Question: What is the best kind of scientific research (in your opinion)? And why?

Emma Bull answered on 27 Feb 2026:

Hi, really good question.

In my opinion, any and all disease research is really important and rewarding. Knowing that my work might change the lives of patients one day is really really motivating and is the reason I want to go to work each morning. The children facing the type of cancer I work on still get treated with medicines that were first used in the 1980s or earlier, and these are really harsh medicines with lots of side effects. It means that although the medicines are treating the cancer, they are also having negative effects on the patients’ hearts and other organs. My work hopes to find gentler, more effective, more specific treatments for these patients.

But, that being said, all scientific research is important! We need to research plant biology to look after our planet and to make sure we can cultivate crops and building materials in the most efficient and sustainable way. We need research into energy production (which I think falls under physics and engineering) to make sure we produce enough energy for our needs in a clean and sustainable way. Research that helps make new technologies drives our world forward.

I listened to a talk by someone a few years ago whos research was based on ants and how they form their colonies, and then this data was used to help us design cities. I would never have linked those two things together myself!