The issue of whether science is useful or not can be hard to answer. Scientists are frequently encouraged to pursue their passions however, this can lead to research focusing on a variety of topics -however, some of these may not be relevant to society. For instance, a significant aspect of science is developing theories and making predictions that can be tested. These discoveries are often used to create new technologies such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
To be useful Science should also be able to tackle issues and problems that affect human wellbeing. This requires collaboration with stakeholders in order to determine their needs, establish specific goals and formulate an effective plan for addressing those requirements. Many scientific initiatives are lacking this type of collaboration, and instead focus on advancing knowledge with no direct connection to society. The impact of research on society isn’t always measured and tracked effectively.
Translational ecology (TE) is one of the many strategies that have been developed to produce useful science. It emphasizes the importance of scientists being proactive in taking into consideration and responding to research context. TE also stresses the importance of engaging the end users in a meaningful way throughout the research process and promoting decision-making based on learning such as adaptive management which is used extensively by natural resource and land managers.
Finding a topic that is both intriguing and scholarly is a challenge for students, particularly when you consider the time constraints frequently imposed by professors. The list of easy science research topics can help students find a topic to impress their professors and also provide valuable information to the scientific community.
