Tech Transfer: Science, Money, Love and the Ivory Tower

by Daniel S. Greenberg

Though high in national ranking, Kershaw University is a dysfunctional institution. Its geriatric president is afflicted by dementia. The faculty is embroiled in bitter vendettas. The students, when not partying or sleeping late, are in rebellion. And, under an Army contract in a secret lab on campus, Kershaw's star scientist is developing an anti-sleep drug to keep troops permanently awake. Hot on the trail, a dropout scientist working for an investment firm schemes to buy up the secret formula, with time out only for his hyper-busy love life.

Genres: Fiction

278 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2010

About the author

Daniel S. Greenberg was an American journalist, editor, and author covering science and politics.

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best satires succeed because they are only a smidgen beyond reality (cf Bob & Ray of a former era). Tech Transfer... succeeds on this basis. Academic politics ("so vicious because the stakes are so small?"), pharma industry shenanigans, incompetent chief executives, spies in the executive office, packing executive boards, faked research, government spending waste, sexual bribery and blackmail, losing your research assistant job because you told the truth, it's all here. And in each case we all know of real-world examples that match the fictional in this narrative. The author has simply put all of them into one plot and run them simultaneously. Hilarious.

[Steve Tally · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who works with academic researchers, I really enjoyed this book, and sped through it. Tech Transfer raises several important questions about how universities conduct research. The problem with the book, and why I only gave it three stars, is that it struggles as a novel. The main problem is that I never cared about any of the characters so I had a difficult time caring about the plot. Still, if you are a science writer, as I am, or a university scientists, Tech Transfer will be an enjoyable read.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Kershaw University in New York. It has been led by a moribund administration into near obsolescence. Now a new President is brought in after the old one died to try to bring some order to the chaos. At the same time there is some secret classified research going on in one of the medical labs that local venture capitalists desperately want to get a piece of.

This book is a great portrayal of life in the world of high stakes university science. As a novel it leaves a little to be desired.

[Jimt43 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really good read by an insider in the university/research/DOD/tech transfer world. Very satirical but not far from what really happens in university settings. The tech transfer gap and dilemma is held up to the light and shown not to have many strands of quality in it.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine academic farce, if not quite the comic brilliance of Moo or Straight Man. The situations and characters don't always compete with the absurdities found in a real world research university, but many academic scientists and administrators will enjoy it.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really need to be familiar with the politics of a research University to appreciate Greenberg's story. If you are familiar with higher education, you'll find this an amusing read. Greenberg picks on everyone, from faculty and admins to the Board of Trustees- no one gets let off the hook!

[Ted Dunham · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fast read and great fantasy

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cathartic read for me. I'd better not say anything else.