• Question: whats your top goal in science? (what do you really want to find out or do)

    Asked by ebaker406 to Chris, Emily, Martin, Natalie, Tamsin on 25 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Martin Coath

      Martin Coath answered on 25 Mar 2010:

      Well this is a hard question. It is just impossible to see an end to knowledge. We suspect that we can carry on learning new things for as long as the human race survives.

      But for me I would like to see my work (on learning and the brain, and on new technology based on what we know about the brain) used to help people whose brains or bodies are damaged by accident, disease, and old age.

      There is hope that if we can model what the brain does and understand it then we can “fix” things in a way that is close to the way they are naturally.

      Take just one simple example. Lots of people lose arms or legs. Literally tens of thousands. Let us say that someone really clever made an artificial leg that was almost as good (or better) than a real leg. With artificial muscles and artificial tendons – everything!

      We could fit the leg – but how would we control it? We would need to interface the artificial nerves to our real biological brain. Big problem!

      What we do making brain like electronics (we use the term “neuromorphic engineering”) may help to sort this out. That would be very cool.

    • Photo: Chris Cooper

      Chris Cooper answered on 25 Mar 2010:

      I think I feel I have accomplished some interesting things in basic science. This is really important. But for the rest of my career (well the next 5-10 years) I want to have a go at trying to apply what I have learnt to solve an applied problem. I have three applied problems – maybe one will work!?

      1 Create a non toxic long-lasting artificial blood for blood transfusions
      2 Create a molecule that will stop blood being toxic when red cells burst (useful for brain bleeds in stroke, malaria and septic shock)
      3 Create a monitoring device to help elite athletes measure the oxygen in their blood to be able to run, swim or cycle faster.

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