Dr. Ashton T. Sperry (Ph.D., the University of Missouri) is a Research Scholar at the Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship. He specializes in the philosophy of science, decision and game theory, and logic. His primary research is on the development of an account of scientific explanation, which includes the complexity of non-equilibrium dynamic systems, and on the development of an account of bounded rationality for realistic decision-making in game theory. His research is found in peer-reviewed journals.

The tenure-track faculty position is the gold-standard for pursuing a career in scholarly research. But it is not a path that works for everyone. Higher education produces more PhDs than there are academic jobs to employ them. It is a waste of human capital. Some fields provide jobs in private industry for those with advanced degrees, but to contribute to someone else’s research. Some academics take an extended break for health reasons, to have a family, or to reassess goals. All paths have generally meant leaving academia forever. This conversational session will discuss the reasons, drawbacks, and benefits of pursuing independent scholarship, and how one can pursue independent scholarship comparable to that found in academia. The format is an open discussion among attendees.