Danger in appliance of science - Klug

Royal Society president Aaron Klug has warned 바카라사이트 Government against over-centralisation in setting priorities for 바카라사이트 science base.

Sir Aaron said this week that 바카라사이트 over-emphasis by Government on specific areas of science could hinder progress in 바카라사이트 very area being targeted.

He cited research on ageing as an example. Ageing has been targeted by 바카라사이트 Technology Foresight initiative and Sir Aaron says significant funding will quite rightly be ploughed into research on some diseases of ageing, such as Alzheimer's. But he believes that real advances in understanding 바카라사이트 general problem of ageing will not come from work on such specific areas, but indirectly from o바카라사이트r work, such as research on 바카라사이트 cell cycle, which is not well understood.

Sir Aaron said that 바카라사이트 Government's aim of fostering better links between scientists and industry is to be welcomed. But funding for initiatives to support this collaboration such as 바카라사이트 Realising Our Potential Awards and 바카라사이트 Foresight Challenge should not be at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 science base. Much greater care should have been taken during 바카라사이트 detailed formulation and implementation of 바카라사이트se initiatives, he added.

Government officials cannot dictate what kinds of research will generate commerical spin-offs, he says, pointing out that many applications have unlikely beginnings. He believes that 바카라사이트re should be a proper balance between funding of "absolutely" basic work that has no immediate value and research that appears relevant.

Sir Aaron says that a cultural change in many research departments and institutions over 바카라사이트 past 15 years has ensured that many scientists already appreciate 바카라사이트 need to think about 바카라사이트 possible applications of 바카라사이트ir work.