To what extent can progress be made on a scientific level through a base on Mars?

Answer

The main scientific advances we can expect from a sojourn there lies in the understanding of Mars itself. We would be better able to identify on the surface those objects that say the most about the history of Mars. In particular, it would be much better than now possible to study the subsurface of the planet. If there were ever life forms on Mars, it’s likely that any preserved signs of them are underground.

The wider relevance to science is beyond what might be called ‘comparative planetology’. Ultimately, we are especially curious to understand who we are, how everything we experience on our Earth has become possible. Perhaps we will understand that better by looking elsewhere, and comparing what we see there with what occurs here. It is often by comparing things with something else that you come to deeper insights.

We should look for new ways to generate energy here. And from Mars that further universe is actually just as far away as it is from us. We don’t have to do it for that.