Penicillin was indeed the product of accidental discovery, but the discovery was made, and the knowledge developed, because certain scientists had definite goals in mind. "Chance," Pastuer wrote, "favors only the prepared mind." The mind must be prepared not only by scientific training and technological know-how, but also by the awareness of social needs.
Basically, everyone thinks--knows--how sweet I am. Emma, you threw my sister through hurricane-proof glass.
There has never been but one question in all civilization-how to keep a few men from saying to many men: You work and earn bread and we will eat it.
Knowledge without know-how is sterile. We use the word "academic" in a pejorative sense to identify this limitation.