Zitat des Monats (9)

1. März 2012 von Laborjournal

In seinem Blog-Artikel „Basic science is about creating opportunities“ schrieb der US-Neuroforscher Bradley Voytek zur Verteidigung der ungerichteten, durch reine Neugier und Faszination getriebenen Grundlagenforschung:

You can’t legislate innovation and you can’t democratize a breakthrough. You can, however, create a system that maximizes the probability that a breakthrough can occur.

Und in einem Kommentar dazu ergänzt sein Kollege Zen Faulkes — vor allem hinsichtlich der „Bringschuld“ an die Steuerzahler, die solche Forschung finanzieren (Vorsicht: Zitat im Zitat!):

[…] it’s not why many scientists do science. Richard Feynman said it about physics, but it’s true of all sciences: „Physics is like sex. Sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.“

And I don’t think it’s why people support science. People will support science just because it’s cool, and it enlivens and informs their minds. A lot of people have fun learning new things and gaining a better understanding of the way the world works.

I don’t know why we always try to justify science by utilitarian bookkeeping and number crunching (which is kind of dull), when people will support us because they are interested in the universe (which is awesome).