Opinion: The doctorate has become a beauty pageant

Scientist Janika Leoste writes about how an academic career increasingly resembles a beauty pageant-you must be visible, prove your work, and at the same time remain substantively strong. Yet society clings to the myth that science is a pure intellectual calling.

The doctorate has long since ceased to be merely an academic title to put after one's name. A scientist's daily work has transformed into something that resembles the world of pageants and competitions in surprising ways-you are evaluated by very specific metrics, and success depends increasingly on how well you can present yourself.

Visibility as a condition for survival

In the modern scientific world, achieving good research results is no longer enough. A scientist must actively make themselves visible, publishing articles in prestigious journals, presenting at conferences, being active on social media, and building a personal brand. All this inevitably mirrors competition, where points and citation counts replace satin ribbons and crowns.

At the same time, the public expects something entirely different from scientists. People like to believe that science is a pure intellectual calling-quiet work in a laboratory, where genius gradually solves the world's mysteries. But this romanticized image does not match present-day reality.

Inner strength under pressure

The hardest part is finding balance. You must be visible enough for the system to notice you, but at the same time remain substantively strong and not allow yourself to be entirely sucked into the world of metrics and rankings. This is a constant effort that demands both self-assertion and internal conviction about the value of your work.

Academia is no longer merely a place for the pursuit of knowledge-it is also an arena where everyone must fight for their own place. The doctorate is only the first step, not the finish line.