Principal's Column

Dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favourise que les esprits préparés - Pasteur 1854

Il n'existe pas de sciences appliquées, mais seulement des applications de la science - Pasteur 1872

Louis Pasteur, the great French chemist and bacteriologist speaking at a meeting in the University of Lille in 1854 reminded his audience of the University's responsibility for developing prepared minds and later (in Lyon) he rejected the fashion for applied sciences, encouraging those present to think only (of the) applications of science.

21st century universities are under enormous pressure from governments and, to a lesser extent research funders, to deliver tangible economic, social and cultural benefits. In Scotland, the commercialisation of university research is given strong emphasis by the Parliament. Scottish Enterprise measure progress in terms of spin-out companies, licensing deals and jobs and the new Funding Council are fixed on developing "knowledge transfer metrics". The t word - t for translation - peppers almost every national policy document.

This is all well and good - indeed this issue of Contact is packed full of examples of applications of science and other facets of University research. We are working on the links between exercise and the incidence of diabetes, the effects of smoking and passive smoking, the causes of landslides, the mathematical modelling of breast cancer tumours, the development of drugs to treat some of the world's most neglected diseases, the needs of carers who look after people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and the consumer pressures on business to create innovative solutions to design problems. Our staff and students can be proud of these achievements and of course many of them are motivated by the prospect of their research delivering results that improve people's lives.

The only danger is that those who fund universities underestimate the central importance of investing in higher learning - where observation is concerned, chance favours only the prepared mind - and the importance of investing in fundamental research. For example the lead story in this issue is based on years of work in biochemistry, molecular parasitology and medicinal chemistry. Given the likely pressure on the public purse from 2008 onwards it will be important for Ministers to keep faith with Scotland's research intensive universities so that their potential for translation and application is built on a bedrock of higher learning and strong basic research.

In the University itself, the proposals to restructure the academic leadership of the University move forward to Court with the support of Senate and then take on the challenge of building on the achievements of recent years - striving for excellence in learning and teaching, international standards in research and an environment that enables students and staff to reach their full potential. Striking the right balance between continuity and change, between traditional values and the 21st century imperatives of university life will be a key issue for us all.

Alan Langlands
February 2006