It is difficult to answer whether science is actually useful. Scientists are frequently encouraged to pursue their curiosity however, this can result in research focusing on a range of topics — some of which may not be directly useful to society. For instance, a major part of science is establishing theories and making predictions that can be tested. These discoveries are used to develop new technologies, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
To be considered beneficial science must also address issues that affect the well-being of humans. This requires collaboration with key stakeholders to define their needs, define specific goals and then create plans that address the needs. Many scientific projects lack this kind of collaboration and instead concentrate on expanding knowledge without any direct connection to society. The impact of research on society isn’t always properly measured and monitored.
There are a variety of strategies that have been developed to generate usable research such as translational ecology (TE), which emphasizes the necessity of researchers to actively consider and respond to the research context. TE also emphasizes the importance of engaging people in a meaningful way throughout the research process and encouraging learning-based decision-making processes such as adaptive management which is commonly employed by natural land and resource managers.
Students often have a difficult time to choose a topic that is both interesting as and scholarly, particularly when their professors set time limits. The list of simple science research topics can help students choose topics that will impress their professors and also provide valuable information to the scientific community.