If you don't invest in basic research at some stage you start losing the basis of applied research.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
As with any large investment, it can be emotionally difficult to abandon a line of research when it isn't working out. But in science, if something isn't working, you have to toss it out and try something else.
Whilst worthy in themselves, applications shouldn't be the only way to drive basic research.
It makes sense to invest in new work. It's almost like having a research department in a scientific laboratory. You have to try things out. You'll make some bad mistakes. Some things will fail but at least you'll energise the organisation.
It's important to me that no one can say I'm not pumping out high-level research.
As history has shown, pure science research ultimately ends up applying to something. We just don't know it at the time.
Fundamental research is needed to make progress, which you cannot do solely by copying others. If you only do applied research, you quickly lose creativity.
We need to not reduce but increase our commitment to research.
Like any decent researcher, I throw away 90% of my research.
When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you.
We don't ask research to do what it was never meant to do, and that is to get an idea.