Four reasons why direct engagement can still make a difference

In The Ascent of Man, his acclaimed early-'70s documentary series charting the development of society, Dr Jacob Bronowski offered a memorable summary of "the essence of science". "Ask an impertinent question," he said, "and you are on the way to the pertinent answer." Bronowski was referring in particular to the work of chemist and physicist John Dalton, who pioneered the modern atomic theory of matter. The impertinent question Dalton dared to pose was basically this: "Do all particles weigh the same?"  It's fair to say fund managers are unlikely to come up with enquiries of such worl...