It is often contrasted with applied science, which takes existing knowledge and derives practical applications from it, such as technology or inventions. Professor Lee Cronin, regius chair of chemistry at Glasgow University, says the government must protect curiosity driven science. He used an ERC advanced grant to develop a liquid battery for an electric car. A normal electric car has a solid battery that takes up to 12 hours to charge at home; Cronin showed you could refill a car with liquid that is charged in minutes.
It might even not be possible to resuscitate [it]. Scientists say that such a dramatic uplift is urgently needed, but many are sceptical. It had some early major successes by backing blue skies research, including the precursor to GPS technology and the foundations of the internet. He believes that the biggest threat to blue skies research has been the shift away from the general quality-related funding [QR] that is distributed to universities based on the results of the research excellence framework, and towards more specific project-based support instead.
But he thinks academics need to get better at explaining why blue skies research matters, too. He argues that PhD graduates who have worked in blue skies research fields are in huge demand in the labour market.
They are there to get close to brilliant blue skies research. They want us for the ideas and basic discoveries that have the potential to change things fundamentally.
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