Under the Microscope: Throughout most of my career, Irish science survived on a pittance, writes Dr William Reville.
Thankfully, money is now flowing relatively freely. Some comes from the EU, but the Government, convinced that science underpins the knowledge-based economy, now supports science on an unprecedented scale through the Programmes for Research at Third Level Institutions, Science Foundation Ireland, and The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology.
The lion's share of Government support is for research targeted to produce economic benefit, and about 20 per cent is for non-targeted curiosity-driven research. In my opinion, it would make more sense to devote a larger share to curiosity-driven research, as this will pay greater dividends in the longer term.
There are two types of scientific research - basic research (also called curiosity-driven research) and applied research. Basic research aims to understand how the natural world works and it cannot predict in advance whether the results will have useful applications. Applied research deliberately sets out to produce a useful product or an improved procedure or effect. However, the great majority of technologies on which the world is now dependent sprang from curiosity-driven research.
Let me give a few examples of modern technologies developed from the results of curiosity-based research - generation of electricity, the computer, medical X-rays, penicillin, biotechnology - the list is endless. The unexpected spin-off of useful applications from the results of basic research is called serendipity.
Consider how X-rays were discovered. Wilhelm Roentgen, a professor of physics at the University of Wurtzberg, was studying cathode rays (beams of electrons) in 1895. He noticed that when he generated rays in the cathode ray tube, a fluorescent screen across the laboratory glowed. Roentgen guessed that the tube was emitting a new form of radiation that caused the screen to glow. This new radiation was penetrating because the screen continued to glow when Roentgen interposed various materials between the cathode ray tube and the screen. He christened this new radiation X-radiation, to denote its mysterious nature. Roentgen noted that X-rays were unable to penetrate dense materials with the same ease as lighter materials.
When his wife visited the laboratory he demonstrated his new X-rays by asking her to place her hand between the cathode ray tube and the glowing screen. She was startled to see a clear image on the screen of all the bones in her hand. The skeletal image of her hand reminded her of death and she didn't visit the laboratory again.
Medical X-rays are one of the most valuable diagnostic techniques in medicine. Imagine if physicists at the time had been commissioned to do applied research to discover how to visualise the bones within the body without having to physically invade the body. The mere framing of the proposition illustrates the principle. Only serendipity could make this discovery.
The famous Irish-born scientist, JD Bernal, said: "Society is still in debt to science for electromagnetic induction alone." Electromagnetic induction means that, if you move a metal wire in a magnetic field, an electric current flows in the wire. This is the basis for the generation of electricity in power stations. Michael Faraday (1791-1867) discovered this phenomenon when studying the basic properties of electric fields. He was not trying to discover something that would be economically useful.
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of the hereditary material, DNA. This was curiosity-driven research and there was no way of knowing in advance whether this new knowledge would have practical applications. The results not only revolutionised biology but had important medical and forensic applications and gave birth to a new technology called biotechnology.
Medical applications include rapid and simple testing for genetic disease, and genetic therapy to cure these diseases. DNA fingerprinting can reliably incriminate - or absolve - suspects in criminal investigations from an analysis of a minute biological sample. Biotechnology produces many important products, such as medical drugs, on a large commercial scale. Indeed, biotechnology is a key area targeted by the Government for financial support in order to grow our knowledge-based economy.
It seems impractical and counter intuitive to the non-scientist to attack urgent problems by pursuing apparently unrelated questions in basic science.
Yet, throughout history, pursuing curiosity about the basic facts of nature has been the most practical and cost-effective route to useful devices and technologies. Much of our future depends on invention, not prediction.
Progress depends on a two-pronged approach. Basic research produces new knowledge, much of which can be applied for useful purposes. Applied research uses basic discoveries to solve practical problems. Without basic research, applied research would soon run out of new ideas. Government and industry play down the value of basic research and over-emphasise applied research. Some people would extend almost all support to applied research. This would be a grave mistake.
William Reville is associate professor of biochemistry and director of microscopy at UCC.