Re[4]: Open health physics position at NYSDEC

["Gerald Falo"<gerald_falo_at_chppm7__apgea@chppm-ccmail.apgea.army.mil>]

Perhaps I am naive, but the reason for entering any field of study is because of
the enjoyment of it, not necessarily the pay.  Now, I agree that people should 
be paid a living wage (whatever that is).  However, the median salary for people
in the US is about $35k or so - so $36k doesn't seem like a joke to me.  
Furthermore, the applicants for a job enter into the process fully aware (I 
hope) of the salary and after an interview or some research, the working 
conditions.  They can then decide whether or not to accept a job. I for one am 
willing to accept less money for what I perceive to be better working 
conditions.  As a matter of fact I have refused opportunities at substantially 
better paying permanent jobs because I like very much the contractor job I have 
now.

As far as health and safety go, I would think for all the proponents of a 
threshold or hormesis model, health and safety is not an issue for the vast 
majority of exposures encountered. Even assuming a LNT hypothesis, people are 
not dying in droves because of routine exposures.

As for attracting good students to the field, I think part of the problem is one
of image.  Health physics is not *exciting* in the same way that the hard 
sciences are.  There is very little new to discover in radiation protection.  
The frontiers are in radiobiology and carcinogenesis, not in the application.

Well, I've tossed my two cents into the fray.

Thanx for listening.

Jerry Falo, Ph.D.
jer3ry@aol.com

The above rantings are caused entirely by the chemical/biological/physical 
reactions in my brain and in no way should be interpreted as anything other than
my opinion.

     


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