Should scholars and researchers only concern whether their work makes a contribution to the society, or only pursue their individual interests? Well, the speaker claims interests are more important under no circumstances. However, I maintain that although the practical concern and the ideological pursuit have their merits, but they are not exclusive. Also, from my perspective, scholars and researchers should concern both, but in the long term, they should consider more on the interests, whereas the contribution in the short term.
Scholars and researchers pursuing their individual interests is sound because interest can drive research to best discover the unknown world. We all know interest is the best teacher; no other motivations can lead researchers to success than interest. Driving only by the interest, they do not have to think about the outcome of their work; thus they will concentrate on the research with his mind unrestricted, he may have some good endings, like happy accidents. For example, Fleming never thought of whether his work will contribute to the society before he discovered (qing mei su)penicilin by accident. He was so interested in his work, never caring about how many trials and errors, and he finally found something significantly useful to the society.
However, concerning whether to make a contribution to the larger society is grounded on the immediate need of the work of research. The existing and immidiate immediate problems in the society need to be solved by the research. Bird Flu, H1N1,SARS, all these contageous contagious disease were needed to be killed before most people were infected with such diseases. If researchers only had did what they (had been?) were interested in, and there were no ones interested in finding a kind of medicine to cure the disease, then thousands of people would had died in the diseases.
 Above all, concerning with a controbution contribution to society and pursuing interests are not exclusive. If a researcher or scholar works in the field he like, with the mission of best contribution to the society, he can succeed. Consider Yuan Longping, a researcher of rice, chosed to learn his favorate favorite subject--agriculture-- in college, after graduated, he devoted his whole life researching in multiplant hybrid rice with the goal of letting every Chinese people get rid of hunger. Latter, he did succeed, making a significant contribution to Chinese society.
Admittedly, I agree that the aim of contribution is more important in the short term, however, in the long term, interest is more important. Because aiming at solving the immediate problems is short-sighted. Most problems are potential before they become immediate. Additionally, perhaps researches involves a longtime before a meaningful result come out, those immediate problems may be not problems at all. Thus, focusing more on the interest in the long run, the researchers can also have good results.