| Somewhat related (pardon my jumbled transcription): "Sciences generally are divided up into two types: Pure, or Applied sciences. Applied sciences obviously undertake things that improve society. Pure science exists pretty much to satisfy human's curiosity. Astronomy is perhaps the purest of sciences; like music, you could live without it.
You don't need it for your daily life. And for that reason it is important that the results of astronomy, this pure science, be put before the public. I feel that very strongly. Frequently we are asked, 'So, in a world where there is hunger, why study astronomy? Why devote funds to astronomy when those funds could be used to improve mankind?' My answer is that if you define an ideal society in which everyone has food, clothing, shelter (a roof over your head), basic medical care -- in fact such societies exist: your local prison, or jail. Each inmate has food, clothing, shelter, and medical care (not the greatest). When the doors are opened, do people rush to get into that ideal society or do they rush to get out?
(chuckling)
We know what the answer is: they rush to get out. Why? Because as important as these necessities are, the fact that you are not free to follow your desire (so to speak) is even more important than having food on the table.
And astronomy is that [following your desire]. There is an inborn curiosity, I think, in all of us to address these questions of what's our relationship with the global environment? How did we get here? To what extent has the universe evolved in such a way that life has sprung forward?
And I think that is something that is fundamental - so I think that public outreach for astronomy is something that is really crucial." -Dr. Robert Williams, Astronomer, Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) from 1993 to 1998. Father of the Hubble Deep Field project. source: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Vka_9VzEw) |