Are you a hands on person or an academic ?

I’m a thinker not a doer

Most definitely a foot in both camps.

Born and bred on a Welsh Hill farm gave me a firm footing in all things practical, but did well in school and ended up with a PhD in Structural Geology followed by several years as a research co-ordinator in Stuttgart University. However, a hankering for a simpler more fulfilling existence saw me return to my roots in Wales where I have built a house from scratch, done a nut and bolt rebuild of a 30 year old Land Rover, erected several barns, fixed fences, gates, stone walls, machinery, tractors etc. and all the day to day things you need to do to run a business in a remote place where help and spare parts are not always readily available.

So definitely possible to be both I would say.

I’ve got my hands on an academic.

Good story welsh farmer. Very similar story to yours but farm was unsustainable and only ever rented. Trying to find something to do that does not make me hate every minute of being at work now and in back to being hands on.

I think the OP’s definition of an academic is wrong.

I’m an academic (PhD) and if I wasn’t hands on nothing would get done. The issue with higher ups is the paper work goes up while lab time goes down.

I’m an academic who is practical sometimes. I’ve egot a degree in civil engineering, just about to start a psychology and counselling degree.
I used to muck about with old cars, am ok with my bike but never built a wheel, but if I’m in a manic phase I tend to lose my temper and smash things up that I can’t get to work. I now try and keep away from the hands on because of this slight problem.

Both, educated to degree level. Can perform complex manual tasks too like surgical procedures. Orthopaedics is a bit like meccano really.

Mind you we always say you could train a chimp to be a surgeon but the really brainy nerds are the internal medics and neurologists.

Grew up on a farm
Studied
Uni for a bit
Practical Thinking jobs followed
Now I’m a thinker for work but need the practical skill/knowledge I have accumulated to do it well. Also hands on with other stuff.
If you think it’s either or then you will never get it.

and honestly one of the most terrifying lines I ever hear is

Boring health and safety stuff

Because the days when we killed and maimed people at work were so much better.

Both. PhD in Theoretical Physics and a career in academia and research.
Reasonably practical and hands on for most things not work related.

Where would a surgeon fit? 😉

welshfarmer – Member
PhD in Structural Geology

Slightly off track but which university?