Comment by fyredge

I disagree. Coming froma PhD background, the researchers that spend all of their time investigating the intricacies of their field are the most qualified to train up the next generation of researchers. This isn't primary and secondary schooling, where the syllabus evolves at a slow pace. To teach how to research, you need people doing the research.

If we split them up, then the teachers will only be able to teach what they have theoretically learned from literature only. What we need is for institutions to reward teaching, reward students who excel and most importantly, reward teachers who produce excellent students.

Disdain for teaching should not be the norm. After all, what are they doing if not teaching when they publish a paper, or give a talk at conferences? Might as well be a hermit scientist then.