Curiosity Driven or Application Oriented Science? | Lunch discussion with chemist and dean Lutgarde Buydens and mathematician Klaas Landsman (Lezing)

"Did any discovery ever happen by force? The computer was not invented because Apple or Google welcomed it, but because mathematicians wondered about the difference between truth and evidence." (Klaas Landsman in VOX)

Relevant science

Science can be seen as a quest to fundamentally understand the world. But it also has a practical component. It can help us create new technologies and solve social problems. But when does science matter? And what should be its driving force? Should scientific research be motivated by intrinsic curiosity or by the urge to resolve social issues and practical problems?

Come and learn from chemist and dean Lutgarde Buydens and mathematician Klaas Landsman about the tense relationship between curiosity driven and application-oriented science – and join the conversation! Philosopher Luca Consoli will be the moderator of this lunch meeting.

The Faculty of Science’s research agenda

Should research conducted at the Faculty of Science be driven by questions from society and business? Or should it be guided by the Faculty’s own curiosity and intuition? To what extent do the interests of ‘external stakeholders’ involved in application-oriented research affect the objectivity of the research? And will fundamental research be overlooked if there is emphasis on social benefit and public interest? These questions underlie the Faculty of Science’s current strategic plan.

Food for thought.

About the speakers

Lutgarde Buydens is professor of analytical chemistry at Radboud University and dean of the Faculty of Science at Radboud University. The strategic plan (2016-2020) of the faculty entitled Science that Matters focuses on the relationship between curiosity driven and application-oriented science.

Klaas Landsman is professor of mathematics at Radboud University and interested in all aspects of quantum theory. He has written the popular science book Requiem for Newton (2005).

Luca Consoli, assistant professor of Philosophy and Science Studies at Radboud University, will moderate the conversation.

Registration

Regisatration is free. All Faculty of Science staff and students are welcome.

In November 2017, Radboud Reflects programming highlights the Faculty of Science at Radboud University, to think about ethical issues in science with students, employees and the general public.