Discussion: Research in Biomechanics

Hamblen opened the discussion by asking whether there was clinical relevance for research in biomechanics or whether all of the people in this field should be doing ‘pure’ research. Barbenel claimed that in basic research the answers and conclusions to be reached are unknown in advance but do lead ultimately to unexpected progress. On the other hand there are immediate clinical problems which have to be solved. Neither aspect should be neglected. Hamblen, Barbenel and Kenner agreed that there is increasing pressure to do applied research and to neglect basic research. Kenner in reply to Hamblen’s question on monitoring of research in Austria, responded that there were two funding possibilities: university funding from the state, and the Science Research Fund which is used for large programmes and generally supports basic research. Sleytr pointed out the change in pressure over the last four to five years where university money was originally for basic research; now funds were applied to research conducted in collaboration with industry. However, the real advances and spin-offs it was felt came only from basic research. Simon believed that any basic researcher has a responsibility for knowing what possible applications there might be for his work.