The case for curiosity-driven science Premium

The case for curiosity-driven science

National Science Day is observed on February 28 every year to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by C.V. Raman. The Raman Effect describes the scattering of light by molecules, leading to a shift in wavelength. It was a major breakthrough in understanding the interaction between light and matter. This discovery earned Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, marking a significant milestone in Indian scientific achievements. However, what was Raman’s original goal? Was he motivated by the prospect of solving immediate societal problems, or was his pursuit of science driven by something deeper?

His discovery was not driven by commercial interests or immediate application; it was born out of an innate human curiosity and imagination. Yet today, the very nature of scientific inquiry is being reshaped by economic and market considerations. Scientific enterprise is often viewed through the lens of market value, economic return, and immediate technological application. Funding agencies worldwide, including in India, are prioritising solution-oriented and commercially driven research. As a result, research outcomes are increasingly evaluated based on patents, entrepreneurship, and possibility of launching start-ups, commercial ventures, and consultancy and industry partnerships. Applied research has become the dominant paradigm, with scientists expected to deliver tangible products or solutions.

While the practical application of science is undeniably important, this utilitarian approach risks eroding the true essence of scientific enquiry. If scientific research becomes entirely dictated by market forces, we risk constraining free exploration and diminishing the potential for paradigm-shifting discoveries. The true spirit of scientific enquiry must be nurtured not by external pressures but by an environment that values curiosity, imagination, and intellectual freedom. There is an increasing tendency to equate scientific progress solely with technological innovation, often overlooking the deeper intellectual and exploratory aspects of science. Over the past two decades, science and technology have witnessed unprecedented breakthroughs, with the artificial intelligence revolution now unfolding at an extraordinary pace. Science has played a vital role in addressing many challenges, from healthcare advancements to renewable energy solutions. While these innovations undoubtedly hold practical value, they should not become ends in themselves. This also brings us to a crucial question: is science being steered towards genuine problem-solving and sustainable development, or is it merely reinforcing a culture of excess and fuelling endless cycles of consumption?

Scientific pursuit is driven by more than just technological advancement and short-term gains. Curiosity, the quest for a deeper understanding, and the desire to address fundamental questions about nature and existence are equally important. When innovation is pursued for its own sake, it risks becoming a hollow exercise, detached from the broader intellectual and societal aspirations that make scientific enterprise truly meaningful.

Science, much like music, literature, or art, is a creative endeavour. It seeks to explore fundamental questions about reality, often without straightforward or immediate answers. Many of the greatest discoveries in science — whether Einstein’s theories of relativity or Raman’s own work on light scattering — were not driven by the demand for practical solutions but by an insatiable curiosity about the physical universe. In many cases, these discoveries found practical usage only years or even decades later. The story of quantum mechanics, which now underpins modern electronics and computing, or the principles of general relativity, which enable precise GPS navigation, exemplifies this delayed but profound impact of basic sciences.

The mind that calculates profit and loss remains trapped in the narrow corridors of necessity. It is the creative mind that seeks without a reason that has always led humanity forward. The moment we reduce existence to function, we reduce humans to machines. A rainbow stretching across the sky holds no pragmatic value for a busy city dweller rushing through the vagaries of life, but to a child or a poet, its beauty is inescapable. Imagine a world without astronomy where human beings never looked up, never questioned, never dreamed. It would be a world of dead practicality or mere survival without wonder. To a utilitarian, the stars are distant and irrelevant. But in the eyes of a stargazer, they are a mirror, reflecting our deepest questions. Who are we? Where do we come from? What is our place in this cosmos? These are not questions that can be answered by a balance sheet or a ledger. They are the questions that define us as human beings, as seekers of truth, beauty and exploration. The poet, the painter, the musician, the mystic, or the scientist, they are all seekers of the infinite. Whether through a telescope or a violin, the journey is the same. It is an opening to something beyond the mundane — a rebellion against the trivialities of daily existence.

A hyper-utilitarian view of science and innovation, driven solely by market forces, risks stifling creativity and innovation. Throughout history, many scientific breakthroughs have emerged from open-ended exploration rather than rigidly goal-oriented research. Michael Faraday, one of the greatest experimental scientists, once demonstrated his discoveries in electromagnetism to a high-ranking British official. After showing how moving a magnet through a coil of wire could generate an electric current, the official, unimpressed, reportedly asked, “What practical good will this experiment in electricity bring to the nation?” To this, Faraday’s answer was, “Sir, I do not know. But I do know that one day the government may tax it.” Free from the pressures of immediate relevance, Faraday’s work was rooted in fundamental research. Yet, it laid the foundation for modern electricity generation, arguably one of the most transformative discoveries of civilisation.