Tonight I went to my first MaRS event.

It was very interesting - all about collaboration between engineers and medical sciences. The main speaker cautioned researchers (engineers especially) to find an application for their technology before they even begin their research.

Research is to be cherished, for sure, but we must be sure that it serves a purpose.

Many scientists presented their emerging technologies with a slide that indicated what the implications of this technology could possibly be. But no one had asked those in the suggested disciplines if they could actually USE (or they even wanted) the new technology.

A sad story for research. I guess it bodes well for a collaboration centre like the one I work for. It is truly needed.