An interesting article in The Atlantic by computer scientist Ben Schneiderman on “an ecological model of research and development.”

Donald Stokes (Pasteur’s Quadrant: Basic Science and Technological Innovation, 1997) stresses work that is motivated by both considerations for use and fundamental understanding …

 

Stokes and many other analysts provide a rigorous foundation for those who see value in the combined pursuit of basic and applied research, who believe that practical and theoretical work fit together well, and that mission-driven and curiosity-driven research invigorate each other. While Stokes advocates “use-inspired basic research”, this author adds “theory-inspired applied research.” In short, I am raising the expectations for researchers or all kinds; I want them to combine basic with applied research, since the broader foundation of theory and practice will be a more potent stimulus for their work. The outcomes of such work should enrich basic knowledge and accelerate technology innovation.

Read more here.