Both industry and academic research are critical in the advancement of science and technology. It is important to have results that are immediate and for the future. Immediate results can help to save more lives faster than results that can benefit a population in the years to come. Academia research that is passed down from person to person over time can yield different results over time. Some of that research can take longer to make solid discoveries if it is not continued. Academic researchers can have projects that are 20 years or older. This research is important to have that way continuous advancements and research can occur. I am more interested in industry research that produces results faster because it can help to save more lives now. In the future, more adjustments can be made to help others. I find it hard to be a part of future research that may or not be continued in the future. It is possible that the continued research does not produce the wanted results and I would have to wait 20 years to find out. Both types of research are important, but industry research provides good and bad information faster than academic research.
You made important mentions for both academic and industry research. Neither academic nor industry research is guaranteed to yield the results that are wanted. Industry research does put their projects first to test them in a reasonable amount of time. It is not a quick process, but the results will reveal whether or not the project should be continued. Academic research projects are easily put on the shelf for later if they are not seen as important as others or the research team moves on. With industry research, current and future generations can benefit from faster results from research. Any issues that arise now can be addressed faster and be improved for future generations. Academic research is still needed for continuing the advancement of technology over time. Both types of research are important, and industry research can reveal more information faster.
Both leave a legacy, but I tend to agree that I rather see the impact now. Still, who's to say that my research activity will not foster future research, as most science builds upon the work of previous others. Consider the magnetic controlled medicine and technology (med-tech) industry. A newly emerging company is Otamagnetics. Otamagnetic’s current focus is the cochlea and middle ear
compartments, as well as the eye. Even more, their entire product suite is built upon the discovery of both earlier and recent innovators in med-tech. Therefore, making a strong contribution now is the superior position. It can pay a profit now, and very potentially bring future royalties.
As many have stated, I too believe that both types of research are equally important; however, as someone that likes to see the fruits of my labor, I would prefer working on research to help current generations. I also think working on current research to help immediately may be more exciting. For example, those working to develop a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 and SARS in real-time, while scary, must have been exciting. I would imagine during these times, researchers feel pressure similar to ER doctors that must figure out a way to save lives in that moment and time. I would also be okay working on research with the knowledge that it will one day save lives in the future.
Research in advancement and exploration of the unknowns in the wild. There is no definitive path if in the path we have a urge to know there are thing for which we can't give any reason for something which is left behind we may have to change our path to find the reason because it is something which may raise question on our topic in future. So I believe research is all about patience motivation and urge to know something. I think research as a long term process rather than a short term.
I really like this approach to the research question. The driving force to the research being done should be that it could be effective and that it could have some benefit to the target market. Sometimes the end goal can get lost in the long process, However if you know that the research has the potential to be change at least one life, that is fulfilling enough. There are always questions that can be asked. We never have all of the answers or all of the information. So research is almost always going to take some time.
In industry, research is done to make discoveries for products that can help people right away, while in academia, research create results for the long run. I feel that both types of research are important and necessary. However, I am more interested in doing research that will have beneficial results right away. I would like to see the results of my research being used right away, rather than passing on my research to someone else to continue and one day make a discovery. Would you rather do research that would result in making discoveries to help future generations or the current generation, and why? Which do you think is more important?
This is a very good question ! Honestly, I think I would want my research used so I can see what needs to be improved. But then again, what if we wait a little longer, and then it works perfectly with no corrections? so I am a little torn. I think the best thing to do might be to wait.. create something that can be used now, but creating something that future generations will use and can be used much longer is a better idea. Long-term benefits over short-term satisfaction will be best.
In industry, research is done to make discoveries for products that can help people right away, while in academia, research create results for the long run. I feel that both types of research are important and necessary. However, I am more interested in doing research that will have beneficial results right away. I would like to see the results of my research being used right away, rather than passing on my research to someone else to continue and one day make a discovery. Would you rather do research that would result in making discoveries to help future generations or the current generation, and why? Which do you think is more important?
This is a very good question ! Honestly, I think I would want my research used so I can see what needs to be improved. But then again, what if we wait a little longer, and then it works perfectly with no corrections? so I am a little torn. I think the best thing to do might be to wait.. create something that can be used now, but creating something that future generations will use and can be used much longer is a better idea. Long-term benefits over short-term satisfaction will be best.
Great Question. I would want my research to help right away AND future generations. The research needs to reliable and effective in its processes. The reason is because the foundation that I have created with the research that has already been done, it can be improved over time. Future generations will be able to rely on whatever technology or assay that I create.
@kc4310 I most definitely agree that the foundation that we make can improve.
In industry, research is done to make discoveries for products that can help people right away, while in academia, research create results for the long run. I feel that both types of research are important and necessary. However, I am more interested in doing research that will have beneficial results right away. I would like to see the results of my research being used right away, rather than passing on my research to someone else to continue and one day make a discovery. Would you rather do research that would result in making discoveries to help future generations or the current generation, and why? Which do you think is more important?
I can’t say that one is more important than the other in academia or industry as they both are in the business of helping others. I believe that each can be revolutionary and serve a purpose to assist and impact the way of life. If I had to choose I would say that I would like to do something in both. I would like to work in academia to build on information that has already been worked on and pass the torch to those in the next generation to work and build on. I would also like to work in industry on products that can be developed here and now to get it out to those in need.
When it comes to research, I think both ideas benefit the population effectively. I feel when you focus on solving the problems of today, it leads to the development of technologies for the future. I think scientist need to focus on the now, because we do not know what tomorrow may bring. However, in certain areas, we need to worry about the future and how to solve the issues so we are prepared for the what ifs.
Personally, I don't think one approach is superior than the other. If anything, they both are intermingled and highly dependent on the other. For instance, in industry a lot of companies will buy smaller start-ups that often form from academic research. If it wasn't for academic research, large companies would not be able to leverage their findings to market and make it accessible to the public (while also continuing to improve upon it). While it seems like industry research contributes to society now, in the field of pharmaceuticals "now" can still mean 5-10 years worth of work before it is fully approved and marketable. The work done today is a stepping stone to the final success of the product. While in comparison it may seem like your work is making a quicker difference in comparison to academia, they both still take a considerable amount of time and if it wasn't for earlier research, there wouldn't be late stage research to work on.
If I had to choose between the two, I would rather work on research that can reap benefits for the current generation, but that's just personal preference since I feed off of instant gratification. One is no better than the other and is simply up to the specific individual.
Both types of research are important, but I feel that helping the current generation is most important. At the present, we know what these people may be suffering from and that means we have a greater opportunity to resolve the problems. If we succeed, the future generations will suffer from new aliments which will then become the focus. This cycle will continue as new diseases and problems arise. I personally would prefer to conduct research in industry because the current generation will be helped. As time continues, I will help the next generation and at some point, it will be their turn to help mine.
@hm243 @su65 I agree, I also think that both type of research that contributes for current and future projects are important. I had a lot of fun doing academic research when I was an undergrad. But I didn't get to see any outcome of it that can lead to helping the public. However after finding a job, I got to see that the research I have done to launch a product is much motivating as I got to directly make a change to the patient lives. It gave me a lot of happiness not just because I was making good money but also because I felt that I was doing something more meaningful as I got to see the impacts right away.
I would prefer my research to have a direct impact in my lifetime, more so to "see the fruits of my labor". However, I believe more often than not any discoveries or contributions to science I will make won't be seen in my generation. If you consider the life of a person pursuing their PhD, they'll publish a bunch of publications during their time and much of their work will simply add a piece to the puzzle. When enough pieces are put together a publication similar to the one by Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shunya Yamanaka on the induction of pluripotent stem cells. Their paper was an incredible accomplishment, but only made possible by the years of research on embryonic stem cells made earlier. So in essence, my point is that while many of us would like to be recognized and see our work come to life the field of science works much slower.
