Mining the Gap: Assessing Leadership Needs to Improve 21st Century Plant Pathology

Plant pathologists like all other scientists are imparted scientific knowledge and technical expertise, building the educational side of their career. Beckerman and Schneider emphasize the pressing needs of teaching ‘soft skills’ scientists need in order to improve their leadership and professional management abilities in advancing their careers. The authors emphasize the strategic inclusion of ‘soft skills’ training to scientists at all levels without affecting their routine scientific training. The training of next generation plant pathologists and scientists should be so as to prepare them with much more than scientific knowledge and technical expertise. (Summary by Bhavishi Sheth) Plant Disease 10.1094/PDIS-03-16-0354-FE