> On Tue, 10 Oct 2000, Michael Sylvester wrote:
>
> > As you might have read/heard by now the Nobel Prize for Medicine was
> > awarded
> > to scientists researching nerve cell communication factors.
> > What I find interesting is that those awards in Medicine usually
> > cite the practical applications of those discoveries.
> > It does not appear that just doing basic research -kmowledge
> > for knowledge sake- is sufficient.
> > After all ,there is extensive data on the dopamine neurotransmitter.
> > Just a thought as to if basic research without practical implications
> > amount to much.
> > Comments invited.
Isn't it the practical application that makes it "medicine," as opposed to
biology or chemistry?
I'd urge everyone to check out this year's *Ig* Nobel Prizewinners at
http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-2000-winners.html.
Research here represents the basic, applied, and just plain wacky. The
Psychology Prize should be of particular interest.
Robin
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Robin Pearce "The wit of a graduate student is like champagne.
Boston University Canadian champagne."
[EMAIL PROTECTED] --Robertson Davies
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