which are doing such a great job
Antworten
@ariel_monaco
vor 5 Tagen
I worked in Germany for many years through different companies. And I can
confirm I lived more than a dozen weird experiences, directly or
indirectly. Power abuse, discrimination, incompetency, religious
segregation, etc. This is something that happens no only in the private
sector but a lot in the public sector, including the academic domain.
If you actually think about it, this is the reflection of what is
happening in Germany (and Europe, and the World) at the society level.
It's funny though that Germany which is supposedly to be held at high
standards in all they do, seem to be one of the worst behind the scenes.
2
Antworten
@songchen3670
vor 5 Tagen
A few years ago there is a report in Spiegel about Max Planck Institute in
Garching Professor sexual harassment students. And it is well known in the
community such that other Professors stop sending female students to his
group
Antworten
@openworldforeveryone
vor 5 Tagen
Quite common in TUM sadly
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@drsamjhanastha4932
vor 5 Tagen
You are brave Gabriel. I wish for your best career in South Korea. Kudos
ð
19
Antworten
@WorkAndRelaxHaHaHa
vor 5 Tagen
Unfortuantly, they reach a trivial limitation of human being, sleeping in
success and power, while forgetting that they can just be lifted up in
expense of push down others. ð¢
Antworten
@Keithyt3962
vor 5 Tagen
Congratulations dw that they talked about it!! No one in my nations talks
about such things after so many sui** es!! I hope Germany doesn't gets
singled out in this
Antworten
@marisolnavarro6307
vor 5 Tagen
It's great to see this issue getting media attention. Unfortunately,
academic abuse is all too common worldwide, and it's disheartening that it
keeps happening even when we recognize it. I really appreciate DW's
interest in the topic! Hopefully, they can follow up with some solutions
or examples of action to address this discouraging situation
5
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@keepingitclassy443
vor 5 Tagen
As many of the comments have stated, this is prevalent across all of
German academia, not just the Max Planck Institutes. I experienced it
first-hand as a PhD student at the University of TÃŒbingen more than two
decades ago, and I'm sad to see that nothing has changed.
41
Antworten
1 reply
@Abigail-nc6in
10 hours ago
I experienced it recently too having worked at 4 German universities
(until 2022). It hasn't changed.
Reply
@mnemonija
vor 5 Tagen
So⊠may i offer a contrarian view. Studies have shown that while
investments in universities have never been higher, actual scientific
advances produced have been hard to come by. Im not talking about the
number of papers, but actual improvements reported within. Likely low
hanging fruit was already picked some time ago and maybe not everyone is
creative enough to make a new leap in science. The conversation this guy
had with his supervisor was maybe not polite, but it was straight forward.
He produced nothing in a year. Maybe he was coming to work and doing
something, generally accepted to look like the science work, but if he had
produced something he could have easily rebutted his supervisor with
measurable results. The supervisor is also on the hook to generate the
expected historical output for the institute, but progress is getting
harder. At any rate, it is not worth lulling people into feeling they
belong somewhere, you need to tell them their output is not enough. Its
tough. They need to understand that something is not working. Maybe this
is not the work for them, they could be happier building online shopping
experience for amazon, or something else. Or if they really want to pursue
this career, they need to double down and find what they need to improve.
They have a chance to succeed, they donât want to waste the little time
they have to prove themselves, because time is a gift.
1
Antworten
@mnemonija
vor 5 Tagen
So⊠may i offer a contrarian view. Studies have shown that while
investments in universities have never been higher, actual scientific
advances produced have been hard to come by. Im not talking about the
number of papers, but actual improvements reported within. Likely low
hanging fruit was already picked some time ago and maybe not everyone is
creative enough to make a new leap in science. The conversation this guy
had with his supervisor was maybe not polite, but it was straight forward.
He produced nothing in a year. Maybe he was coming to work and doing
something, generally accepted to look like the science work, but if he had
produced something he could have easily rebutted his supervisor with
measurable results. The supervisor is also on the hook to generate the
expected historical output for the institute, but progress is getting
harder. At any rate, it is not worth lulling people into feeling they
belong somewhere, you need to tell them their output is not enough. Its
tough. They need to understand that something is not working. Maybe this
is not the work for them, they could be happier building online shopping
experience for amazon, or something else. Or if they really want to pursue
this career, they need to double down and find what they need to improve.
They have a chance to succeed, they donât want to waste the little time
they have to prove themselves, because time is a gift.
Antworten
@charleskristiansson1296
vor 5 Tagen
This is unacceptable. There must be a full independent investigation.
Otherwise the Max Planck Institute IS guilty.
Antworten
@montecrucis7247
vor 5 Tagen
... this is actually still very common in all workplaces in Germany.
1
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@ev.c6
vor 5 Tagen
Didnât Sabrina (from the physics channel) studied there? I bet she has a
lot to say.
2
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1 Antwort
@binishbatool248
vor 5 Tagen
I thought of the same.
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@SalesforceUSA
vor 5 Tagen
I was at TU Berlin. Professors treated me like garbage
3
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@alexrediger2099
vor 5 Tagen
Bravo to Gabriel for coming forward
3
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@maximus6884
vor 5 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Please take a look at top SG's universites as well. The students are
overworked to extremel levels.
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@birsenva
vor 5 Tagen
The sole name Plank evoke the science highest. . . he was Einstein 's boss
. . . any person going there faces annihilation. . . You could wear a
T-shirt that reads: "I got annihilated at MAX PLANK INSTITUTE" . . .
Glorious. . .
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@iljackb
vor 5 Tagen
crazy to hear this. I've heard from close colleagues they had very bad
experiences there but they'd never talk about why.
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@n_utd
vor 6 Tagen
welcome to "democracy"
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@bolivar1789
vor 6 Tagen
Bravo Gabriel!! I am terribly sorry that you had to endure such
humiliation. But it is really admirable that you have found the courage in
you to expose the bully!! By showing your face, you not only prove to
every young scientist that they can claim their power, but you also put
the shame where it belongs: to the perpetrator and to the entire institute
that failed to protect you. I am sure many scientists will benefit from
your efforts. You didn't suffer in vain.
24
Antworten
@Kai-o2b
vor 6 Tagen
That's a real problem! Germany needs good scientists. Let's hope this gets
more attention so that something changes!
4
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@Itsallconnected_ShaneOrtega
vor 6 Tagen
This is the cause of generational trauma from older generations who have
not confronted the shadows of not only WW II, but also the deep roots of
colonialism. The accountability deflection is a huge wound of
hypermasculinity in society. The real downfall of Western society is lack
of empathy. Not only for others but also so disconnected from themselves.
This is why I choose not to pursue my PhD at universities such as LMU.
2
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1 Antwort
@mayapapaya89
vor 4 Tagen
Unfortunately itâs just a part of the human psychology to become corrupted
when you have power
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@althyk
vor 6 Tagen
These are sociopaths that need to be jailed.
3
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vor 6 Tagen
What happened in the 1930s is repeating again. German society has this
inherent problem. Violence, bigotry, racism, subjugation of weak....all
this is a par for the course throughout German history. Even
Austro-Hungarian society was one of the most brutal in Europe. Military
might was valued so much because with that came impunity to do whatever
you want to do to others.
3
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@sohaibahmad6594
vor 6 Tagen
I, myself, at TUM faced such remarks from certain professors I deem as
completely racist and prideful. They are good for nothing for this
society, No wonder, Germany is lacking in all fields.
4
Antworten
@TrinkeFanta
vor 6 Tagen
Thats pretty much happening in every other workplace, supervisors on power
trips (mostly people who are absolut loosers outside of the company and
got bullied in school) now they think its their turn. No money in the
world can replace your mental / physical health. Stop wasting your life
working for others. You would not believe whats possible if you work 40+
hours a week for yourself and on your own ideas instead. F them.
Antworten
@govindankandasamy1662
vor 6 Tagen
It's such a scourge that is inflicting institutes of high profile. Such
academic institutes should refrain from bias , discrimination and
racial parody and maintain the standards achieved by hundreds or thousands
of excellent researchers who toiled relentlessly to achieve the goals and
targets they sought to prove. In this era of ambition for material gains ,
the reputation and excellence built by researchers, Scientists over the
years are being dashed to the ground by unscrupulous stalwarts.This is
disgraceful and a shame , should places of high learning stoop low and
pander to low taste. Please wake up institutes of high repute , please
heed to the plea and far cries of victims of your academic injustice and
redress your role and standing in the eyes of God and Godliness.
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@notyourbusiness5488
vor 6 Tagen
This is common in universities in germany. Unfortunately, most
international researchers are afraid to speak out.
5
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@katharina1439
vor 6 Tagen
I really don't understand why foreigners come to Germany. It's such a
hostile country. ð¬ people all over the world are much nicer. I live in
the schwabenlandð. Before i lived in nrw - which was much nicer
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@anhbaoconnecticut3128
vor 6 Tagen
DW is decades late in reporting this. I spent 3 years doing research in
one of the many MPI institutions. Fortunately my scientific advisor was
great. However I heard many horrible stories from other groups.
2
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2 Antworten
@karlscher5170
vor 5 Tagen
So how many news stations did you contact to uncover this?
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@anhbaoconnecticut3128
vor 5 Tagen
@ itâs a common knowledge in academia. If you speak up, no body in your
fields wants to hire you. PhD students and postdoctoral researchers are
referred as slaves while their researcher advisors answer only to god!
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@Chrisie19
vor 6 Tagen
Carl von Ossietzky UniversitÀt Oldenburg anyone ð¥²
We are a team of scientists that have been going through a similar (if not
worse) situation.
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@cellofcells
vor 6 Tagen
As the problem is all out, what will be the solution? Will there be a step
forward from this?
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@Sara-k6y4h
vor 6 Tagen
If the professors at Max Plank Society are so abusive to their assistants
and to their students, even to the point of stealing the work of the
latter, it makes one wonder if the results of the research at their
institution are occasionally fudged, just to keep grants coming. It is
usually the case, when a person is dishonest in one thing, they are also
dishonest in everything they do.
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@turingalan4679
vor 6 Tagen
Academia is getting corrupt and toxic everywhere, last year alone scandals
in harvard social science department and Stanford cancer research
institute... young researchers are signaling bad atmosphere everywhere.
Academia isn't about science anymore
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@rakheesivnath8804
vor 6 Tagen
Its also at the Child protection office and ride at the Family courts
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@treesart6914
vor 6 Tagen
Thanks for doing an investigation into this!
2
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@galanthuman2157
vor 6 Tagen
Intresting, my two positive comments of my time at MPI were deleted. I
wonder why, did it not fit the narrative.
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@heykiddo23
vor 6 Tagen
My boss fell in love with a PhD student from Taiwan. He hired her so she
could come to Germany to work with him. After she joined, he began
ignoring everyone else in the research group. Every day, he held endless
meetings with this Taiwanese woman in his office, with the door closed. In
just a few years, she has accumulated an astonishing number of
publicationsâfar more than her peers.
215
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9 Antworten
@bijukrishnan7792
vor 4 Tagen
You should have installed a hidden camera in his room.
33
Antworten
@TheGamingg33k
vor 3 Tagen
Similar case but supervisor is ultra supportive of a very pretty Iranian
student. She is now publishing papers before the older students.
42
Antworten
@Swp-j6n
vor 3 Tagen
It could also be honey trap :)
5
Antworten
@pandawan4
vor 2 Tagen
That is such awful abuse of power. That poor woman can't even stop him
because her career and visa will be jeopardized
9
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@onceuponatimetherewasalongname
vor 2 Tagen
â @pandawan4 I think it's both abuse of power as well as abuse of
appearance.
1
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@pandawan4
vor 2 Tagen
@onceuponatimetherewasalongname dude it's not her fault if some guy
approaches her. I'm speaking from my own experience when a manager kept
trying to date me and go out with me. I did nothing to encourage him, I
just existed, and this man threatened my career if I didn't go out with
him. Even if she's pretty, it's 100% on the professor/ authority figure to
maintain his professional boundaries. Immigrants in particular are quite
vulnerable since their visa depends on the boss and he's clearly abusing
his power
15
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@Stephanie-xz7qd
vor 2 Tagen
The only problem is that you're assuming she doesn't want this
treatment/likes him too. Of course it's an issue if one sided, but we're
missing information
6
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@onceuponatimetherewasalongname
vor 2 Tagen
@pandawan4 You're right and I apologise if my comment offended you. I only
said that because I have come across such behaviour many times by both
genders. Wish you a happy week
2
Antworten
@Voodoo_Robot
vor 2 Tagen
â @pandawan4 and why would you jump to "poor woman" immediatelly? It's more
probable she is using him as much as he is using her.
4
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@stephenvincent9757
vor 6 Tagen
Bro thats the rule of the jungle
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@thorebergmann1986
vor 6 Tagen
It's just the tip of the iceberg...
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@cesars7909
vor 6 Tagen
This is a worldwide problem in research, not only in Germany
1
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@lauragraham1122
vor 6 Tagen
There's also large power imbalances in Opera houses at the top toward
people with lifelong artistic careers. It's a systemic problem. In my
former work place, there were quite a few cases of abuse. Some people
stood up against it. It's not easy in such a large workplace.
2
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@nezgi8220
vor 6 Tagen
Kudos to Gabriel, he has such a heart and courage to speak out. Thanks
man! Thanks to other who came forward and at least tried reporting
37
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@jakov98
vor 6 Tagen
You would not last a week in Balkan faculty
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@khan88-l1z
vor 6 Tagen
I came to Germany and face the same problem in my university research
Institute for my PhD. I am shock and my career and mental health is at
stake. The Institution is powerful and now I seek a court support. Is here
DW tv or some one can help? I will be grateful â€
Antworten
@sararkh
vor 6 Tagen
I can't believe I finally see this issue covered by a German media ð¢
I am a former student/postdoc at a Max Planck institute... I can't even
start explaining what I went through in that place... got my ideas stolen,
harassed, abused and gaslighted, and when I complained to higher channels
I was told that I'm being inappropriate!
I don't have words to describe what I went through; sickleaves,
nightmares, therapy... and in the end I left academia...
I just hope reports like this protect the future hopeful young scientists
not to have their dreams shattered...
1138
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30 Antworten
31 replies
@dorawa2419
6 days ago
Did you have to work for free, i.e. without salary?
6
Reply
@Eboprofen
6 days ago
@dorawa2419 never as phd candidate or post doc
Reply
@dorawa2419
6 days ago
@Eboprofen Good.
Reply
@mnemonija
6 days ago
Stealing of ideas is terrible, academic honesty is incredibly important,
and most institutions would not look kindly on it. However, it is also
difficult to figure out whose idea was something when you are discussing a
problem in a group. Idea can have different seeds coming from different
bits in a discussion, the most fair approach would be to just put everyone
present on a paper. If you came up with an idea on your own, had notes
about it in your notebook, well this is exactly the stuff that patent
office uses to decide who came up with it first, and your academic
institution would use to expel or reprimand whoever stole it from you. But
its probably different if you just echoed an idea into ether and someone
else went to create and run a bunch of experiments to prove it. In that
case the best you can do is not collaborate with that person any more. Or
at least do not share any more important ideas with them, because they
should have included you in the work under the common ownership principle
from above. But also, welcome to the grownups world. You need to be
strong.
19
Reply
@sanjaykarkee3337
6 days ago
Same here...in the midst of it. Cant say more they are very likely reading
this.
7
Reply
@elisabetepedrosa7155
6 days ago
Really sorry you had to go through thatð¢
6
Reply
@sassanmoradi1586
6 days ago
This behavior is everywhere. Unfortunately, it happens everywhere in the
world.
17
Reply
@arnab83
5 days ago
â @mnemonija do you realise that most people are not born litigants? That
is to say, young, bright ones do not come prepared to face idea theft, and
ready with an army of lawyers to litigate. And most affected ones are not
rich to litigate. Speaking from personal experience.
4
Reply
@mnemonija
5 days ago
@ i may have come off as insensitive, sorry. I think this is probably a
discussion that needs to take place in every research group. This news
story could be a nice opportunity to have this discussion about who owns
ideas that come up during discussion in meetings. People need to be aware
that multiple people may leave the meeting believing it was their own
original idea, or that the specific twist they added makes it unique and
their own. Sometimes itâs grey area. That said, ideas are a dime a dozen,
its who acts on them and creates results that matters, too. If someone
disappoints you and steals your idea, dont work with them except when you
absolutely must, but donât let it break you, its neither the last nor the
best idea that you will ever have. Just keep producing results, and as
insurance, document your ideas first, and donât share them with those that
donât respect you. If you have evidence, institutions will (hopefully)
protect you, but if they donât, maybe its better to move on somewhere else
sooner rather than later. Company that does not treat employees fairly
will see their best ones leave and will fail, those stock options will not
be worth anything in the end. I imagine the same is true of research
institutions, systematic problems will not have them thrive, best people
will leave.
8
Reply
@AlChemist-235
5 days ago
This are zhe people who now blame D.T. & E.M. for kicking Out e.g. climate
"researchers" etc.ð
1
Reply
@L278-b7z
5 days ago
Not at Max Planck but I lost my PhD position because of supervisor
retaliation and politics. Nobody helped they just got rid of the problem
by making me quit under threats cause you can't fire people in Germany. So
it's not just Max Planck it's all academia and actually in all competitive
jobs.
8
Reply
@L278-b7z
5 days ago
â @sanjaykarkee3337 If it's happening now, because of this report you have
a chance to win. I would suggest to contact the media and tell your story.
1
Reply
@dianecripps204
5 days ago
I had to check my instrumentation constantly because some would sabotage
it.
2
Reply
@Ash-bc8vw
5 days ago
My frnd faces the same issues.
1
Reply
@anthill1510
5 days ago (edited)
A friend of mine worked at Max Planck in Dresden. They were all expected
to work at least 2 hours unpaid overtime each day and were treated badly
in general.
I worked minimum wage in a warehouse (in Germany) at the time and was
treated ten times better at that job than she was treated. Nobody would
have even dared to ask us to work a minute unpaid overtime, it`s against
the law. Why are these laws not enforced at universities, or hospitals for
that matter?
13
Reply
@MynameisBrianZX
4 days ago
@anthill1510 The state is more reluctant to take action against important
institutions and powerful people, and that has a chilling effect on any
lower level worker protections.
Reply
@crick__1127
4 days ago
I've known many friends left academia due to such toxic culture. That is
so often hidden within the lab and never be spoken openly, as people know
that will just negatively affect their own career.
Reply
@TheMorena
4 days ago
@mnemonija Suggesting that victims should just be more careful with whom
they share ideas, ignores the reality that they often donât have a choice,
especially in hierarchical environments like academia. The whole point
here is that many institutions protect senior researchers rather than
addressing misconduct fairly.
Instead of placing the burden on victims to âjust be strongâ or âbe more
carefulâ or âjust move onâ why not focus on changing the culture that
allows these abuses to happen in the first place and protect researchers
from abuse and exploitation?
6
Reply
@mnemonija
3 days ago
@TheMorena i didnât say only that, i also said document your ideas first.
And that ideas are not much if you donât work on them, donât overvalue it.
Also, you need to discuss in your group what happens with ideas you come
up together while brainstorming. But in the end, if none of that works,
life is short, find a better job. I cant solve it for you.
1
Reply
@albertomelo803
3 days ago
thanks for share, ð¢ð¢ im going to start my postdoc i hope donot fall in
toxic behavior
2
Reply
@albertomelo803
3 days ago
â @L278-b7z and in many cases are low payments
Reply
@lewiji
3 days ago
â@anthill1510 it's a problem in a lot of jobs of "passion", for example,
I'm a software engineer and get treated well working on enterprise
software, whereas someone working in the games industry is treated
comparatively very badly. It seems any industry where you're expected to
feel grateful that you're pursuing your passion - research science, game
development, nursing - that feeling can be exploited. No one is (or very
few are) passionate about enterprise software or warehouse work, so people
tolerate less exploitation.
2
Reply
@sardicsaba9010
3 days ago
Germans.
.all the same
Reply
@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351
2 days ago
Abused? Really?
Reply
@sardicsaba9010
2 days ago
@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351 o believe him. Only attending a simple
german course there made me sick after seeing the way germsgranies conduct
their classes.
Reply
@ywtcc
2 days ago (edited)
That's not behavior that's isolated to public institutions, unfortunately.
The private sector thinks that kind of abuse, harassment and theft is good
business, and it's their right to do so!
Broaden the conversation beyond the most transparent of institutions, and
I think you'll find more allies.
1
Reply
@sardicsaba9010
2 days ago
@ywtcc Theodore N Kaufman was right.
Reply
@KitagumaIgen
2 days ago
People that steals other's ideas are the sorriest excuse of a researcher.
Also they've clearly failed to understand the fable about the goose that
lay golden eggs...
2
Reply
@sararkh
2 days ago
â@albertomelo803 good luck!
Reply
@ABHISHEKKUMAR-s3u7d
2 days ago
after reading your article I am completely drop my idea to do higher
study's.
Reply
@ragas2845
8 hours ago
I'm observing a common pattern here. Most of the complaints here if not
all are coming from students outside of Europe. India, iran, south
America, Africa and other parts of Asia. Maybe this has got something to
do with ***@cism and the superiority complex from them.
Reply
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Academia world-wide has those problem. Dominated mostly by men,
underfunded, lack of transparency, following wrong incentives encouraged
by uneducated politicians.
Antworten
@debdaspaul
vor 6 Tagen
I have been through this at MPI and also in Leibniz. DW should also
investigate other institutes as well.
2
Antworten
@YTantirungrotechai
vor 6 Tagen
it is everywhere, not just in academia from a single country.
2
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@honestea
vor 6 Tagen
ð
1
Antworten
@James-z3x2n
vor 6 Tagen
Typical German institute, racism is a German value
1
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1 Antwort
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Racism is a world-wide problem
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@DelDavid-m8k
vor 6 Tagen
This isn't just a German problem. The toxic power dynamics described in
this video are unfortunately prevalent in many elite research institutions
and universities. I myself was a victim of this at a prominent research
institute and associated university in Belgium. The culture there was
shockingly similar, with extreme discouragement aimed at PhD students. It
was a traumatizing experience. Instead of fostering learning, I witnessed
researchers belittling PhD students and dismissing their work. It's
crucial to expose these issues and demand change across the entire
scientific community.
175
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3 Antworten
4 replies
@karlscher5170
vor 6 Tagen
Autists in leadership position
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@schurkas2610
vor 3 Tagen
It's now everywhere in education. I'm someone who is apparently asking too
many questions outside of the given curriculum at university by
professors. I've been told that what I was giving is more than
insufficient to pass exams why I'm searching for more literature ð
1
Antworten
@Mariajbh2
vor 3 Tagen
In Germany is worst
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@bhavinuttekar2283
2 hours ago (edited)
Asian and American bosses are not compared yet.
1
Reply
@blah163
vor 6 Tagen
This is especially problematic in Germany because 1) PhD candidates are
often employed by their PhD supervisors. This creates a conflict of
interest (delaying the PhD in order to keep an employee) and worsens the
power imbalance, as the supervisor now controls the PhD, the paycheck, and
future references. and 2) because this is common practice, in order for
professors and lab bosses to compete with others, they must build a large
stable of students/candidates/post-grads and exploit them. Professors
won't succeed if they don't push their people hard. and 3) professors are
totally overworked and underpaid. The best people leave and those who are
left are burned out and behave badly.
26
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1 Antwort
@xy4669
vor 3 Tagen
Well put. This "ownership" of a professor over the student's career,
graduation, etc. Makes no sense and needs to stop
4
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@thiagolucena4366
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I cant believe they are surprised. As a postdoc in Germany, I gotta say
thst the German academia is the most toxic I have ever seen. The power
structure is very vertical and army like, and hirings are mostly based on
networking and recommendation letters. I go through abuse constantly and
two other postdocs left our group due to abuse... Fun fact, my supervisor
was also the head of the PhD and postdoc psychological support team.
Antworten
1 Antwort
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Go to Sweden. There is even more pressure, you can stay only 3 years as a
postdoc. It is even worse. Hidden racism, hidden networks, intransparency
are highly problematic there.
Antworten
@mediumflow
vor 6 Tagen
I am SO glad that this is finally out in the open. This is absolutely no
surprise to anyone who has been around various of the more toxic research
environments in German academia. Such behavior has been considered
appropriate by too many of the older male patriarchs for too long. This
has only recently and only punctually begun to change with much more
diverse teams and leadership - at least in some selected departments. It
is time for those patriarchs to face significant consequences.
5
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@funandfun-xy4ez
vor 6 Tagen
Immigrants I guess is worse
Antworten
@Astrocomment
vor 6 Tagen
The academic system is outdated and became unhealthy for everyone. It must
be redesigned. I am a postdoc in the Netherlands and here there are issues
as well. Nobody has time and everybody is overloaded, overstressed. It is
pitty that the educational systems from top to bottom became redundant.
8
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2 Antworten
@funandfun-xy4ez
vor 6 Tagen
That is why I choose not to do any PhD after my master.
Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Exactly, you see this in France, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany.
Antworten
@susanne5803
vor 6 Tagen
It is the worldwide problem of:
â overcoming old hierarchical structures
â encouraging fact based whistleblowing
â setting up controls that are truly outside of the controlled areas.
(Currently the people controlling teachers are usually teachers or ex
teachers, people controlling professors are professors ...)
58
Antworten
@oosidewalkoo
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Same happens at the University of Lorraine in Metz, France.
Here is a DEI-like issue â wondering why the Director and the
Deputy-Director were both gay and got their positions the same year !?
Besides just that Woke Agenda that the extreme / alt-right capitalized so
many votes from...
Antworten
@brunosousa9264
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I live in munich and know people that work/worked that. Everyone knows
whats going on there. It's not a secret.
2
Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Why should tax payer fund such a mess? In that sense, Sabine Hossenfelder
is right. Tax payers money should be use only for reproducible, high
quality science. And with high quality, I don't mean 1 single paper with
highest impact factor. We need other output, reproducible code,
publication of failed experiments, sustainability.
11
Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
Third party funding is a drug. This drug leads to power abuse, " piranha
academic cliques", in-transparency. There is also a lack of real quality
control. Publications are not reproducible, but everybody needs to pretend
their science is the best. Overselling is key with wrong metrics. Wrong
incentives push science in the wrong direction.
Not only at MPG, but also at other non-university science institutions is
abuse present, also at universities, and also in other countries. Academia
exploits people. If you are poor, female, or belonging to a minority,
choose wisely if you want to remain in this field. You won't get help and
your mental health will suffer, you family as well.
1
Antworten
@scoruja
vor 6 Tagen
Donât attend prestigious institutions
4
Antworten
@georgiospassas7498
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Research institutions are dysfunctional.. lots of EU funding wasted by
piranha academic cliques.. no output.. a youth wasteland.. I moved to the
industry when I was 35 years old after two years of unemployment and I
will never forget my miserable years in academia.. I had believed in
science but actually all these books you read at high school is a total
different reality.. they only push you to the mouth of the wolf..
3
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2 Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
In academia only one person get professorship, the rest disappears. In
industry, you habe to work as a team.
Antworten
@georgiospassas7498
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
@ yes and in the industry the job market is free, while in academia it is
impossible to follow an independent career path..
Antworten
@teddyshamia4327
vor 6 Tagen
work culture in Germany is a culture of abuse, stress, injustice and lack
of accountability everywhere, i am confident that even in DW you could
find similar abuse.
1
Antworten
@teddyshamia4327
vor 6 Tagen
these abuses could be found in every firm/organization in Germany, and the
law is skewed to protect the Arbetigeber rather than workers, so i am not
sure what the big deal is?
4
Antworten
@Mouse_Metal
vor 6 Tagen
I expected this video to be about animal abuse in research institutions.
Antworten
@wardeggerrobertmarius144
vor 6 Tagen
It's not just Germany, it's not just the academy... It's world wide and it
goes to jobs too and other areas... It's generalized ð€·
4
Antworten
@sta1055
vor 6 Tagen
This is also the case in IT. Most companies know they can get away with
paying foreigners less. Much lesser than what Germans with far less
qualifications get.
Their reasoning almost always is that if they have to pay that much,
they'd rather hire a German.
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Antworten
@kaiseraugustus1393
vor 6 Tagen
Abusing power....wait there is something more important than from people
of research institutions... first look at the polititians from Germany and
the EU itself, this is corruption and abuse of power worth a
documentation, not this bs, this is in mostlikely in every company
1
Antworten
@moonallure508
vor 6 Tagen
Thank you for bringing up this issue ! â€
4
Antworten
@Aryakanta
vor 6 Tagen
So Prevalent in academia. Men with anti social personality disorders are
placated, pushed up, pushed sideways, or off to one side but allowed to
carry on , and take on subordinates only for them to be abused because it
is easier to dole out money to a complainant, get an NDA rather than deal
with the problem.
Antworten
@laksh1412
vor 6 Tagen
The problem is with Academia all over the world. Think of the situation in
India. Research people are severely underpaid and treated very badly. Only
God knows when this will stop
9
Antworten
@crimsonhunter
vor 6 Tagen
It's a shame this is the reality in a science oriented field. People
should compete yes, but with science not by politically abusing others.
It's the very same problem across every company out there. As soon as
power is involved, only the most selfish make it to the top. Capitalism in
its current form is hurting the vast majority incl. humanity as a whole.
This needs to change.
We need to relearn how to be kind, compassionate and work together towards
a common goal.
2
Antworten
@julianlaycock1753
vor 6 Tagen
Does this surprise anyone? Check the Consulting industry in Germany, I
have worked both in academia and consulting and, frankly speaking, the
problem in the latter is generally magnified by 10. I speak from my own
and my colleagues' experience. Wish they would shed light on this as well.
5
Antworten
@mistefash3357
vor 6 Tagen
When I was studying at a Emden Hochschule, a friend and me did a project
and submitted it. We had to beg the professor just to get our notes even
if the project was a failure. At that time all the students got their
notes before 3 months and thag professor was replying to the emails of
German students or European students always but we had to send 3 emails
and wait 3 months to get our results
5
Antworten
@testing-q8k
vor 6 Tagen
@DW News next time get a talking head that at least can read?
Antworten
@yavarjn2055
vor 6 Tagen
Grrmans always want to teach everybodyelse about human morals and always
end up like this
Antworten
@jamesnnamdi8022
vor 6 Tagen
Very true. Foreign researchers are the most affected. They are simply
Leaving Germany. A huge disappointment.
3
Antworten
@igelisa_medinag223
vor 6 Tagen
It sadly happens everywhere⊠at any universityâŠ
2
Antworten
@shazia5342
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
What the postdoc and PhD student in the interview are describing is really
awful. Max Planck and related institutions should be investigated.
Academic research is a hostile and a very competitive environment, and the
driving force for this is fighting for the limited research funding
available. Personally, I was based in non-German research universities (in
Europe), and I experienced a fair share of discrimination and sometimes
bullying from my colleagues. Thankfully, my research supervisors for my
PhD and postdocs were mostly supportive and they never said such things to
me. Nevertheless, I left academic research because I was really unwell as
a result of stress. Big changes are required to make academic research
environment a better place, and this will in turn produce more positive
research outputs to help the societies across the world.
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1 Antwort
@L278-b7z
vor 4 Tagen
Yeah it makes it easier if the don't yell, but they still use these
bullying techniques that are so subtle you can't even document and
question yourself the whole time if you imagined it or not. It's
incredibly damaging to the psyche even if they don't yell.
1
Antworten
@fardinbehboudi2410
vor 6 Tagen
I have the same experience at Fraunhofer , bullying, being ignored and
this is not by one boss ,the whole hierarchy works like this and after me
many people (100% of them were AuslÀnder !!) and they all left. It is time
to break the Taboo of calling this racism out
5
Antworten
@VishalVerma-u8z
vor 6 Tagen
We should stop going to Germany for MS/PhD. They are abusing the immigrant
status of the students.
19
Antworten
@iamhamzaabdullah
vor 6 Tagen
It had always been on my wishlist to get into Max Planck, but seeing this
made me drop it from my wishlist, leaving me disappointed.
2
Antworten
@Bananaaa_Bread
vor 6 Tagen
Please cover the public media industrie in Germany on this matter!
2
Antworten
@NovaNomad-z1e
vor 6 Tagen
It is true! Look at research center Juelich as well. I am a victim myself.
After 3 years it is still hunting me.
4
Antworten
1 Antwort
@kiki40159
vor 6 Tagen
There is absolutely no support system in place for students there. Only
departments labeled as supportive for students exist in name only.
1
Antworten
@tilak231
vor 6 Tagen
Come to ANY Indian MEDICAL COLLEGE and you'll see a totally different
world!
1
Antworten
@osamaafridi5
vor 6 Tagen
It's actually a problem within Academia every where especially in elite
schools.
1
Antworten
@ansiemartin7280
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This happens a lot in academia all over.. India. France as well.
supervisors just abuse mentally and do not give due credit . It's months..
Years of hard work and isolation to work long hours in labs on
unstructured projects.. That's like somebody's vanity project.. No clear
goals.. Just waste of time, effort.. resource in the name of basic
science. At the end ur only validation is a publication and often even
that doesn't happen because your boss clearly plays favoritisms.. And
without a support network as an expat.. The whole experience has been
horrible.. Depressing.. And really waste of time.
7
Antworten
@mouctechy
vor 6 Tagen
It's a common pattern in almost all academic institutions not only in
Germany!
1
Antworten
@Everything_Golden
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
A victim here too. One of my professors did not grade a paper even after
repeated requests reducing my overall grade below 3.5.
8
Antworten
@raily9713
vor 6 Tagen
Academia carries out a precise selection of sociopath or abusive
individuals... To the point only the more toxic ones reach the positions
of power, and normal people literally escape towards other sectors
2
Antworten
@Rated_Koenig
vor 6 Tagen
It is not just Max Planck institute, the power abuse happens in almost
every German university. Add RPTU Kaiserslautern to the list. The
professors use PhD candidates as contract workers, keep getting research
funding by showing man power, but have zero care for the future or vision
of the candidates. There is no accountability, and they literally play
with the future and career of the candidates. People give up the dream of
PhD after spending 6-7 quality years. Their confidence and mental health
take a blow. Horrible system.
2
Antworten
@smanpreet2612
vor 6 Tagen
Same thing happened to my friend in University of Kiel. He was also
psychologically ill because of that. I told him to complain but he didn't
want to.
11
Antworten
1 Antwort
@leoniep9231
vor 6 Tagen
I am enrolled at Uni Kiel currently! Do you know what field, or would you
rather not disclose? Some things have happened to me, too, but not
directly at Uni Kiel (so far)... It's good to be vigilant, though!
Antworten
@medhap8067
vor 6 Tagen
This news has not even made it to the German news channels and their
websites.. A country so passionate about their language never watches
English news. This news has zero impact on the ground.
2
Antworten
@densiooo
vor 6 Tagen
Racism as well, check all MPIs and all other research institutes with
"Grundfinanzierung"
2
Antworten
@shivanin8708
vor 6 Tagen
The sexist behaviour is so true. They do it almost subconsciously.
6
Antworten
1 Antwort
@akIndia10
vor 6 Tagen
Are you from India pursuing PhD or post doc research in Germany. Could you
please give a little explanation regarding their supremacist behavior
against fellow countryman.
Antworten
@winterhudehhjvmv1651
vor 6 Tagen
This is a problem in Academics EVERYWHERE
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Antworten
1 Antwort
@tiajin248
vor 4 Tagen
No it is not everywhere, there are other countries where their academic
atmosphere is much fairer, don't generalize this easily.
Antworten
@MrPAuan
vor 6 Tagen
Funny enough, it's in the law that in germany you can not insult,
discriminate other people which devalues the person's human dignity. And
what exactly happened is that.
4
Antworten
@zzip0
vor 6 Tagen
It is not only Germany, it is global. Research and academia are broken.
Germany however is in the lead of some problems. German academia is a
closed mafia-like organization with extremely dubious academic
appointments and structured to exploit the young. It is not this or that
professor, it is the whole structure.
1
Antworten
@Merkw
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
It's a problem of academia worldwide. Good thing a big news media made
this kind of documentary. Now they have to make a series uncovering this
madness in the whole world.
4
Antworten
@ArcticMindfulnessRetreat-sx8nl
vor 6 Tagen
In my experience one problem is that the professors and other scientists
are not hired because of their character or social skills. Super good
scientist can be a horrible person, or just lacking any social skills. And
of course power corrupts everyone..
5
Antworten
@liang8255
vor 6 Tagen
This is quite common in many countries amoung academics, many institut
2
Antworten
@thorewidderich2797
vor 6 Tagen
Shocking, but sadly not surprising.
Similar issues at the University of Hamburgâfraud, sexual abuse, and
institutional silence.
When will these elite institutions be held accountable?
1
Antworten
@jaquelinejunge8805
vor 6 Tagen
Film : ' Ein verborgenes Leben ' 2019
Nothing really changed. ðð«£
Antworten
@kshiray
vor 6 Tagen
Very disappointing to hear this.
One would think people involved in the pursuit of science and knowledge in
a reputed institute would be more logical, ethical, and kinder than a
typical corporate office.
Especially sad for me in an underdeveloped unethical society to see
similar unethical behavior being neglected and protected even in a
developed society like Germany.
Be careful and take measures to protect your society's values. They're
very delicate. Once you lose them, you may never get them back and end up
like us.
1
Antworten
@AP-qb2xn
vor 6 Tagen
That's academia in the 21st century for you
1
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@subhamdaslovesraptor99
vor 6 Tagen
The higher the nation is in ranking in terms of research breakthroughs,
the more the system rigging and power abuse. This is the understatement.
1
Antworten
@Thor110
vor 6 Tagen
What do you expect from Capitalism and a species that built itself off of
stealing or fighting over land and power, nothing but. Exactly this.
Everywhere.
Antworten
@subhamdaslovesraptor99
vor 6 Tagen
"If you truly want to test a man's character, the give him power."-----
Marcus Aurelius (The True Roman Emperor). This statement rings today more
than it ever did. Weaponization of the justice system and the academic
system will surely bring downfall for the foreseeable future. This is a
clear politicization of the issues faced by the students at this research
center.
2
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@jdmmg4904
vor 6 Tagen
â€ððœ
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@ALhajrasAlgdiry
vor 6 Tagen
yes, science requires hard work and can be stressful, but remember the
best scientists were motivated by curiosity and passion not fear and
discouragement.
10
Antworten
1 Antwort
@Nationalist21
vor 4 Tagen
If institutional discouragement happens, then how can good academic
research thrive? Those who are destined to encourage research are doing
the opposite. The only solution for this problem is removing the reference
and advisory role of these professors. They should be made just guides as
any new information found out by the researchers are stealed by their
professors. Anyone who got unchecked power will use it against the career
and life of the powerless. That's human psychology. So, the only solution
is removing the ultimate power to decide their authority to publish these
researches
2
Antworten
@Chill-jplt
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
My friends/colleagues and I worked at Germany's Ulm University for almost
3 decades and bullying & Co. are not only within these Max Planck
institutes, but it's a common misconduct of leading professors, and such
behaviour is tolerated and even supported by the lady who is the head of
HR. If you don't comply to their lies and distorted rules, then you easily
get a warning from the HR without fair discussion, while they try making
you rethink thru their gaslighting.
In this university, you have to tell a lie all the time if you want to
look good and survive the abusive upper-ups.
Professors and scientists are but humans who think that they are something
better, they even think that they have the better air to breath in the
same room.
46
Antworten
@DrGlynnWix
vor 6 Tagen
Color me completely unsurprised. All of academia is pretty rife with abuse
of power. It's practically to be expected in a competitive, hierarchical
structure, where the people at the top have no accountability or any
oversight. If you are a professor, no one has authority to tell you not to
do something. You might want to get along with your colleagues, but none
of them can censure you, much less fire you.
1
Antworten
@conorstapleton3183
vor 6 Tagen
The tip of the tip of the iceberg.
4
Antworten
@sdgdasgupta8858
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
If the abuser as well as the supervisory people ( HR, psychologist, legal
coordinators etc.) belong to the same umbrella organisation, it is a
massive problem. The supervisory body should be independent and students/
scientists should have representation through worker's council (like IG
Metall, Ver.di etc.) IMO.
57
Antworten
@arlenehutchinson9259
vor 6 Tagen
The "response " from the institute and the Prof says it all. They KNOW.
They are OK with it.
Solution must come from outside.
3
Antworten
@agalva100
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This isn't a surprise, honestly. Absolutely, this isn't MPI exclusive. It
is so SO common. You have foreign students, young people, and these
untouchable professors. You can guess how things usually go ððŒââïž
9
Antworten
@y.p.735
vor 6 Tagen
It is "the Left". Those People are extremely disturbed and destroy our
Society.
2
Antworten
@georgemburu4177
vor 6 Tagen
United States is the best place for research. The culture is way tolerant
to divergent views, opinions and perspectives
3
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1 Antwort
@yar3333
vor 5 Tagen
What about woke sexism?
Antworten
@cosmashono7665
vor 6 Tagen
This is why I like DW. They address issues within the German society that
you will hardly see on other traditional German TV platforms. The ones
that 90% of their content is mostly holidays, food, talk shows and
programs that have no bearing on the stack challenges that Germany faces.
Theyâll rather project a âla la laâ society.
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4 Antworten
5 replies
@誰-c3p
vor 5 Tagen
after usaid/ned stop paying dw...
8
Antworten
@vornamenachnahme
vor 4 Tagen
You need to look at the news format within the public channels. Not their
whole program can be news. That would most likely very depressing. I like
Deutschlandfunk the most.
4
Antworten
@Ellen-Monet
vor 2 Tagen
I second, not only within the German society but also across the world,
they have brilliant documentaries about modern slavery and other global
issues
1
Antworten
@kkon5ti
vor 2 Stunden
@誰-c3p bruh USAID never, NEVER paid DW (in any significant form or
amount). DW is mostly government funded by the federal government of
Germany, and also fund itself to a small degree by advertising and
sponsorships.
1
Antworten
@Blubkopf98
3 hours ago
I also think that I read something like this topic in the Tagesschau app.
2
Reply
@flin4557
vor 6 Tagen
All to familier with my experience at the MP, happening everyday in
garching
1
Antworten
@wawrzynieckoodziej6664
vor 6 Tagen
Sabine Hossenfelder talked about it ....
7
Antworten
@nicholaswoollhead6830
vor 6 Tagen
Really impressive work, DW.
15
Antworten
@THUND3RS0W
vor 6 Tagen
lol academia
1
Antworten
@substance90
vor 6 Tagen
Newsflash: itâs exactly the same at Uni Hospitals. Young doctors abused
beyond belief by their superiors
1
Antworten
@KalingTamut-m6g
vor 6 Tagen
Academic corruption, discrimination and abuse in Universities and other
similar institutes needs to be attended properly.
4
Antworten
@JMTheologicallyMotivated
vor 6 Tagen
Thank you, DW, for bringing this kind of discrimination, which is
happening in the German academia. It 100% true.
2
Antworten
@dilipmv6546
vor 6 Tagen
This is a huge problem in academia, not just in Germany but across the
world. The lab head has a lot of power over lab members. If you want to
apply elsewhere, you NEED a reference from your lab head. This makes it an
ideal place for exploitation. The only solution is that the system of
reference should be removed.
76
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2 Antworten
3 replies
@L278-b7z
vor 4 Tagen
Agreed! And also the thing with temporary contracts.
4
Antworten
@IcariumClimbs
vor 4 Tagen
Yeah I talked to this lab head recently who had this reputation for
toxicity. I wanted to do a project under him. Was sceptical about what I
heard from other people. But when I interviewed him, he boasted about the
fact how he denied lor's of certain master students. He threatened me if I
don't work hard under him, I won't get any lor from him.
2
Antworten
@erichstocker8358
4 hours ago
@IcariumClimbs For me this is all troubling to hear. I work in an agency
that funds academic research. I work with a scientific discipline that
encourages its PhD students to get involved, mentors them, gives them the
opportunity to present papers and assists in getting papers published. I
can't tell you the number of times that advisors have gone out of their
way to support their student in getting teaching and research positions in
universities and public agencies. I have seen some of the other side in
other disciplines where ad hominem attacks can get quite abusive.
Fortunately, in my interactions both reviewing grants, applications and
university interactions in this discipline, I have not encountered the
abusive outlined in the report and comments. Given the level of effort
necessary for PhD work and research work, I can only imagine the
psychological impact such abuse has. I extend even more my thanks to my
colleagues who have supported their students and researchers. This report
makes the value of such professors even more important.
Reply
@jjsc4396
vor 6 Tagen
Gee, you're JUST discovering this NOW?!? ð It's been endemic in academic
and research institutes for DECADES. And repeatedly reported. You just
haven't been watching OR listening. And especially, governments do
NOTHING. Because you have an OBVIOUS political leader ð academia/research
institute revolving door.
1
Antworten
@Mattbrazilian
vor 6 Tagen
This is just the ice cube tip of the iceberg
3
Antworten
@buggi666
vor 6 Tagen
Maybe Gabriel choose the wrong job?
Antworten
@DefinitelyWave
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
It sounds like Gabriel put more effort going to the news than listening to
what the professor told him. Useless fks are universal after all! This
interview might be the most work Gabriel has done all year by the sounds
of it !ð Just my 2 American cents lol
1
Antworten
@sokundavannchriv3967
vor 6 Tagen
All of these professor should be ashamed of themselves. If they cannot
support student, what are they going to do to improve the situation ?
6
Antworten
@Nimbu_Pani-k1v
vor 6 Tagen
When you admit activists for students whose sole objective is woke
research.
Nebulous allegations out of perceived hurt are their forte.
Antworten
@sumayyamols5158
vor 6 Tagen
My daughter wishes to do her research in Germany. But now I am afraid.
What shall we do?
1
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1 Antwort
@yar3333
vor 5 Tagen
Learn your prof in advance. He may be a good person.
Antworten
@jbookvoxx
vor 6 Tagen
Right until today, I refer East Germany as DDR.
Antworten
@ImranKhan-t2n8s
vor 6 Tagen
this is not only in this all europe , all senior professor miss your thier
post doc and researcher
Antworten
@hchallenator
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Yes, it's true that many principal investigators fail to provide a
supportive work environment. As a former grad student and postdoc I have
witnessed everything from blatant abuse to subtle threats. But let me say
that I have seen professors successfully modify their behavior in a
positive way, particularly when the pressure of making tenure is
alleviated! But a department head or director should absolutely lead with
a far better example! Toxic!
5
Antworten
@melbournewolf
vor 6 Tagen
Power imbalances are endemic in human systems. Age, sex, gender,
seniority, qualifications, position of standing (community, business,
political, societal), connections, networks...all structures that were
built in to our dealings with each other, in Western societies at least,
over millennia.
This is why absolute equality & equity of choice & process with absolute
transparency is necessary...but if course, perfect systems are machines,
not humans nor humanity treating itself with kindness.
Utopia is unobtainable in any practical sense but the idea can still
properly us to be better and joiner with each other; especially as we
discover that the "survival of the first" is a cooperative endeavour, not
solely competitive and should never be combative or violent.
I can dream...
1
Antworten
@mptw
vor 6 Tagen
Academia is a dog eat dog world.
1
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1 Antwort
@chestuntin
vor 6 Tagen
Go outside of academia it is the same lol
Antworten
@ragas2845
vor 6 Tagen
In 2015, a professor from Leipzig University who goes by the name Prof
Annette Beck Sickinger openly denied an internship to a male student from
India citing the rape problem in India. She said I will not accept male
students from India to work under her. If this is not racism and
discrimination, what is? This incident sparked a huge controversy in India
and the German ambassador to India had to intervene and finally she had to
publicly apologize. She was never suspended or fired for her
discriminatory behaviour but in fact got several awards in 2023. Evil
people like her should never be allowed in academia and research.
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2 replies
@Aiuto-vk5tq
14 hours ago
Well in that time there were two people from India working in her lab and
it she was officially cleared after two higher ups saw the whole email
discussion and she didnât deny him because of the ârape-societyâ, it was
part of a bigger discussion that only started after provocation of that
student. But everybody can researched that quite quickly
Reply
@ragas2845
10 hours ago
@Aiuto-vk5tq Stop defending and justifying a racist. There are a lot of
people like her in Germany in the academic industry, housing market and
job sector who indulge in passive racism and flat out deny Indian
students. They have some sort of irrational hate towards Indians
especially men.
Reply
@kr4536
vor 6 Tagen
This behavior isn't limited to the scientific community. Across the board,
people in positions of management will bully their employees. It's almost
like bullies gravitate to positions of management and then are given those
positions either out of fear or admiration. We see it happen on the world
stage.
29
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2 Antworten
@L278-b7z
vor 5 Tagen
It's not just bullies it's the people with dark triad traits.
3
Antworten
@jul4173
vor 4 Tagen
I agree. However, in academia it is worst because it is a quite small
world and you cannot just leave or change a job. You will ruin your career
forever. You get a bad PhD supervisor, your dreams of working as
researcher are ruined, you get on a wrong foot with your supervisor you
will get a bad reference letter, you will not find a job afterwards.
Everyone knows everyone.
1
Antworten
@ghostrich3948
vor 6 Tagen
I think it would be good to prepare people coming to an institution that
there might be behavior like this so that they can brace themselves,
become more resilient and see it from a more objective point of view.
2
Antworten
@patrickgz
vor 6 Tagen
accountability? what big meaningless words we learn tday
Antworten
@kamranb04
vor 6 Tagen
The reported issues could be valid and are not limited to the Max Planck
Society but reflect broader problems across academia. It feels unfair to
single out the Max Planck Institutes.
I work at a Max plank institute.
3
Antworten
@wasifulalam1393
vor 6 Tagen
I would like to report for Czech Technical. Some thing exactly same
happening here
4
Antworten
@wasifulalam1393
vor 6 Tagen
Same in Czech Technical University
1
Antworten
@MuhammadUsman-nz8pv
vor 6 Tagen
This isnât just limited to germany. I also left academia due to such
behaviors. This is happening all across the domain.
4
Antworten
@vivr670
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I worked with a German team before. How Gabriel describes his German boss
is exactly how the German Coordinator I worked with behaved. Very
condescending. You cannot thrive in an environment filled with fear.
Could it be cultural?
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8 Antworten
@benjaminmurphy9114
vor 6 Tagen
Definitely.
5
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@j.j.4262
vor 6 Tagen
Iâm sorry to hear you had a negative experience like this. I am troubled
by your comment though. While certainly possible and potentially part of
what contributes, this is a report about cases in specifically Germany
that have come to light now. You have one personal experience with another
German. Why would you assume based on that small and limited data set that
itâs a cultural problem and not a broader systematic issues of unchecked
power structures? I just want you to be aware of your implicative phrasing
not just potentially simplifying this matter, but being practical
âotheringâ by finger point-ing at âGerman cultureâ as a whole. We need to
be aware of when our biases potentially cloud our reasoning and judgement,
especially in todayâs society having to face divisive influences. Again,
likely a contributing factor, but maybe not the core issue.
8
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@renren2740
vor 6 Tagen
Especially if you are from non-European countries but have western
education or mixed background and even western given name that for many
German people surprisingly not a âcode nameâ like many non-european people
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@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
No. You will find it in other countries too. Just move around.
6
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@kavigarrib
vor 6 Tagen
â @j.j.4262 I rate this comment at 100%, in terms of being
polite/respectful, but still carrying the message clearly. Also agree with
the message, I have worked with a few Germans and found them to be as
diverse in perspective and personality as every other nationality.
Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
You are mistaken. Managers of non-German origin behave like this as well
in German academia. Managers are only promoted into their positions
because they were once just lucky, they lack people management skills.
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@ariel_monaco
vor 5 Tagen
Yes. See my comment. I think this is a cultural pattern
1
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@hommedesvoyages7296
vor 3 Tagen
@j.j.4262 In several instances Germans can band together to create a
certain unjust reality against competitors or others whom they feel
threatened or insecure about while propping up themselves. This is a fact.
Other nationalities may do this too but probably none as effective as
Germans.
Antworten
@selmahare
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Wow to think that I once applied for a research doctorate there. Happy to
have been declined. This seems to be a problem with academia in general,
everywhere.
3
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@sushilapatel2127
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Itâs true in almost all university and research institute all over the
world
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@GEMINDIGO
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
There is serious abuse and misconduct right across the scientific sector
due to political bias,economic greed and industry infiltration.Anybody
with an open mind has been able to see this for years.The world needs to
go down a path of spirituality,strong sustainability and international
cooperation.
1
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@tongdijamir8541
vor 6 Tagen
Mental harassment is experienced in most of the University around the
world especially those doing PhD and Post Doctoral....
1
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@behzadnourani3195
vor 6 Tagen
Vert serious and very true
1
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@Patrick-ee4fl
vor 6 Tagen
cough cough RF Berlin
cough cough UCL
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@tomhenry897
vor 6 Tagen
And complain about trump
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@mohammedsahal3268
vor 6 Tagen
These young talented European people doing advanced research are welcome
to US. No abuse here through hard language. Very polite language is
preferred in US.
2
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@krazy11-YT
vor 6 Tagen
Its the norm in India.
2
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@runcycleskixc
vor 6 Tagen
He is lucky to have stopped dreaming about this after a year.
1
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@markg3169
vor 6 Tagen
This is not newsworthy. Are we going to start looking DW performance
reviews next?
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@Brina.-gb6ib
vor 6 Tagen
So glade this is talked about! The problem is when you're alone (or feel
alone) there's no one you can turn to. Reports like this are essential!
49
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@PP-py
vor 6 Tagen
Not surprised at all
1
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@swz-pq1jt
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Unfortunately the truth is in Germany it is daily routine that you get
discriminated, sexually harassed and degraded. Its a cultural thing
2
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@user-user-rxtxpxdx
vor 6 Tagen
I guess it spreads throughout almost all the German institutes...
8
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@maytecalipso
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Completly true!!!! I was one of the subjects of the power abuse at Udine's
University. One professor from psychology used to made sexists comments
and expected women to laught, he shout to the team, and used gaslighting
as manipulation technique. All this while he was never at the lab, and
always travelling with her girlfriend .
8
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@kemada89
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
happens everywhere in every lab in the USA, specially for Latino PhD
students and many foreigners... Even if you report, everything stays in
house, I have faced the same in public universities in NY
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@quasarsupernova9643
vor 6 Tagen
I don't get it. Sternly warning students for non performance is not
disrespect. Using foul language while regrettable is just an expression of
frustration....
1
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@infostations
vor 6 Tagen
Although that is unprofessional ... that man seems soft
1
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@Ambient_Scenes
vor 6 Tagen
I'm not surprised at all. Academia is often toxic.
6
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@mr.zimtus5231
vor 6 Tagen
But but but capitalism good....
1
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@infostations
vor 6 Tagen
Institutional Silence .... the German pastime
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4 Antworten
@L278-b7z
vor 5 Tagen
It's not even Germany, it's everywhere and it happens in all competitive
fields.
3
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@tfrtrouble
vor 5 Tagen
Lol I've seen much worse in the US. I think what you meant was:
Institutional silence... the academic pastime.
2
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@L278-b7z
vor 5 Tagen
@tfrtrouble Trust me even institutions outside of academia have this.
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@tfrtrouble
vor 5 Tagen
@L278-b7z That's sad to hear. People suck sometimes.
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@mattlawson4727
vor 6 Tagen
Welcome to corporate culture, bottom line and spreadsheets
3
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@VimalkumarChawda
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
at 5:30 you ask why it is diffucult ? Ask me , I file absue of power by
professor leibniz uni TU9 but judge was also pass out from the same
university pass out. She judge didnot mention all in the final judgement
which I gave them as proof.
The examination is not check by appointed person from examination office,
his assistant confirm that its dont matter if professor explain or not
during lecture . so mostly foreign students are targeted. please ask
details of case 6A 491/21 and 6A 491/22.
6
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@DavidSmall-z5e
vor 6 Tagen
Yes, this problem is common all around the world, not just Germany. The
problem stems from the pressure that laboratory heads and department heads
are under these days to bring in money. This pressure can make them
abusive to both postdoctoral fellows and students. There is no excuse for
this behaviour of course. Things need to change not only at the
laboratory/department level, but also at the federal level. The pressure
on funding is too acute. Changes in the USA are only going to make this
worse. Compounding the problem is the competitive nature of current
scientific research. Collegiality is a thing of the past apparently.
4
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@stephan1752
vor 6 Tagen
Why does this sound so typically... German? Perhaps is was just the image
of a hysterical German beating on a table with his fist, spitting while
yelling at the top of his lungs.
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@mohammadiftekharalam3966
vor 6 Tagen
Thanks to DW for uncover the issue. This is how, German Institute will
become more competitive in the world as the authority will work on the
issue.
2
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@abuzarghaffari9268
vor 6 Tagen
Macht spiel ist ÃŒberall ebenfalls in den Firmen, in der Gesellschaft und
an der Unis.
5
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@emilieshin
vor 6 Tagen
Innovation?! ððððð
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@habil8324
vor 6 Tagen
Haha you itâs also in Hospitals ðððððð
1
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@luiscobos123
vor 6 Tagen
All those cultures from central and eastern Europe. They are happy to be
"Direct" but they are not happy when you are direct to them. And if you do
well as the last seconds of the video says manipulation and mob
manipulation
Happens in southern countries like Spain as well, but in a subtle, non
action, push to isolation
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3 Antworten
@kiki40159
vor 6 Tagen
And rudeness is masked as directness.
1
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@ila9063
vor 5 Tagen
Germany is a Western European country. Letâs not pretend itâs just central
and Eastern Europeans that are the problem.
1
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@ishi450
vor 4 Tagen
Finally, someone said it. I thought only I felt this.
Flaunting and being proud of their directness, and yet you can't do the
same with them or else you get banished. What a backwards way of thinking.
2
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@danielkotorman5780
vor 6 Tagen
ð®
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@zarafrz5798
vor 6 Tagen
I'm so glad DW made this report. I should say it's the same in US.
54
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2 Antworten
@inxsgoat
vor 6 Tagen
Really? I thought it'd be quite strict there.
Antworten
@HDas-i9q
vor 6 Tagen
It's worse here ðºðž
3
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@BoosterShot1010
vor 6 Tagen
People are broken and their deeds are also broken!
6
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@AndItsAllRelative
vor 6 Tagen
Thanks to DW!!!
7
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@AndItsAllRelative
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Dresden. leipzig and Mittweida are the hells, I have been there. I left my
job just because of people behaviour and scratches on my car everyday. One
day a guy threw wine bottle on my boss car because he picked me from the
station and Germans standing over there hating me that why an
international guy is here with a long coat and a laptop in his hand and
his boss came to pick him in Porsche. My boss told me to do home office
for 3 months after watching it and told me not to leave home after 7 in
the evening.
Its in their blood, Its in their history. Germany cant be USA, because in
USA there is no auslÀnder and in Germany a guy who pays 43% tax from last
14 years is still auslÀnder.
2
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@shannonhalford3507
vor 6 Tagen
Good God, what the hXll has happened to our beautiful Germany??? These
blithering Heads of Corporations/Institutes in Germany, need a reality
check.....talk about stagnating intellectual growth and creativity.....I'm
NY Toms very British/Brazilian future wife MD, Veteran, Iraq, Afghanistan
and Cont. of Africa
Antworten
@V.I.P205
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Wow, sounds like a typical Singapore workplace. "Discuss my project behind
my back and claim credit for my work" welcome to Singapore. But over here
it is young people driving toxicity. It's almost as though it is a
competition
11
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@sofialara9837
vor 6 Tagen
In Switzerland also happend. I have to go thorough it. I do not feel
motivated to continue with research.
108
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6 Antworten
@biochem2024
vor 2 Tagen
I feel so sad about this beautiful country. I also dream of doing a PhD in
Switzerland but unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity. Now I am still
trying to secure a PhD position because without it our master's in
biochemistry nothing. ð
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@ot8479
vor 2 Tagen
â€â€â€â€ DON'T GIVE UP ON SCIENCE BECAUSE OF ABUSIVE AS...LES!!!
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@sofialara9837
vor 2 Tagen
@ot8479 So sweetâ€. Maybe I will find a better environment
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@aidivina25
vor 2 Tagen
@biochem2024 Try again maybe in other countries. don't let go :)
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@biochem2024
vor 1 Tag (bearbeitet)
@aidivina25 I tried many max planck institutes but didn't get positive
response. I searched about the Switzerland PhD position but in those
positions I need recommendations from the professor for taking all
responsibility for me. The thing is that I don't know anyone from
Switzerland. And I don't understand the actual issue in my application. ð
Antworten
@aidivina25
vor 1 Tag
I see. there are other countries beside germany or switzerland where you
can apply. have you tried ? france/netherlands/spain/UK/sweden
etc..
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@nightowl6260
vor 6 Tagen
Bravo for the courage to cover such a difficult topic.
95
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@nightowl6260
vor 6 Tagen
In medical training in the US, it was made clear that "somehow " it would
be reflected in your reference letters when you were trying to transfer to
another program or when you were ready to look for a job. This may be part
of what he may be describing "That it will hurt your career."
78
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@mdtaifurrahman2020
vor 6 Tagen
I left academia after several years of working in Japan, Singapore and the
UK for a simple reason: it is no longer for producing knowledge rather
crunching papers and abusing tax payers' money for solving "imaginary"
problem with "useless" solutions. I am not saying it is happening
everywhere but sadly 70% of academic reseach is simply waste of money and
time. Please STOP it.
2
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@persiathiest1963
vor 6 Tagen
Germany is the most overrated European country
2
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@AndrewHay-u1k
vor 6 Tagen
I don't speak your language, but this sounds like a load of steirscheiÃe
to me ð It's probably an attempt at character assassination and to
deconstruct your institutions.
Antworten
@Flickvids100
vor 6 Tagen
Not expecting less from a country that punishes saying "free Palestine".
5
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@Natty_kitty
vor 6 Tagen
Sadly this behavior is commonplace in academic institutions which l why l
chose to leave after two postdocs
2
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@martytube821
vor 6 Tagen
Humans are flawed and there is no utopia where it won't be!
2
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1 Antwort
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
Well said ð
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@baroodi100
vor 6 Tagen
Wirecard, Max Planck âŠ.. corruption in German institutions!!
1
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1 Antwort
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
Corruption is everywhere
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@pbk-varma
vor 6 Tagen
Unfortunately this is not limited to Germany, this is equally prevalent in
UK top institutions as well. Many post docâs have to give up their dreams
and ambitions for life and need to switch careers. Quiet often they cannot
complain and remain in silent or just quit because of power of the
supervisor. Mentorship has long gone for a toss.
165
Antworten
vor 6 Tagen
@sayedkhalilullahmonib3363
Antworten
Even Germany research center is full of racism
2
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1 Antwort
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
Stop exaggerating.
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@Seyi.O
vor 6 Tagen
Academia in Germany is highly competitive and you must fight for your
ideas. Germany in general is not for the weakâyou must have mental
strength.
Some professors misuse their power. A friend of mine was struggling with
anxiety throughout her PhD program due to a toxic professor that is known
to be difficult in TÃ. I also heard a Professor slapped a student at an
MPI in BW.
8
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@mellosays
vor 6 Tagen
It happens everywhere. I once worked for a PI who was abusive, but I went
straight to the departmentâs director and he sorted her out. To work in a
lab environment you have to be strong minded, but abusive is unacceptable.
The job is already stressful as it is.
59
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1 Antwort
@helenapeictukuljac70
vor 7 Tagen
'... HE sorted HER out...' - no surprise there
3
Antworten
@wallysonthomas
vor 6 Tagen
OK, everyone knows the problem, and how to act, but till now no results
and researchers till suffering. I am still suffering. Pity!ð¢
5
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@Arya-cf7vu
vor 6 Tagen
This is routine HR and management behaviour in ALL organisations and
private business that allow and enable bullying.
17
Antworten
@Maximusinteruptus
vor 6 Tagen
even all TU9s must be investigated.
4
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@myspace5671
vor 6 Tagen
one is lazy one is rude
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@jan-kim-moon
vor 6 Tagen
:(
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@lawrenceokanda7674
vor 6 Tagen
This is normalised in Germany, abusive behaviour is part of their
culture.... Everywhere including schools, and the system encourages that
20
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5 Antworten
@thecount1001
vor 7 Tagen
why? as a dumb Canadian, i thought Germany was a highly educated,
egalitarian, progressive society. this is new and shocking to me.
1
Antworten
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
@lawrenceokanda7674 Abusive behaviour is not part of the culture. This
happens everywhere where there is competition and especially evident when
multi cultures collaborate.
Antworten
@NicolasHaufe
vor 7 Tagen
You mistook africa for Germany buddy
3
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@saraaltom2826
vor 7 Tagen
â @NicolasHaufe lol. This is what you are good at, bringing Africa to feel
you might be better ð, but everyone is watching, the video the comments,
it is GERMANY read it louder until you have headache or something but it
is ð
1
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@yar3333
vor 6 Tagen
â @thecount1001 Germany is the leading racist country in Europe according
to polls.
1
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@kinngrimm
vor 6 Tagen
Pretty much any hierarchical structures with no built in safe guards
against people on a power trip will eventually have the same issues seen
here. Doesn't matter if its government, corporation, religious or
whichever, human nature needs checks and balances.
2
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@heartsofiron4ever
vor 7 Tagen
So ist es nun
Antworten
@LittleExplorer875
vor 7 Tagen
These stories could be told by 90% of young scientists who went through
Max Planck. The problem is everywhere in academia, but Max Planck is
especially problematic because directors get millions of euros for their
research from the tax payers money without having to compete/apply for it
(âGrund Finanzierungâ) and completely without accountability of how money
are used. Other institutions do not have that power and privileges,
professors at universities still need to compete for money and write
grants. At least they need to put in some effort and are somehow more
accountable
186
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5 Antworten
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
Right! I remember submitting unnecessary equipment orders just because any
money from allocated budget not spent is forgone.
11
Antworten
@katrinam6795
vor 6 Tagen
I am working in a university 100% dependent on grant funding for research.
That creates it's own problems, but it does ensure less absuive practices.
Though once you starr your PhD, you become way more dependent on your Prof
9
Antworten
@LittleExplorer875
vor 6 Tagen
@katrinam6795 at uni I had to write my thesis on unemployment because my
phd advisor had no more money to pay me as a big grant was ending. He told
me less than 2 months before my contract was ending. At Max Planck I was
told âwe do not write grants in this groupâ because they had so much money
from the regular financing. Two very different situations, both very
problematic unfortunately
Antworten
@Ash-bc8vw
vor 5 Tagen
True, Max Planck is the worst
1
Antworten
@pedrob3953
vor 3 Tagen
Nothing but little fiefdoms and kingdoms where Herr Direktor is lord and
master.
1
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@filippo8189
vor 7 Tagen
Weâre all in therapy, medicated and leaving en masse.
Antworten
@kinngrimm
vor 7 Tagen
Since when do we bleep foule language in Germany? Is it because of
youtube?
4
Antworten
1 Antwort
@DralhaEureka
vor 7 Tagen
Since this is the English version, it has to be bleeped for US
consumption, or the video will be demonetized.
Antworten
@hermitcrabinavan7244
vor 7 Tagen
All the progress I made with the help of psychotherapy was wiped out when
I return to university to study psychology
25
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1 Antwort
@thorebergmann1986
vor 6 Tagen
That's the irony. But it's sounds 100% true xD
5
Antworten
@omaranwar9459
vor 7 Tagen
Having worked at one of the Institutes I had to go through a social
behavior workshop.
Very strange.
1
Antworten
@donjohn2239
vor 7 Tagen
These guys should work in India. Lol. I know its still abuse but this is
nothing comparatively.
1
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2 Antworten
@evansnyamesah1755
vor 7 Tagen
Same with Africa. Insults doesn't equate insults it's a f up situation
Antworten
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
And what exactly do we gain from comparing struggles? Theyâre both abuse,
theyâre both wrong, they both shouldnât happen in the first place.
3
Antworten
@AdH-vk9dt
vor 7 Tagen
Accused of? Still denying the facts!
Antworten
@Peppercorn5
vor 7 Tagen
I am a postdoc in US. Donât get me started! ððœðððœ
22
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@redalert2834
vor 7 Tagen
This civilisation has been slow to legislate against many forms of white
collar crimes.
In particular, criminality is rife within academic institutions and
academic journals.
With no prospect of reform in sight, this eventually triggered external
intervetion.
It took the form of the Covid pandemic. If these problems are not fixed,
expect much worse next time.
5
Antworten
@nancyparker9137
vor 7 Tagen
Actually Max Planck is over 50% international including directors and
abuses like this are seldom, less than 1% if even that. It also has top
notch support system and mentoring in place and I would say majority of
students are quite satisfied with their training there. This report cherry
picked a handful of cases and uses a broad stroke to make inferences. It
is exactly what bigots and racist do, make broad generalization based on a
few examples. Think about it.
3
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1 Antwort
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
Is that you Jan-Michael Rost? ð€
4
Antworten
@ChoddguruLive-nj8ly
vor 7 Tagen
My physics profession used to measure my aâhole using verniers calipers.
He said this is for science
Antworten
@michaelburggraf2822
vor 7 Tagen
In academia people advance in their careers rather by scietific
achievements than by good leadership. Possibly people on an academic
career path rarely get any training in leadership or coaching skills. The
operations of institutes and faculties essentially follow well trodden
paths of old procedures and traditions. What was good enough in the past
is expected to be good enough for today - ignoring that conditions,
surroundings and expectations about science have changed significantly
during the past 5 or 6 decades.
8
Antworten
@gislainelee3181
vor 7 Tagen
It happens in many organisations
10
Antworten
@zs3137
vor 7 Tagen
My cousin is in medical school and she said the same thing, she said she
is extremely depressed from the toxic environment!
294
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3 Antworten
@richardv9648
vor 7 Tagen
This needs to be reported in the Indian media.
6
Antworten
@joh8379
vor 7 Tagen
What exactly is it about the environment you describe as toxic?
Antworten
@AlokSharma1
vor 4 Tagen
@richardv9648 dude
Do you really think Indian media has time for this??
1
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@redalert2834
vor 7 Tagen
Academic publishing is a disgrace. There was a time when it merely
obstructed scientific progress. Now it operates much as an extortion
racket. Uncorrected problems dating back to the 1930s eventually triggered
the Covid pandemic. It can be shown that the virus was introduced at the
Wuhan Institute of Virology following US funding.
2
Antworten
@VRSCHOOL398
vor 7 Tagen
China and Russia are working like soldier and Europe is indulged in like
those issues Europe will be lagging behind soon, even what we hear in the
video is a problem
Antworten
@themeanmachine84
vor 7 Tagen
I think we all know how this will end sooner or later, right? You know,
people like those bosses will suddenly have accidents on their way to work
or home? Cause sooner or later there will be that one someone who just
doesn't give a f... anymore.
2
Antworten
@recklesstoboggan
vor 7 Tagen
Welcome to academia.
These issues are common and world-wide in higher-academia and research
institutes.
75
Antworten
@dvoravithanovsky6902
vor 7 Tagen
Hardly surprising. An open secret decades ago that a talented female
academic will be stopped sooner or later in any german institute
1
Antworten
@johnvif
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I suffered the same which led me to quit and break the power trip. Didn't
finish my MSc studies and went directly to the industry knowing there wont
be a "dynasty" as in Universities. Half work done and undocumented on
purpose. Would not let take advantage of me by undiagnosed toxic people.
25
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1 Antwort
@L278-b7z
vor 5 Tagen
But isn't industry the same? I think it's everywhere and in all fields not
only science. That's how the world is.
Antworten
@xxxyyyzzzaaa565
vor 7 Tagen
This is basically problem developed due to upbringing , failed to
addressed during their childhood. I have experienced in so many places..
Workplace mobbing seems a culture. Mobbing done by employees along some
group. But I also got good experience with some germans.
7
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1 Antwort
@KingShaka-x7n
vor 7 Tagen
It's rather a power balance problem..the i stitutions give power to
professors over researchers.
Antworten
@FoundMyOnePiece
vor 7 Tagen
I have personally met Max Plank and he was a nice guy
1
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1 Antwort
@FoundMyOnePiece
vor 7 Tagen
I learnt about his theories
Antworten
@gregor-samsa
vor 7 Tagen
Ach, die Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft wurde umbenannt?
Antworten
@tentimetex
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
What the young man is describing @1:20 is typical Narcissistic behavior.
There are different types of narcissism, Professors tend to very often be
what are called cerebral narcissists. Narcissistic behavior can be
extremely psychologically abusive and traumatizing. It is deliberate
emotional abuse, with the goal of breaking down the victim to better
dominate them and control them, thus giving the narcissist a sense of
domination. Minimizing the contributions of others, stealing research,
re-framing, blame shifting, manipulation, bullying....all narcissistic
behavioral traits. Sadly, it is these very traits that enable narcissists
to rise to the top of organizations and institutions such as Max Planck,
but also corporations. Secondly, organizations, as ''legal entities'', are
themselves sociopathic, so an institution like Planck will do everything
to reject and deflect accountability. Narcissists in positions of power in
organizations are protected by the organization itself. Indeed, a very
difficult problem.
261
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12 Antworten
@Arya-cf7vu
vor 7 Tagen
Very well said!!!
6
Antworten
@pallavshrestha5698
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I couldnât have given a better explanation.
While reflection oriented therapy seems to be the obvious solution to
narcissist persons, in this case research group leaders, I heard itâs an
impossible task. A psychology professor has concluded that the only
solution with narcissists is to avoid them.
Therefore, there needs to be mechanisms at place at organisations such as
MaxPlank to avoid such persons at leadership positions and keep a check on
existing leaders. I strongly believe if any country can implement this, it
is Germany.
1
Antworten
@CoffeenSpice
vor 7 Tagen
Institutional silence what is that? We again at inventing new ideas?
2
Antworten
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
@CoffeenSpice No itâs not inventing a new idea. Itâs been there, we just
came up with a name for it.
7
Antworten
@Theravadinbuto
vor 7 Tagen
Hardly a new name for it, either.
1
Antworten
@ragas2845
vor 7 Tagen
In 2015, a professor from Leipzig University who goes by the name Prof
Annette Beck Sickinger openly denied an internship to a male student from
India citing the rape problem in India. She said I will not accept male
students from India to work under her. If this is not racism and
discrimination, what is? This incident sparked a huge controversy in India
and the German ambassador to India had to intervene and finally she had to
publicly apologize. She was never suspended or fired for her
discriminatory behaviour but in fact got several awards in 2023. Evil
people like her should never be allowed in academia and research.
3
Antworten
@karlscher5170
vor 6 Tagen
What about autism?
3
@yar3333
vor 6 Tagen
No, he could also be a psychopath. Do you study psychology? Otherwise it's
better not to give people diagnoses.
3
Antworten
@humairabasit6345
vor 5 Tagen
Overall behavior .
1
Antworten
@L278-b7z
vor 5 Tagen
People that aim at high positions of power usually are high in
narcissistic, anti-social and machiavelian traits. That's why we ended up
with psychopaths leading our world.
Antworten
@disbelief3911
vor 1 Tag
A colleague was targeted by a narcissist in group therapy(!). He had to
fight to get this behavior recognized. No wonder they slip right through
in other settings.
1
Antworten
@marygee3981
vor 1 Tag
â€You have described the Behavior of many US professors at publuc
Universities!! Sick people are 'teaching ' and abusing our children.ð®
Antworten
@nbhawat
vor 7 Tagen
yeah Welcome ! surely its not unique, and i had my share of it many more
of my previous colleagues too.
Not at Max Planck though, regardless if male or female professors !
1
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1 Antwort
@kiki40159
vor 7 Tagen
Women can outperform men in evil in male-dominated environments.
Antworten
@batosato
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This is not just an issue in Germany. It is a problem with most European
countries. I used to work in academia and I personally witnessed my
department head favor some while discouraging other researchers.
23
Antworten
1 Antwort
@ThangPVan_
vor 3 Tagen
It has been happening in prestigious vietnamese universities too.
Antworten
@Han-d5j
vor 7 Tagen
Same in Helmholtz Zentrum.... and let me tell you something in Berlin they
abusing the green deal and they are collecting only left wing extremist
people into the company. Their members sharing Palestinian and hamas
oriented videos everyday in their personal account. Huge left wing
extremist ideology destroying lot of people. Either you think like
professor or you lost your job harrasment and bullying from the project
managers are hardcore staying there. I am writing that as a former member.
Academia is just a money fraud from tax payer. They also missusing Women
empowerment. Instead of empowerment they are doing Femmenazi there.
1
Antworten
@brandX15
vor 7 Tagen
Yes, the world is a terrible place and so this institute too. They hurt
peoples feelings.
Point us to any institution where there is no one complaining.
You want everyone to be happy....Good luck
1
Antworten
2 Antworten
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
Did you even watch the video? Shouting profanity at a staff member is
neither normal nor professional behavior. Please learn the difference
between insulting and constructive criticism.
2
Antworten
@brandX15
vor 6 Tagen
@qRT-PCR Yes, I did watch the video. And there were 2 people with
different views on an interaction. You have to choose who you believe. I
choose to believe that you are innocent until proven guilty. It is a wise
cause of action.
Antworten
@iska788
vor 7 Tagen
Such important topic! While it is true that academia is a toxic place, I
would argue that continental Europe is the worst. I did my PhD in France
and the way I was treated would be unthinkable in the US.
I am also sure that problem exists in Germany .
The thing is when the supervisor doesnât depend with his income on you, he
can treat you like in an abominable way . And that is what they often do.
I would not be surprised if there are many suicides that happened because
of the abuse of a supervisor .
3
Antworten
2 Antworten
@KingShaka-x7n
vor 7 Tagen
Spot on, in the US, Canada and the UK students are treated like customers
unlike in mainland Europe where u uveristies gives immense power to the
professors over their students. Glad I did my Msc in the UK
3
Antworten
@iska788
vor 7 Tagen
@
I tell you, every time I have to do with academics from the US, Iâm always
taken aback about how nice they are. Like Iâm sure there are issues in
American academia as well, but in no way the kind of abuse that I had to
go through and almost all of my friends during our PhD.
1
Antworten
@breathlessMay
vor 7 Tagen
The problem is universal in academia; it's great that somewhere someone is
speaking up, and there is a media outlet that is paying attention. Many
more people and institutions need to be called out.
578
Antworten
4 Antworten
@mishasnoep4726
vor 7 Tagen
Yes, i learned this during my internship as a lab technician both at ubc
in Canada and max plank in Golm. Never experienced it myself but heard the
stories.
9
Antworten
@ragas2845
vor 7 Tagen
In 2015, a professor from Leipzig University who goes by the name Prof
Annette Beck Sickinger openly denied an internship to a male student from
India citing the rape problem in India. She said I will not accept male
students from India to work under her. If this is not racism and
discrimination, what is? This incident sparked a huge controversy in India
and the German ambassador to India had to intervene and finally she had to
publicly apologize. She was never suspended or fired for her
discriminatory behaviour but in fact got several awards in 2023. Evil
people like her should never be allowed in academia and research.
2
Antworten
@IllustratedTheory
vor 6 Tagen
Indeed. I hope this sets off a wave of more people from all over to step
forward and expose misconduct, abuse of authority etc. in academic
institutions.
5
Antworten
@ginnan-1gt
vor 4 Tagen
Yes and no. I have worked in several labs in 4 different countries before
coming to Germany. Not a single problem anywhere before Germany. Here -
problems in both workplaces. I had had enough and quit Academia after
that.
2
Antworten
@wesleydeng71
vor 7 Tagen
There is power, there is abuse of power.
23
Antworten
1 Antwort
@ThanksALott
vor 7 Tagen
Sure, but the problem is that the environment prevents you from taking
action against that abuse in several different ways.
8
Antworten
@erickvelazquez3777
vor 7 Tagen
I had a very similar experience at Potsdam university. I reported it and
their answer was, because the professor in question brings moment, itâs
okâŠ. Ok I am oversimplifying the answer but it was around it. I am so
disappointed because I had no one who could help me.
9
Antworten
2 Antworten
@Jessie_1996
vor 7 Tagen
What's your major? Which departmant? I'm going to study thereð¥
Antworten
@erickvelazquez3777
vor 7 Tagen
@ I work as a postdoc, so I was not a student. I think it is a good
university and I think the environment for the students is quite good.
1
Antworten
@Tashmikerr
vor 7 Tagen
UK, Germany, Belgium, USA, South Africa, Netherlands....it's everywhere!
91
Antworten
5 Antworten
@erickgomez7775
vor 6 Tagen
Pas en France !
2
Antworten
@johanvonliebert4812
vor 5 Tagen
Emmmmmmmmmm tu es sûre !!â @erickgomez7775
Antworten
@pseudotatsuya
vor 5 Tagen
Japan too....
Antworten
@KhushalBadhan
vor 2 Tagen
In Netherlands, they pay 100% for 100% position and have time limit for
PhD. In Germany, they employ at 75% position and are overworked to 100%
and have no time limit on years.
Antworten
@Taump-f5o
vor 2 Tagen
Brazil ð¢
Antworten
@DmytryNikolaienko
vor 7 Tagen
Yes. Huge corruption. Not in Germany only. That is problem of scientific
society Europe in general. Prof Dmitry Nikolaenko
7
Antworten
1 Antwort
@peacewillprevail
vor 7 Tagen
Rather a power imbalance and abuse was discussed. Or do you mean
favoritism and retaliation against critics as aspects of corrupt
behaviour?
1
Antworten
@CocoAzul-m1x
vor 7 Tagen
"People don't quit jobs, people quit bosses." Bill Nye "The science guy."
364
Antworten
1 Antwort
2 replies
@ragas2845
vor 7 Tagen
In 2015, a professor from Leipzig University who goes by the name Prof
Annette Beck Sickinger openly denied an internship to a male student from
India citing the rape problem in India. She said I will not accept male
students from India to work under her. If this is not racism and
discrimination, what is? This incident sparked a huge controversy in India
and the German ambassador to India had to intervene and finally she had to
publicly apologize. She was never suspended or fired for her
discriminatory behaviour but in fact got several awards in 2023. Evil
people like her should never be allowed in academia and research.
4
Antworten
@berlinisvictorious
5 hours ago
BILL BILL BILL
Reply
@user-ph3uw8tk4y
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Typical, german behaviour: success over other peoples bodies.
Thankfully not all are so competitive. In fact the real efficient
colleagues are not competitive at all. Rather cooperative. Lovely people.
2
Antworten
@Ibra-ks8wr
vor 7 Tagen
Don't even make me start with the abuse in the health care system
especially targeting workers from foreign background , it's levels above
... literally bullying ..sometimes up to a sadistic level.
2
Antworten
@muflon77
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Another 500 euro fee to my German neighbor after DW block my account for
24h ð
Danke ð germans must pay every time my free speach is attack ðª
Antworten
@MarvelStudios-p3y
vor 7 Tagen
Germans will be Germans they will never change ð
4
Antworten
@adrianceferino-sb7lv
vor 7 Tagen
Its really really great news that Deutsche Welle makes this sort of 20mins
reports about power abuse in academia!!! Not many media inform about such
issues! which I find a real pity given how damaging it is to science in
Europe... People should know the truth about how science is being
conducted!
3
Antworten
@arofhoof
vor 7 Tagen
Research is deeply broken worldwide
171
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5 Antworten
@rorytribbet6424
vor 7 Tagen
Itâs broken but not for these reasons. Stuff like this is a smokescreen
that fits certain narratives and that people think is helpful to society
when itâs really not.
4
Antworten
@redalert2834
vor 7 Tagen
Academic "science" now revolves around the principle of unaccountable
censorship and the manufacture of wayward academic dogma, even to the
point that there is no prospect of correcting mistakes. There are by now
some VERY SERIOUS mistakes dating back well over 50 years.
Antworten
@saravana3061987
vor 7 Tagen
Researcher tooð¢
1
Antworten
@olesianitsovych4632
vor 5 Tagen
in germany it is a toxic culture of life in general
5
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@sardonic81scream76
vor 4 Tagen
I just kicked out from the project Iâve been working in the âinstituteâ in
Germany⊠now I see, I am not alone. No academic freedom!!!! And human
rights!!!
3
Antworten
@abc-db4nu
vor 7 Tagen
this is so true
5
Antworten
@iheartphysicsgb
vor 7 Tagen
For sure, Academia treats graduate students like slaves.
The person complaining on camera specialized in "theoretical" physics,
which is science fiction. It is totally made up and therefore has no
value. So, his adviser may have been both inappropriate and factually
correct.
Antworten
1 Antwort
@MrRandom2456
vor 7 Tagen
Stephen Hawkins was a "Theoretical" Scientist. Yeah he is certainly one of
the smartest people of all time, but still. Theoretical physics has laid
the groundwork for many important technologies we use today. Gps,
Computers, Nuclear Power just to name a few. To abandon that sector is to
abandon the chance of future prosperity
10
Antworten
@Elo-hv3fw
vor 7 Tagen
In memory of Liese Meitner, who was kicked out of Germany on gunpoint.
Antworten
@Michaelfrikkie
vor 7 Tagen
Good luck going more woke while you also promise to reindustrialise and
build an actual security deterrence!
1
Antworten
2 Antworten
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
What on earth are you talking about? Right wing parties are getting more
seats in Germany. People are not going more woke.
1
Antworten
@AlexT-g7p
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
@Michaelfrikkie Well Karens gonna complain until the bitter end, hope
Germany will be free from Karenocracy one day, lol
1
Antworten
@ryanbudney3356
vor 7 Tagen
I spent a year at a Max Planck Institute and thought it was great. If
there was any abuse or nefarious behaviour of any kind, it was not
obvious. But my MPI hasn't been mentioned in this article. There are an
enormous amount over Europe.
5
Antworten
1 Antwort
@DeclanDavie
vor 7 Tagen
It varies between institutes and even across departments within the same
institute. While there are many instances of abuse of power, there are
also many kind and brilliant scientists there, I would say that luckily
they are the majority.
2
Antworten
@gallardoo9
vor 7 Tagen
getting yelled at for not doing anything is bad? He never said if he was
behind on his studies or the yelling was not justified..so much missing
here, I got yelled at by my professors for not keeping up, because I
wasnt, it motivated me to work harder and smarter and I did just my 2c
1
Antworten
2 Antworten
@bullpup1337
vor 7 Tagen
Yes, getting yelled at for ANY reason is bad. It is unprofessional,
childish, and malicious. There is no place for this behavior in the
workplace.
16
Antworten
@qRT-PCR
vor 7 Tagen
@bullpup1337 well said. Boggles my mind how people normalize screaming at
other people in the workplace. How unprofessional.
Antworten
@findaxelfoley8106
vor 7 Tagen
Toxic Power Dynamics? In Germany? Really? I wonder if there is a history
of that in Germany? Hmmm, we might want to take a deep dive into this....
ð
8
Antworten
@DrYalem
vor 7 Tagen
Unfortunately, this is true. Discrimination, disrespect and
mistreatment...also occur at other universitiesð¢ Thank you DW for
bringing this up!
980
Antworten
8 Antworten
@joh8379
vor 7 Tagen
Can you name cases, or is this just something you concluded? ð
11
Antworten
@giakolou2876
vor 7 Tagen
Bristol and Cambridge are ones
5
Antworten
@user-wg5ul6ib4e
vor 6 Tagen
@joh8379 lots of universities, iâve seen many cases myself working in this
field.
Antworten
@arnab83
vor 5 Tagen
â @joh8379 : I can name cases but, why is that important?
3
Antworten
@marcoathayde42
vor 2 Tagen
Were you there to make this statement?
1
Antworten
@ehloos
vor 1 Tag
True
Antworten
@Solscapes.
vor 1 Tag
It's every institution. Name a place where people hold power over others,
the people in charge are people who are there for the power, not for the
power to help anyone but themselves.
Antworten
@Vedurin
vor 1 Tag
â@arnab83 yes, exactly. Why does this matter? Let's just believe whatever
some person wrote in a comment on YouTube. That's an awesome way of
living. Irony off!
Antworten
@B_Y92
vor 7 Tagen
Itâs not just Max Planck! Itâs also TU MÃŒnchen, LMU, and many other
places!!! And everywhere students are discouraged from issuing a
complaint, even in informal discussions by Studentenwerk psychotherapist,
saying that professors have a lot of power and students can do nothing
effectively about that!
918
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26 Antworten
26 replies
@PP-py
vor 7 Tagen
In other words, Germany
38
Antworten
@leanderbarreto980
vor 7 Tagen
It's worldwide actually
50
Antworten
@agalva100
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Indeed. I was in LMU. That was the end of my career. I and colleagues
complained and were told there was nothing to do. None of us is in
academia now.
25
Antworten
@subhamdaslovesraptor99
vor 7 Tagen
@leanderbarreto980 More prominent in German work-culture. Honestly !
3
Antworten
@Chill-jplt
vor 7 Tagen
Look into Ulm University, where complaints about a professor's bullying or
any misconduct would rather be punished than being openly discussed to
solve the problem.
26
Antworten
@electric7309
vor 7 Tagen
TU Delft in Netherlands too
18
Antworten
@joh8379
vor 7 Tagen
Can you point us to actually cases or are you talking about hear-say?
Antworten
@MrPink8000
vor 7 Tagen
It's the whole academia. It's my profession of architecture. It's how the
world of classical music world. It's how the whole world, how people work.
It is a power struggle. Max Planck is no outlier.
17
Antworten
@akIndia10
vor 6 Tagen
This misconduct is not just in Germany but in also India same scenario
ðð.
14
Antworten
@B_Y92
vor 6 Tagen
@akIndia10 itâs not just misconduct! Itâs abuse, bullying, mobbing,
harassment, etc.
1
Antworten
@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
It is not only Germany, it happens in whole Europe, US etc. Lack of
information on power abusive professors. You only find out when it is too
late and you're stuck with those people due to precarious conditions .
Everywhere, HR and other professors are protecting those abusive managers.
Their behaviour has not consequences. In Germany it takes years, before a
university can get rid of such people.
1
Antworten
@wasifulalam1393
vor 6 Tagen (bearbeitet)
@B_Y92 I have recently been a victim of this currently looking for another
institute to transfer
Antworten
@arnab83
vor 5 Tagen (bearbeitet)
ââ @joh8379 are you trolling everyone to hear stories (schaulustig)? You are
asking every person with a story about naming names. Despicable.
Antworten
@alecaceres4426
vor 5 Tagen
I was a PhD student at Ludwig-Maximilians-UniversitÀt MÌnchen and saw a
lot of racism and toxicity during my time there
13
Antworten
@B_Y92
vor 5 Tagen
@ Indeed thereâs a lot if racism and toxicity at LMU and TUM! Itâs really
terrible!
5
Antworten
@distrologic2925
vor 4 Tagen
Thats how it is all around the world! They are professors for a reason!
And students are students!
1
Antworten
@BuenasIntenciones2
vor 4 Tagen
It surprises me to hear this. As a foreigner that studied at TUM I only
have good things to say about the professors involved in my program. I
guess as there are some great professors leading good chairs, there could
be opposite cases too.
3
Antworten
@distrologic2925
vor 4 Tagen
@B_Y92 Media overrepresents the negative.
Antworten
@wasifulalam1393
vor 3 Tagen
@B_Y92 same in cvut
Antworten
@Protactinyum
vor 3 Tagen
Add TU Darmstadt to the list please!
2
Antworten
@Protactinyum
vor 3 Tagen
@distrologic2925 so what you say? It s like this all around the world and
take it like that? I was lucky enough to make it to the US after my
studies in Germany witnessing sexism and unfair treatment and I can say it
is way better in here! Of course there are issues here as well but minimal
compared to Germany. Plus, how many times did you see reports about German
education system to say that it is overrepresenting???
1
Antworten
@saygtuna9924
vor 3 Tagen
Bavaria in general maybe? While people around, they are kind. Else, those
scholars are who they are
1
Antworten
@udaykumarravada8820
vor 3 Tagen
Ulm is good university..they take these issues very seriously
1
Antworten
@sciencefliestothemoon2305
vor 3 Tagen
â @PP-py
The UK has similar problems
Antworten
@BBsdemos04
vor 1 Tag
Studentenwerk is an UTTER DISGRACE
1
Antworten
@jspace1764
vor 1 Tag
You all pretend thats only the case in germany... perfect way to set up a
series of rumors
Antworten
@Abigail-nc6in
10 minutes ago
@PP-py Yes!
Reply
@SharifulIslam-iq2xs
vor 7 Tagen
I am also a victim of such professor and Phd Researcher, from Europa
University Viadrina (Frankfurt-Oder)
39
Antworten
2 Antworten
@MiaMizuno
vor 4 Tagen
One of my family members work in Munich.
The person is not personally involved, but knows colleagues who have faced
this!
1
Antworten
@SharifulIslam-iq2xs
vor 4 Tagen
@ Just go through with the comments section, there are many victims in
whole Germany ð©ðª, the authorities don't have any care for this.
1
Antworten
@somename774
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This institution is very prominent scientifically, and to keep it this
way, it should conduct its own policies. Any external interference will
make this prestigious place look like a communist labor union that will
just strike and show rainbows.
Antworten
@tobias41641
vor 7 Tagen
Happens in schools, universities all over germany since always. Problem,
our governments, no matter CDU or SPD do not reform it.
Made the experiences he did in school already, know so many who report
from all levels of education.
But the german mentality of "What doesnt kill you makes you harder" will
continue to create suffering, fill psych wards and lead to emigration.
14
Antworten
1 Antwort
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen
I disagree with you. That saying is found in most societies and it
actually works but perhaps not for everyone. Iâm a testament! It depends
on the perspective you hold. Itâs not only a German problem. I know
Asians, Africans who excelled in such difficult environments because
theyâve built resilience from their experiences or the culture has
nurtured them to be resilient.
Antworten
@kazomazo6646
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
All who are envolved in this must be stands accountable and all the high
level scientists if we can still call them that! Need to be legally
stopped and prosecuted and that super bully guy
Jan Michael Rost
Must get dismissed un honorably and face jail time.
The Lawyer firm that refuses to help the young scientists and try to cover
this up need also to pay for this horrific acts!
What a shock that this happens in Germany in one of the most prestigious
scientific places what a shame!
10
Antworten
1 Antwort
@Seyi.O
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Please take a sit! Society improves when we take reformative steps.
Clamouring for dismissal is not needed. We need oversight boards that can
address such matters.
You donât even sound like youâre in Germany to understand how things work
1
Antworten
@alexalexiye9791
vor 7 Tagen
This exists on so many levels in many institutions in Germany, from
academia to healthcare
192
Antworten
8 Antworten
8 replies
@Indihamburger
vor 7 Tagen
Thatâs reality
1
Antworten
@kinngrimm
vor 7 Tagen
claiming without proving anything, isn't that slander
3
Antworten
@alexalexiye9791
vor 7 Tagen
@kinngrimm Oh give me a break. Do you think that people who are foreign
students like here or any foreign worker who is tied to a visa or a permit
is going to report so easily and without any fear for their work. And
those who comit these acts know that veeerryyy well. Thankfully, there are
journalists who are not afraid to bring this topic up. And regarding your
comment in particular, sounds like someone who might have something to
hide.
24
Antworten
@kinngrimm
vor 7 Tagen
@ sure sure, still doesn't invalidate what i wrote
1
Antworten
@alexalexiye9791
vor 7 Tagen
@kinngrimm Just because you got used to living with a broken window, does
not mean the others want to live like that too
Antworten
@notarealperson9709
vor 7 Tagen
to Industry.
2
Antworten
@deddyharsono6056
vor 7 Tagen
None of Germanyâs universities is in the top 50 worldwide. This report
confirms the rot.
Antworten
@Tendrilrion
vor 7 Tagen
Therefore is not slanders as is a knlwn phenomenon. Denying it is like
denying the existance of political corruptionâ @kinngrimm
1
Antworten
@Abigail-nc6in
7 minutes ago
It does indeed!! I wish I could "love" your comment.
Reply
@imjai345
vor 7 Tagen
Science academia is a toxic field worldwide.
2
Antworten
@bartelgrant
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
This is very, very common in academia and not just a German problem. But I
have to say for foreign students the German bureaucracy and the language
are additional burdens. And when it comes to Germany structures like the
one at the MPI are quite rigid and very hierarchical. I studied in the UK,
and there were many similar issues. I think I was dealt a bad advisor but
when I heard what other people went through I must consider myself lucky.
In the US, bullying is also quite prevalent and the pressure to publish is
even higher there. But many US institutions at least had some sort of
reporting procedure. And the people I met in the UK who left their old
advisor actually ended up in a better place with a different advisor. So
there seems to be some control mechanism. But overall these power abuse
situations are super hard to manage and to address. Like what are you to
do if the person overseeing the investigation is your advisor - the very
person you have an issue with - for example?
22
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1 Antwort
@KingShaka-x7n
vor 7 Tagen
The UK and US student pay fees and they are treated like customers hence
the customer is always right.
1
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@tinkerbell1120
vor 7 Tagen
These topics are very important!!
96
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@Homerisnude
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Germany should not be singled out here, its a problem within Academics
worldwide.
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33 Antworten
33 replies
@EnhancedNightmare
vor 7 Tagen
True
10
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@nishensemble
vor 7 Tagen
Uh what? When it's the US or UK or India or whatever, we don't see these
kinds of apologist comments. They should be focused upon, but so should
Germany when it's their turn too.
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@DeclanDavie
vor 7 Tagen
While this is indeed not unique to Germany and it is rather common in the
academic world, it is way worse in institutes like MP and other similar
institutes in Germany, where the directors have too much power. In
addition, the strong hierarchy is fully embedded in the culture and people
feel they can do whatever they want and power abuse is commonplace.
50
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@porecemusnox8805
vor 7 Tagen
It is paramount to seperate human misbehavior from the scientific aspect.
We want/need a flourishing academic environment - especially in a day and
age when science is under attack by bad actors, globally.
11
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@ratulotron
vor 7 Tagen
Uh, professor, is that you?
14
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@ariisaac5111
vor 7 Tagen
What are you talking about? In the US workplace harassment is against the
law and lawyers routinely Sue big companies and win millions of dollars
when there's harassment especially on females or minorities.
1
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@PedroPrego
vor 7 Tagen (bearbeitet)
I've lived this in an us university. Me and basically all the students
from specific tenured professors. Everyone just accepted it as the price
to pay for having such a reputable name as PhD advisor.
8
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@smilyboy2005
vor 7 Tagen
Atleast not in most of Nordic Universities. In Nordic Universities there
is balance between social nd academic life and never observed any toxic
environment
5
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@mayankexodus
vor 7 Tagen
White universities bullying Foreign students.... can't tolerate that
others can also be equally talentedð¡
1
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@AshesOfTheKing
vor 7 Tagen
I didnât experience that in the US. The one time a peer and I experienced
that, the faculty came down hard on the abuser and he behaved after that.
9
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@thiagolucena4366
vor 6 Tagen
â @DeclanDavie you nailed it, both academia and even society itself in
Germany are quite hierarchic, somewhat resembling an army. This is the
most toxic part of it.
9
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@dorawa2419
vor 6 Tagen
I heard of cases in UK where deans protected abusive professors. Reason:
They still brought more money in. On the back of their PhD students who
were traumatised or left academia. Well done.
Why is the tax payer allowing such behaviour? One day, it could be your
child.
Quality of science does not increase with such abusive behaviour.
5
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@treesart6914
vor 6 Tagen
Ah, so maybe it is worse in Germany, yes, the culture makes a pretty rigid
hierarchical impression, this is true, and there's an extra diploma
needed, aren't there? â @DeclanDavie
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@treesart6914
vor 6 Tagen
â @porecemusnox8805 Yes, so the bad actors need to be rooted out somehow or
the system needs a revision, but we have to be careful not to let this be
a reason for activists of whatever ilk to break down science and
education.
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@treesart6914
vor 6 Tagen
â @smilyboy2005 good to know :)
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vor 6 Tagen
LOLð
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@iljackb
vor 6 Tagen
this is DW and the story just broke about Max Plank, in Germany, that's
the topic...
It doesn't have any lessening of the realities of similar instances
elsewhere.
2
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@maribelpilpinto
vor 6 Tagen
So true I just experienced this in Bhutan as well
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@sassanmoradi1586
vor 5 Tagen
yes.
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@arnab83
vor 5 Tagen
@Homerisnude actually, it is well known worldwide that Germany has some of
the weakest Whistleblower protection, which was further weakened last
year. No one is intentionally bullying up on Germany; we comment because
most of us live and work in Germany and pay taxes here, or have had these
experiences here. It is not constructive to accept the unacceptable, just
because it happens in other countries as well. That is a lazy argument.
6
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@Ash-bc8vw
vor 5 Tagen
Racism and helping only male German students is prevaliant in Max Planck
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@Mariajbh2
vor 3 Tagen
In Germany is worst
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@5kamon
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
@porecemusnox8805 academia is attacked from outside, a lot for made up
reasons, but it has intrinsic problems that come from strict hiararchy and
favouritism, unsustainable workloads, zero job/career security and
perverse incentives that encourage fraud and exploitation.
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@sunway1374
vor 3 Tagen (bearbeitet)
Every country should be singled out. But the original video is only 20
mins long and made by a German company. It is reasonable they focus on
just one group of institutes in Germany.
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@kbaafi
vor 3 Tagen
I think this is a problem in any "creative" field.
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@lucasc1212
vor 2 Tagen
aahahahahahaha "Germany should not be singled out here"...because is it
inappropriate, professor?
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@sunway1374
vor 2 Tagen (bearbeitet)
â@smilyboy2005 I observed plenty of toxic environments in a Nordic country
and a friend working in another Nordic country experienced worse.
Nordic people do things in a more subtle way and behind the scene. Passive
agressive. So it's less obvious.
But when you learn that you are sidelined, ignored, not included in
projects, meetings, organising of events, conferences, etc, you realise
you are a victim of discrimination as well.
2
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@albertomelo803
vor 1 Tag
@thiagolucena4366 i remember one comment about they behave very prusian
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@HR-yd5ib
vor 23 Stunden
Its life! If you don't get along with your boss you have a problem no
matter where and how.
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@HR-yd5ib
vor 23 Stunden (bearbeitet)
@DeclanDavie that's just BS. I worked at two MPIs. No abuse, no
misconduct. If you don't get along with your boss then no matter where you
work you will have a problem and likely have to leave.
Antworten
@andreselectrico
vor 19 Stunden
While it is true that academia sucks almost everywhere, German academia
should be signed out. This is the European country that has the largest
number of sick leaves. All of them may not be from academia, but the later
certainly contributes a lot.
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@HR-yd5ib
vor 18 Stunden
@andreselectrico if harsh treatment were the cause then the sick leave
numbers should have been much higher in the past. The real reason is that
Germany has long lost its famous virtues. Country is falling apart in
record time with people not willing to work hard anymore just being one of
many many reasons.
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@ragas2845
vor 7 Stunden
Ok professor. First tell me which institute do you work for?
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@Abigail-nc6in
12 minutes ago
@DeclanDavie Indeed. This strong, untouchable hierarchy is a key element.
Reply
@emc3000
vor 7 Tagen
Yeah I mean no shock. Public universities let professors repeatedly
violate human subject experimental ethics and even international law.
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