Inquiry Based Research: What? Why? And How?

What scientific research should we do? Much of the research enterprise is directed at solving problems or enabling specific needs or desires of society. However, a very important area of research is motivated purely by the man’s desire for knowledge. Much of the transformation of society results from such inquiry-based research, and I will discuss the human qualities that are required and motivate it, why we pursue particular areas of this kind of research, and finally,how we actually make important breakthroughs in science.