Expertise matters. It is particularly relevant when the need is immediate and personal. We don’t look to the mechanic to do brain surgery, nor do we look to the brain surgeon to fix our brakes. While we value both, we readily seek the practiced wisdom of specialized expertise as it is needed.
On the other hand, it can be difficult to visualize the benefits arising from expertise that isn’t tied to the needs of now. In a Florida Research Consortium report titled “Research as Economic Foundation” (http://bit.ly/ResearchAsEconomicFoundation), we make the case for scientific expertise now. This expertise will create definite economic benefits for Floridians as it is made tangible with cures, new products and new services, in ways that are not yet seen.
