• Question: Why will your project or research Benefit on the world

    Asked by fearswag to Adam, Catherine, Karen, Leila, Nazim on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by funkymonkey, kjones.
    • Photo: Leila Battison

      Leila Battison answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      Big question! Scientists have to explain why their research is important, to get the government or their sponsors to pay for them.

      My research will help us to understand where all life on earth came from, and give us a way of finding life in space, and working out how different it is to us. No, it may not cure cancer, but it is something that all people are curious about, so it is worthwhile to help scientists get the answers to that. Through this research, NASA and other people have developed technology that helps us loads with everyday life, though it may not be the main point of the research.

      Next year, I will hopefully start working with NASA to make algae that can help keep astronauts alive in space for long periods of time, that will help us get to, and even live on, Mars.

    • Photo: Catherine Rix

      Catherine Rix answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      If we found life on Mars (or evidence of past life) it would be really exciting. It would mean that it’s much more likely that there is life in other places in the universe too and that we are not the only planet with living things on it. Also the technology we are developing has other applications too, like in healthcare and in pollution monitoring.

    • Photo: Adam Stevens

      Adam Stevens answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      I think doing something as simple as furthering human knowledge is a benefit.

      Science has lots of unforeseen consequences, that we can’t… predict in advance.

      I like the (possibly fictional quote) from when someone asked Ben Franklin what use a balloon was and he replied “What use is a newborn baby?”

      So basically I’m saying I don’t know :$

    • Photo: Karen Masters

      Karen Masters answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      I think the main benefit of astronomy to the wider world is it’s inspirational nature. So many people say they studied physics because of their interest in astronomy, and I firmly believe that more scientifically literate people (and especially physics of course) is a huge benefit to the world.

      There are also tons of spinoffs of astronomy. Wireless internet, camera phones, GPS which works, facial recognition software looking for terrorists all can trace their way back to things developed or improved by astronomers.

    • Photo: Nazim Bharmal

      Nazim Bharmal answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      Some things that astronomical instrumentation (so the hardware built to help astronomers) has done so far for the general public includes,
      1. Better CCD image sensors for digital cameras, and onto things like dental X-rays, where dentists don’t use film anymore or on satellites for better information on weather,
      2. Improved image sharpening algorithms, and it is used to enhance the clarity of speed camera images so the police can read blurry numberplates,
      3. Quicker and better ways of making glass optics, that means spectacles are easier and cheaper to make.

      None of these was meant to be, they just happened by chance. I think the important lesson is that if you try everything, you will find out things you never would have thought of compared to just sitting and working out what you /could/ do. You have to give it all a go.

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