More than just a gleaming façade

These cards are used in what’s known as the Zurich Resource Model. It’s an example of a practical application that emerged from basic research. But such direct results are a rare thing in the world of science. | Photo: Philotheus Nisch

My doctoral thesis was sponsored by a big chemical company. Together with a postdoc from a different university, my task was to find variants of a potentially useful enzyme. The aim was to describe the enzyme’s activity, so the company funding us could afterwards do what they wanted with it. But my colleague had started before me and was very efficient. By the time I arrived on the scene, the project was almost finished and a new enzyme was on the cusp of being patented. So I focused on an enzyme whose activity was different that I was able to observe. That’s how I ultimately arrived at a project of my own. I enjoyed the work, and made a meaningful discovery worthy of publication.

Despite being funded by industry, you could still describe what I did as basic research. Of course, I emphasised the potential applications of my work as best as I could, both in my thesis and my subsequent publication. And I cited people who still believe in those applications today. But as far as I’m aware, neither my sponsor nor anyone else has until now actually put the knowledge I acquired into practice. All the same, my article has been cited a decent number of times – so it must have reached at least a few people who found its content useful. In short, my work is a tiny grain of sand in the mortar of the back wall of the gigantic house that science is busy building.

The lovely ornaments on the gleaming façade of that building are the classic success stories that are told about basic research – from lasers to mRNA vaccines and other important applications. These stories are undoubtedly true tales, but they aren’t truly representative. Such successes provide important arguments for the state to maintain its funding for basic research (after all, the state itself just isn’t interested in everyday matters of mere enzyme patents). But these successes don’t provide the main motivation for postgrads, PhDs or postdocs working in basic research. The feature articles in this issue of Horizons also look at the very personal matters that drive these researchers in their work. In this way, we hope to offer our readers a view of both the glittering façade of the fascinating edifice that is Science, and the many people whose work make sure its back walls remain solid.