Donald E. Stokes

About the Author

Donald E. Stokes was a distinguished political scientist and professor emeritus at Princeton University, renowned for his insightful analyses of the interplay between scientific research and technological advancement. With a career spanning decades, Stokes bridged the worlds of academia and policy, emphasizing how basic scientific inquiry drives practical innovation. His seminal work, Pasteur's Quadrant: Basic Science and Technological Innovation, published in 1997, revolutionized understandings of research paradigms by introducing the 'Pasteur's Quadrant' model, which highlights the value of use-inspired basic research exemplified by Louis Pasteur's contributions. Stokes's scholarship continues to influence science policy, encouraging a balanced approach to funding that fosters both fundamental knowledge and societal benefits, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of innovation studies and public administration.