Long-term Fundamental Research Research Articles

IN MEMORY OF DOCTOR OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, PROFESSOR SVITLANA IGNATOVA

Problem. Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Svitlana Oleksandrivna Ignatova dedicated her entire life to several scientific institutions in Odesa: V. Ye. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking (1964–1970), All-Union Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute (1970–1991), the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center of Seed and Cultivar Investigation (1991–1999 and 2012–2018), and the South Plant Biotechnological Center of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences (2000–2012). Her life and work were inextricably linked to the development of agricultural biotechnology in Ukraine. Aim. The purpose of our research was to honor the memory of Professor S. O. Ignatova, to highlight the main biographical data and the results of her scientific and pedagogical activities. Results. S. O. Ignatova fruitfully worked on theoretical and applied problems of agricultural crops biotechnology and was a pioneer in the use of achievements in Ukraine regarding the successful application in the selection process of the source material obtained by in vitro methods of tissue, organ and cell culture. Under the leadership of Svitlana Oleksandrivna, the principles and complete technology of accelerated production of linear varieties of barley and wheat with the use of haploproducers were developed. The barley varieties – Odessky 115th and Prairie, which were sown on a large area in Ukraine, were created using this technology. The great attention of S. O. Ignatova was devoted to the training of scientific personnel (graduate students, interns and students). Conclusions. S. O. Ignatova’s scientific legacy was a long-term fundamental research in the biotechnology of major agricultural crops, which was a significant contribution to the development of advanced areas of Ukrainian and world science. Svitlana Oleksandrivna was the author of more than 300 scientific works, including monographs, patents, scientific and methodological manuals, methodological recommendations, author’s certificates and publications in leading scientific journals. The life story of S. O. Ignatova is continued by her students, remembering the bright image of their professor – an energetic, determined and inspired woman.

Ecological and hygienic problems in the Arctic territories of intensive industrial activity (review)

The Goal. To analyze the literature on the impact of high latitude climate on human health, as well as consider some aspects of adaptation to Arctic conditions and nutritional issues for the population and shift workers.Methods. Review of the articles placed in the bibliographic and abstract databases of VINITI, CyberLeninka, RSCI, Scopus, WoS, on the study of environmental and hygienic problems in the Arctic territories, where intense industrial activity is carried out. The following keywords were used: Arctic territories, adaptation, watch, food.Results. Long-term fundamental research has established that a complex of unfavorable and extreme natural and climatic factors in the Arctic causes two main syndromes in humans – “polar tension” and “northern tissue hypoxia”. Adaptation of new settlers in the Arctic territories proceeds in three stages. The duration of the shift period must have a physiological and hygienic justification and correspond to the duration of the period of stable working capacity. In high latitudes, it is especially important to develop diets and food products for various groups of the population and shift workers in relation to the specifics of their work in the Arctic regionsConclusions. Among the main environmental and hygienic problems of the Arctic territories, where intense industrial activity is carried out, it is necessary to highlight the tasks of scientific substantiation of rational modes of work and rest of workers in rotational forms of work. Also it’s necessary to define the quantitative and qualitative composition of food rations recommended for nutrition of various groups of the population, in relation to the specifics of production factors.

Project PHARE-2—A High-Speed UHBR Fan Test Facility for a New Open-Test Case

Abstract A novel test facility for transonic fans has been constructed and commissioned at École Centrale de Lyon (ECL) within the Project PHARE-2. The facility is instrumented with multi-physical measurement systems to deeply investigate aeroelastic and aeroacoustic phenomena. To enable long-term fundamental research, the composite material open-test-case rotor ECL5 is currently under development, which shall be established as a new reference case for method development. Within the present publication, the project objectives, the current rotor design, ECL5v2, and details on the test facility are presented. With the goal to establish future academic collaborations, the authors aim to initiate a discussion in the research community in an early stage of the test case development to receive constructive feedback on the design and research approach.

Elevating Planetary Science in Africa

Although planetary sciences may be perceived as long-term fundamental research with little direct and immediate benefit for populations, expanding planetary science programs can have many benefits

"Don't forget long-term fundamental research in energy"

"Don't forget long-term fundamental research in energy"

A Grand Challenge in Biology

Richard Feynman, a brilliant Nobel Prize–winning physicist, is often quoted for his statement that “What I cannot create, I do not understand.” The remarkable advances in our knowledge of the chemistry of life achieved in the past few decades, published in Science and many other journals, could lead nonexperts to assume that biologists are coming close to a real understanding of cells. On the contrary, as scientists learn more and more, we have increasingly come to recognize how huge the challenge is that confronts us. In this special issue, we review the progress made in the decade-old field called synthetic biology, which, as Feynman would advocate, creates biological networks in order to help us understand, and in some cases redesign, living systems. Along with its promise for the biotechnology industry, synthetic biology has the potential to become a powerful new tool for the long-term fundamental research needed to more effectively create breakthroughs in improving human health and welfare and the environment. *

Thermodynamics and Diffusion Coupling in Alloys—Application-Driven Science

As emphasized by Stokes (1997), the common assumption of a linear progression from basic research (science), via applied research, to technological innovations (engineering) should be questioned. In fact, society would gain much by supporting long-term research that stems from practical problems and has usefulness as a key word. Such research may be fundamental, and often, it cannot be distinguished from “basic” research if it were not for its different motivation. The development of the Calphad method and the more recent development of accompanying kinetic approaches for diffusion serve as excellent examples and are the themes of this symposium. The drivers are, e.g., the development of new materials, processes, and lifetime predictions. Many challenges of the utmost practical importance require long-term fundamental research. This presentation will address some of them, e.g., the effect of various ordering phenomena on activation barriers, and the strength and practical importance of correlation effects.

Editor's Farewell Note

Editor's Farewell Note

Don't Forget Long-Term Fundamental Research in Energy

Achieving a fundamental understanding of the phenomena that will underpin both global stewardship and future technologies in energy calls for a thoughtful balance between large-scale immediate solutions using existing technology and the fundamental research needed to provide better solutions in the 50-year period.

Changes in Academy/Industry/State Relations in Canada: The Creation and Development of the Networks of Centres of Excellence

The Networks of Centres of Excellence programme is perhaps Canada's most dramatic science policy innovation since theFirst World War. This article traces its development, using documentary analysis and interviews with the policy actors responsible for conceiving and implementing the programme.Established in 1989, the networks were explicitly designed to change the norms of science. The intention was to instil an approach to long-term fundamental research that considered possibilities of use from the start. Of equal importance was the idea that management was essential to produce knowledgein a network structure.

One Point of View: How Companies Kill Fundamental Research–A “TOOtorial”

At an annual meeting of the Industrial Research Institute several years ago, Professor Nicholas Negroponte, head of the media lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gave a dynamic presentation on the latest research in media technology. By the end of his talk, the audience was eager to run out and buy virtual reality televisions and holographic computers-until the next speaker burst the bubble by saying, love listening to Nick Negroponte, because he always talks about the place where the rubber meets the sky! But it's sky-high thinkers like Nick Negroponte that set the bold new visions for science and society. And, fortunately for Nick, he works in an institution whose mission includes nurturing and expanding those visions. The environment for visionary thinking in industry is not always so supportive. In a world where concerns about the next quarter's earnings often set R&D priorities, visionaries are frequently viewed as distractions. They divert money, resources and talent desperately needed to address the latest business crisis or short-term opportunity. And, in most cases, their efforts never bear fruit. Yet, history is made by those industrial-strength visionaries who manage to pursue and materialize their visions, despite all of the forces opposing them. Frequently, they begin their quest without knowing if their goal is scientifically achievable. In some cases, they must develop a fundamental understanding of an unexplored field of science before they can begin to apply that understanding to achieve a practical goal. And this must be done, in many cases, in a culture that is far from optimal. Some companies, in fact, have developed a core competency in the area of squashing visionaries. They have developed an institutional immune system that systematically attacks and destroys visionary thinking, like white cells attacking an infection. The response is particularly extreme when the visionary will have to engage in long-term fundamental research to achieve his or her vision. Reasons for Killing Research I have tried to analyze how this industrial immune system works in excising fundamental research visionaries, and I have uncovered seven TOO reasons used by companies to thwart visionaries trying to pursue fundamental science. The first TOO reason is generally the initial line of attack for all out-of-the-box ideas. The reasoning assumes that, Even if this was a good idea, it is far removed from our current businesses and skills for us to be successful at it. it would probably drain precious resources and distract our talented people into areas they have no business fooling around in. Surely, some other company must be better positioned to pursue this than us. If a senior manager nevertheless takes a liking to the project, the next line of defense might be, Of course it could be interesting for our company, but we're probably late. Others are already working in this general area, and we'll never catch up. But what if some senior manager is still willing to give the idea a try? Surely somebody in the company will point out that the technical goals are difficult to achieve. After all, the science hasn't been proven, and the idea probably violates at least five generally accepted scientific paradigms. It looks like it will take at least two Nobel Prizes to succeed, and why not leave this exploratory stuff to the universities? Besides, the kind of people who really like to work on this stuff wouldn't want to work in industry anyway, and it would be hard to recruit them. And even if we got them here, it would be hard to keep them happy, and they'd leave. If that argument doesn't dissuade some senior-level advocates, the fundamental research killers may sing another TOOn. This argument goes, Yes, but even if we were to succeed scientifically, it would be hard to capture the value of the idea in a business. …

Can Academic Research Stand Riches?

There is no field where larger government expenditures would produce so rich a return as greater outlays on research, according to the eminent economist, Dr. Sumner Slichter. Within this field he includes the education of talented people, necessary foundation for research. We are seeing that idea put to a test. In fact, the movement is so rapid that there is some concern over the care given to guiding the growth of this crop. The Government appears already to be supporting nearly two thirds of the scientific research and development programs in educational institutions (page 20). In the universities, traditionally devoted to the freedom of pursuit of knowledge, there is both gratification and uneasiness. The more optimistic feel that only serious abuse by university administrators would lead to trouble. On the other hand, first of all, is the criticism that too little of the federal money supports long-term fundamental research and ...