Forum focuses on the importance of basic research
By Taryn Dameron, 3/22/06

The panel discussion “Old Problems and New Knowledge: the Value of Basic Research” was held on Feb. 28, in Ellis Auditorium as part of the MU Chancellor’s Forum. Steve Hoffman, curators professor of mathematics; Kristina Narfstrom, professor of veterinary ophthalmology; and Randy Prather, distinguished professor in reproductive biotechnology, shared why they feel basic research is important, based on their experiences. Chancellor Brady J. Deaton served as the moderator.

The topic driving most of the discussion was how basic research could be useful for applications in everyday life and learning.

“Researchers should pursue research that is deep and interesting for its own sake and the applications will occur eventually,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman referenced several historical examples of how basic mathematical research findings had had important applications many years after discovery.

Narfstrom shared how new breakthroughs in her research with ocular degeneration and blindness in dogs and cats that could lead to better treatment for humans suffering similar disorders.

Research being conducted by Prather and those in his department works to understand reproductive ability loss agricultural animals.

“Research done to increase animal agriculture production has led to biomedical advances that can be used outside of animal medicine,” Prather said.

The panel addressed issues such as the effects the source of funding of basic research and government restrictions have on basic research topics. In some cases, funding has gone toward certain areas of research, making advances in some fields more likely than in others.

“We have to be careful about letting the tail wag the dog,” Hoffman said.

Members of the audience raised concern about the effects of a consensus among panels deciding what basic research the university should fund and how to ensure research was being funded that would have application in the distant future.

“The responsibility is with peer reviewers to step forward and fight for proposals that will shift the standard,” Prather said.

Concern was also shown over how to convince the public to support taking risks with research funding that don’t pay off 100 percent of the time.

“Researchers have to keep reminding the public of what is used today that came from basic research centuries ago,” Hoffman said.

> Back to Corner Post Home