Peter Higgs, the British physicist known for his work on the Higgs boson, believes that he would not be employable in today’s academic system. Despite his groundbreaking work in identifying the mechanism by which subatomic material gains mass, Higgs published fewer than 10 papers after 1964. He attributes this to the pressure on academics to collaborate and constantly publish papers, something he finds difficult to achieve in the current academic climate. Higgs also reveals that his career was jeopardized by disagreements with his university’s principal and expresses his regret over the nickname “God particle” given to the particle he discovered. He is also skeptical of the honours system and has yet to decide on his vote for Scottish independence. Overall, Higgs paints a picture of a man who feels out of place in the modern academic world and holds strong opinions on various issues.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/06/peter-higgs-boson-academic-system