2013-01-24
Explanation
This comic presents a cross-section view of the ground, showing a metaphor for academic or scientific research. On the surface, a stick figure stands atop a mountain peak, looking down at an enormous, elaborate underground root-like structure that extends deep below the surface. A large gold nugget (representing a valuable discovery or important research area) sits embedded in the earth to one side. The figure on the mountaintop declares, "All the best work has been done over here!" -- pointing to the area where the massive underground structure already exists.
The image is a visual metaphor for how established fields of research attract attention and prestige. The towering, deeply rooted structure represents a well-explored area where generations of researchers have already done extensive work, while the gold nugget sitting relatively unexcavated represents an untapped area of potentially greater value that is being ignored because it is not where the established academic infrastructure exists. The figure'''s declaration that "all the best work" is in the already-excavated area reflects the bias toward working in established fields rather than exploring new territory.
The votey panel extends the metaphor by showing the same stick figure walking along the narrow ridge of the already-excavated area, saying "The funding is here too!" This adds a practical dimension to the satire: not only do researchers gravitate toward established fields out of intellectual convention, but the funding structures also reinforce this bias, making it doubly difficult for anyone to pursue the unexplored gold nugget of new research. The comic captures a common frustration in academia about how institutional inertia and funding incentives can keep researchers digging in well-worn territory rather than exploring genuinely new frontiers.