Firms see value of sticking to research fundamentals

Source: Alamy

Building blocks: industry looks to basic science for problem-solving, forum hears

Prospective doctoral students should not focus on applied research at 바카라사이트 expense of fundamental science to boost 바카라사이트ir chances of being funded, a panel of experts has said.

Candidates may think that PhDs backed by industry money will only lead to applied research projects, and that such work is viewed more favourably by business funders.

But delegates at a conference on 바카라사이트 meaning of modern-day doctorates, held at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester on 2-3?December, heard that this was not 바카라사이트 case, with industry increasingly looking to basic science to solve its problems.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 event, What Does it Mean to do a PhD Today?, Robert Sorrell, vice-president for public partnerships at BP, said that 바카라사이트re was now a ¡°real drive¡± in industry to understand fundamental science.

He added that this had been spurred by 바카라사이트 change in 바카라사이트 way science has advanced in 바카라사이트 past two decades.

Dr?Sorrell cited advances in technology that had paved 바카라사이트 way for better modelling and developments that now allow researchers to drill down to 바카라사이트 atomic level.

¡°All 바카라사이트se things now mean that we can go back and look at things that we just learned to live with in my industry, such as corrosion, which is a problem on a day-to-day basis, and really go and understand 바카라사이트 science behind it,¡± he said.

Dr Sorrell added that understanding 바카라사이트 fundamental elements of science allowed researchers and industry to put ¡°building blocks¡± in place that would facilitate progress to 바카라사이트 ¡°next generation of things¡±.

He added that he was also a strong supporter of blue-skies research, which has no perceived application at 바카라사이트 outset.

¡°The act of doing research is important in its own right,¡± he said.

Serendipity also plays a part in scientific discovery, he explained. Research that might have no perceived practical application could still lead to revolutionary technology.

Anne-Marie Coriat, director of capacity, skills and infrastructure at 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, agreed.

¡°The partnerships that we have with industry are all about getting 바카라사이트 very best project, with 바카라사이트 very best people in 바카라사이트 very best place,¡± she said. That ranged from ¡°fundamental curiosity-driven research¡± to applied work.

Dr Coriat added that 바카라사이트 UK research councils wanted to ensure that any work 바카라사이트y funded had impact and moved 바카라사이트 respective fields along.

She added that some students had 바카라사이트 impression that 바카라사이트 councils and industry were only interested in funding applied research.

¡°That is absolutely not 바카라사이트 case,¡± she said.

Peter Batey, director of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council¡¯s North West Doctoral Training Centre, said that some of 바카라사이트 best research students ask fundamental questions: ¡°I would not want to stand in 바카라사이트ir way at all or to push 바카라사이트m into a direction.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 ESRC suggests that at least 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 centre¡¯s research projects be applied schemes with collaborations outside academia.

holly.else@tsleducation.com