Year: 2014
Type: review
Abstract: The primary reasons for conducting fundamental research are satisfying curiosity, acquiring knowledge, and achieving understanding. Here we develop why we believe it is essential to promote basic ecological research, despite increased impetus for ecologists to conduct and present their research in the light of potential applications. This includes the understanding of our environment, for intellectual, economical, social, and political reasons, and as a major source of innovation. We contend that we should focus less on short-term, objective-driven research and more on creativity and exploratory analyses, quantitatively estimate the benefits of fundamental research for society, and better explain the nature and importance of fundamental ecology to students, politicians, decision makers, and the general public. Our perspective and underlying arguments should also apply to evolutionary biology and to many of the other biological and physical sciences.
Source: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Institutions: Université Paris-Sud, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of California, Los Angeles, Ecologie, Société, Evolution, Santa Fe Institute, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Université de Strasbourg, University of Oxford, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Evolution et Diversité Biologique, University of California, Santa Barbara, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Institute for Advanced Study, Université Montpellier 2, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $7,030
Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche
OpenAlex ID: W2160190616