05: Values in Science
Basic or curiosity-driven scientific research is mostly done at academic institutions by faculty members and their students, and its traditional aim is to advance human know-how in all natural sciences. Scientists at “for profit” organizations mostly conduct applied research. In recent years, academic scientists are under pressure to focus their research on “relevant” issues which are important for society and for the respective national economy. This trend is causing academic investigators to engage in problem-solving topics or profit/product oriented research. The recent financial crisis and growing media coverage on some of the dubious practices, in terms of human and resource management, of various globally operating firms are endangering the economic and business values which are derived from scientific research. This seminar provides an opportunity to look into the causes for these changes, the effects they are having in the USA, Europe, Asia and other countries and to discuss ways of how to improve the ability of industries and governments to promote and incorporate innovative early-stage scientific projects from academia for the economic benefit of society at large.
Topics
1. Curiosity-Driven Research in Academia. Do Scientists Have the Freedom to Change Topics?
2. Scientific Values Obtained from Basic Academic Research Versus Applied Research
3. Driving Forces and Incentives in Academic Research and for Scientists in Industry
4. Academia-Industry-Investor-Government Policies and Management of Scientific Research
5. Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, the “Death Valley”, Translational Science
Conclusion: How to improve the contributions of basic research to industry and the world economy without causing damage to academic culture and ethics.
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Mag. Dr. Günther BONN
Head, Institute for Analytical Chemistry and Radio Chemistry and Director, ADSI - Austrian Drug Screening Institute, Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck
| 1960-1964 | Elementary School, Innsbruck |
| 1964-1972 | High School, Innsbruck |
| 1972 | Study of Chemistry at the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck |
| 1977 | Teachership-Exam in Chemistry and Physics - Graduation "Master of Natural Sciences" |
| Thesis at the Institute of Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck "Hydrothermal Degradation of Glucose, Cellobiose and Cellulose" | |
| Contract Assistant at the Institute for Radiochemistry University of Innsbruck | |
| 1979 | Graduation to "Doktor der Philosophie" summa cum laude |
| 1983 | University Assistant at the Institute for Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck |
| 1985 | Habilitation for Analytical Chemistry |
| 1988 | Vis.Professor at Yale University, Department of Chemical Engin. New Haven, CT, USA, Prof. Csaba Horvath |
| 1989 | Assistant Professor |
| 1991 | Full Professor for Analytical Chemistry at Johannes-Kepler-University of Linz, Austria and Head at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Johannes-Kepler-University of Linz |
| 1994 | Full Professor for Analytical Chemistry - Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck |
| since 1995 | Head of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry |
| 1996-2003 | Member of the FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Vienna |
| 2000-2010 | Vice President - Austrian Council for Science and Research Development, Vienna |
| since 2004 | Member of the Board of the Medical University, Innsbruck |
| since 2008 | Vice President of the Board of the Medical University, Innsbruck |
Ph.D. David MIRELMAN
Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Chemistry and Former Vice President for Technology Transfer, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot
| *1938 - Buenos Aires, Argentina, Immigrated to Israel 1949 | |
| 1964 | M.Sc. Polymer Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem |
| 1968 | Ph.D. Biochemistry of Bacterial Cell Walls, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel |
| 1968-1970 | Post Doctorate, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, USA |
| since 1970 | Faculty Member, Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science |
| 1973 | Visiting Scientist, Max-Planck-Institute, Tuebingen |
| 1976 | Associate Professor with tenure |
| 1976-1977 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 1984 | Harvard University, Cambridge, MA |
| Full Professor, Weizmann Institute | |
| 1985 | Besen-Brender Chair of Microbiology and Parasitology, Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science |
| 1991-1992 | Fogarty Scholar, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD |
| 1987-1998 | Chairman of the Board of Directors, Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. |
| 1989-1992 | Member Board of Directors, News Datacom Corp., Jerusalem, Israel |
| 1991-1994 | Member Board of Directors, Weizmann Technological Incubator Company |
| 1993-1998 | Vice President for Technology Transfer, Weizmann Institute of Science |
| 1995-1998 | Member of Board of Directors, XTL Biotechnology, Rehovot, Israel |
| 1996-1998 | Member of Board of Directors of Portman Pharmaceuticals, Rehovot, Israel |
| 1999-2004 | Dean, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science |
| 1999-2001 | President, Israel Society for Microbiology |
| 2004-2012 | President of Scientific Council, Conseil I.Pasteur-Weizmann I. |
| since 2010 | Member of Executive Board of Directors, Weizmann Institute of Science |
