LFS 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Regular Moon, Lifesaving

• School: UBC
• Department: Land & Food Systems
• Course: LFS 150
• Professor: L A V K U L I C H, L E S L I E

Document Summary

Scientific research competes for financial support from funding bodies, and this has stimulated much debate as to how money should be divided between basic and applied research. The two must be considered separately, yet a dependent relationship exists between them and this is why neither should receive preferential allocation of funds. To explain this assertion, the vital link between the two will be highlighted by two examples. Basic research is essential to develop an increased, broader knowledge base, yet applied research is just as necessary if we are to solve specific problems. For example, alexander fleming was conducting basic research with bacteria when he observed that an unknown mould proved deadly to them. Further basic research showed that the substance was released from fungi of the penicillium genus, and that it was effective in killing specific types of bacteria. This base information was crucial in prompting applied research that tested the ability of the substance, named.