• Question: So do you aim to develop any of the materials you test, for example to make something?

    Asked by trishbeanx to Dave on 17 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Dave Farmer

      Dave Farmer answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Hello trishbeanx,

      It sort of depends on what you mean by your question. I use the materials at my disposal to make various different types of sample, each designed to do some particular task. So in that sense, I definitely make things, i’m not just characterising materials for the sake of it.

      If you’re referring to mass producing devices for market, then that’s not something I particularly think about. It’s possible that some of the things that I discover may make their way into devices in the future, but that is not the goal of scientific research (or at least, I believe it shouldn’t be). It is impossible to predict what research will result in viable technology of the future, the best we can do as scientists is study things that have scientific merit (novel ideas that increase understanding of the world). Inevitably, this will lead to technological advances that benefit mankind.

      Sorry if that got a bit ranty! I’d be interested to know your opinions on it though, it’s a topic of considerable discussion in the current economic climate.

      Best wishes,
      Dave

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