Progressive research is a blessing to society.
The research challenges nations face in globalizing economies calls for some fundamental common sense in the approach that science takes globally. Science, business and government needs to work hand in hand. Science and business needs are complementary and it is important that they are clearly communicated, goal oriented and constructively met. Integrating, securing, safeguarding and centralizing the research findings of public/private research needs to be a national priority. It is also equally important that there is accountability in science research funding.
This will help in:
1. Avoidance of investments in already solved science research problems
2. Prevent loss in intellectual property due to mismanaged research priorities by both public/private (universities as well as industry)
3. Allow cross industry research /innovation access
4. Meet national and global science goals
What is the state of science within your nation? What are the risks and challenges you see in science research/innovation within your nation?
Let me know your thoughts. Please specify which nation you are addressing.
Jayshree Pandya PhD
Global Risk Advisor
#1 by pravesh1126 on March 10th, 2009 - 9:17 pm
In Mauritius, science is not given so much importance. Indeed, in this era of globalisation, economics is seen to be more important than science. We do need science in our contry, but little is doe to promote it. Most peole doing science re either teaching at university or secondary level, or are moving overseas to pursue further studies and stay there ( that’s why we are faced with a massive brain drain in the sciences). Even teachers lack here.
Yu have seen that the government is not making science one of its priorities. I agree with you thta science needs to be on the agenda of many governments, but yet the rules are dictated by globalization: for us, which forms part of transition economies, the impact of develoed and developing worlds’ policies is huge. Economics wins the battle, given that we trade very much, the economy is quite unstable, though resilient and jobs requiring economics far exceed those for sciences.
The risks and challenges: Given this lack of job opportunities, we are facing a very huge brain drain in sciences, notably physics and chemistry. We lack a pool of young, dynamic and highly qualified people to cause innovation and change in sciences.
In fact, we need those people in fields such as waste water management, tropical medicines, sanitation and many other fields. But this brain drain means that our vulnerability is on the rise.
In conclusion, we need proper and well-thought government policies to hold this brain drain by offering more jobs.