Question: How much do you think your work contributes to society?

Martin McCoustra answered on 8 Apr 2026:

There are two ways that science can contribute to society. The most direct is by doing science that is directly relevant to industry. I do this in collaboration with companies. The less direct approach is to do blue sky research that might leverage us new knowledge that in the future might add to the innovation pipeline. But which is simply adding to our enlightenment as a society. Most of my astrochemistry work falls in that area.