Do you personally think that what you do is important? What do you/we get out of it?

Question: Do you personally think that what you do is important? What do you/we get out of it?
- Keywords:
  change,
  humankind,
  humans,
  important,
  mankind,
  personal
Asked by benn24 to Ryan on 14 Jun 2011.
- Ryan Ladd answered on 14 Jun 2011:
  
  It can be hard to see the final goals of research, we’re a long way away from a swimming cruise ship! I do think it’s important though, as oil starts to run out humans will need more and more efficient ways to travel the world and, I hope, my work will be very very important in the future because of this.
  
  My work also helps to understand animals and the environment they live in, several people in my laboratory are involved in whale and turtle conservation in Canada and Mexico. It’s not a direct aim of the work we do, but working with these animals makes us realize just how amazing and important they are to preserve.

Question: Do you personally think that what you do is important? What do you/we get out of it?