Suppose that you're a chemist. You work in a lab with other scientists. One afternoon you're conducting an experiment at your lab table, and you spend several hours meticulously setting things up, conducting the steps of your experiment, correcting mistakes, and finally you get the result you were waiting for.

Then another chemist from the lab, who has been watching all along, rushes to his laptop as you're finishing up and sends an email to everyone in the company, reporting the findings and results of your experiments before you have an opportunity to, and without crediting you.

Would you be frustrated with the other chemist?

I would be way past frustrated. 

1 minute ago, theguru said:

I would be way past frustrated. 

As would I.

I voted yes, but only because a more severe option wasn't available.  That would, and should be frowned upon by any self respecting scientist.

The better question, what should chemist one do?

I'd want to punch him in the crotch, but would probably settle on outing him to everyone.

I've had similar work projects where someone tried to take my work as their own. I usually would find a way to question them in front of others about small details, that I knew they wouldn't know by only seeing the end product and not doing the work.

I was a biologist earlier in my life, with loads of lab experience.  Never really had this happen to me, and I never did it to anyone else.  But scientists are a passionate breed.  They don't (always) seek the limelight, but other folks getting or even worse taking credit for their efforts is hurtful.  I was never in the military, but the term "stolen valor" seems appropriate here.

In one sense, this behavior is shoddy in every job, but you are part of your experiments and your experiments are part of you when you are a scientist.  It cuts deeply.

I think it is ok. I see no problem with it. I voted "no."

Frustrated yes. And it would be a very easy step to stake your claim on your work.

Hit reply all to the message the other scientist sent out. Thank him for informing everyone on your behalf  of your work. Then detail how you did your work as the other scientist observed to make it clear to everyone that you are the person who did the work.

Like doing all the updates in an update thread and someone else posting the final score...

On 4/30/2025 at 2:10 PM, TheDeuce said:

Like doing all the updates in an update thread and someone else posting the final score...

Hey, now…

On 4/30/2025 at 1:43 PM, Voice of Reason said:

Frustrated yes. And it would be a very easy step to stake your claim on your work.

Hit reply all to the message the other scientist sent out. Thank him for informing everyone on your behalf  of your work. Then detail how you did your work as the other scientist observed to make it clear to everyone that you are the person who did the work.

Sounds like a voice of reason. 

On 4/30/2025 at 2:10 PM, TheDeuce said:

Like doing all the updates in an update thread and someone else posting the final score...

On 4/30/2025 at 2:10 PM, TheDeuce said:

Like doing all the updates in an update thread and someone else posting the final score...

On 4/30/2025 at 2:10 PM, TheDeuce said:

Like doing all the updates in an update thread and someone else posting the final score...