Is Science Useful?
The question of whether science is valuable or not can be difficult to answer. Scientists are encouraged to follow their interests. However, this could lead to research that focuses on a variety of subjects, many of which may not be directly beneficial to society. For instance, an important aspect of science is the creation of theories and making predictions that can be testable. These discoveries are often used to design new technologies like medical devices, drugs, and renewable energy.
To be considered valuable science must also be able to address problems and issues that affect human wellbeing. This requires collaboration with key stakeholders in order to identify their needs, define specific goals and then create plans to address the needs. Currently, many scientific initiatives do not have this collaboration and focus on expanding knowledge without any direct connection to society. The impact of research on society isn’t always tracked and assessed effectively.
Translational ecology (TE) is one of several strategies that have been developed to produce usable science. It emphasizes the importance of scientists taking a proactive approach to considering and responding to the research context. TE also stresses the importance of engaging people in a meaningful way throughout the research process and promoting learning-based decision processes like adaptive management, which is used extensively by natural resource and land managers.
Students often struggle to choose a topic that is both interesting as and scholarly, particularly when their professors set time limits. The list of basic research topics in science will help students select topics that will impress their professors and provide valuable information to the scientific community.