EMBL Forum Science and Society Seminar: Robbert Dijkgraaf - Usefulness of Useless Knowledge

EMBL Forum Science and Society Seminar: Robbert Dijkgraaf - Usefulness of Useless Knowledge

Title history
  • EMBL Forum Science and Society Seminar: Robbert Dijkgraaf - Usefulness of Useless Knowledge — observed on 20261030-1104 UTC (YouTube)

by Robbert Dijkgraaf · View the channel on PSI

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History PDScience: general issuesPDRImpact of science and technology on society
🎙 Robbert Dijkgraaf 👥 16K 📅 August 16, 2018 ⏱ 66 min 👁 667 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-10-30
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

basic researchcuriosity-driven scienceinnovationFlexnerInstitute for Advanced Study

Summary

In this seminar, Robbert Dijkgraaf, director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, presents a compelling argument for the value of curiosity-driven basic research, echoing Abraham Flexner’s 1939 essay ‘The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge.’ He recounts how Flexner, the institute’s founder, helped bring Einstein to Princeton and advocated for research driven solely by intellectual curiosity. Dijkgraaf illustrates his points with historical examples: the 1939 World’s Fair showing early robots and television, the development of nuclear physics and computers at the Institute, and the often-unexpected applications of pure science. He highlights how von Neumann’s work on programmable computers and the theory of climate change emerged from abstract mathematics. He also discusses superconductivity, discovered via painstaking low-temperature research, which now enables fMRI and the Large Hadron Collider. He emphasizes that many transformative technologies, such as GPS, rely on fundamental insights from relativity. Dijkgraaf argues that while the practical benefits of basic research are not always predictable, they have consistently reshaped society, leading to dramatic increases in life expectancy and technological progress. He concludes by suggesting that our ability to design new materials, organisms, and intelligent systems will rely even more on curiosity and imagination in the future.

196 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides significant value by framing basic research as a crucial driver of innovation and societal progress. Dijkgraaf’s argumentation is strong and compelling, built on a rich narrative of historical cases where abstract scientific inquiries led to unforeseen technological revolutions. He effectively uses examples like electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and superconductivity to demonstrate that the long-tail of curiosity-driven research often yields the most transformative outcomes. However, the argument is largely based on anecdotal evidence and personal interpretation rather than systematic data or a structured framework. While persuasive, it would benefit from more quantitative citations or a more rigorous analysis of the causal links between basic research and innovation.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is high in terms of factual accuracy regarding historical events and scientific discoveries, but the presentation is a personal essay rather than a peer-reviewed analysis. Dijkgraaf references important figures and works, such as Flexner’s essay, Einstein’s speech, and von Neumann’s contributions, but without formal citations. The quality of sources is good, relying on well-documented history, but the lack of direct references makes it difficult to verify specific claims. The title accurately reflects the content, and the talk is well-aligned with the stated theme of the EMBL Science and Society Forum.

216 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, as the lecture explores Flexner's essay and the value of basic research through historical and contemporary examples.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The talk is delivered by a leading expert (director of the Institute for Advanced Study) and references numerous well-documented historical examples. However, it is primarily an opinionated lecture without formal citations or peer-reviewed sources.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The talk offers a contemporary perspective on Flexner’s 1939 essay, applying its arguments to the 21st century where the ability to design new materials, organisms, and intelligent systems expands the unknown. Dijkgraaf’s unique contribution is to frame basic research as a necessary foundation for navigating the vast space of ‘what can be made’ from the building blocks of matter, life, and information. He also draws attention to the squeezed middle of incremental research, arguing that the long tail of ambitious, curiosity-driven questions is where transformative discoveries reside.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge — Wikipedia entry on Flexner’s original essay, providing background and historical context.
  • Institute for Advanced Study — Overview of the institution Dijkgraaf directs, its history, and its impact on science and scholarship.
  • Von Neumann architecture — Description of the computing design conceived by John von Neumann, which arose from foundational mathematical logic and now underpins most digital computers.
  • Superconductivity — Phenomenon discovered through low-temperature physics, with applications like MRI and particle accelerators.

169 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quality and reliability, with moderate levels in quantity and technical depth, reflecting a well-informed but accessible lecture that relies on historical narrative rather than dense technical detail.

Reliability 8/10