Magnetism, the felicitous science

Magnetism is a wonderful example of how basic science, flowing from a magical natural phenomenon can become ubiquitous in our lives, thanks to the

Figure 1: An impression of activity over the twentieth century in fundamental theory, normal science, materials development and industrial production in relation to permanent magnetism.

labours of successive generations of specialists. The twentieth century is a convenient time frame in which to trace how leaps in theoretical understanding and advances in experimental practice can relate to the emergence of a technology that creates wealth and facilitates our life. Figure 1. portrays the work in basic theory, normal science, materials development and industrial production (the latter two in relation to permanent magnetism). The four are interlinked, but cause-and-effect relations are not always obvious.
The context of magnetic research and development is schematized in Fig. 2. The activity employs roughly 30 000 people worldwide, at a cost

Figure 2: Relations between academic and industrial research and development.

of over e1 billion per year. It is instructive to contrast attitudes of academic and industrial scientists to new knowledge and technology. One seeks diffusion, the other ownership. Academic research is rewarded by peer recognition, industrial development by profit. Both share an understanding that by interrogating nature in a structured and rational way, trustworthy and objective knowledge of practical importance can be obtained. This is what unites the geomancer, the telegraph engineer, the PhD student struggling for data, the corporate scientist whose invention could trigger a billion dollar investment providing employment for thousands and the professor attempting to draw the strands together in a book on this felicitous science.