Distinguished science club fails to impress public<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), a
\nboard of the nation's most distinguished scientists, has
\naccomplished little after more than two years in existence, one
\nof its leaders says.<\/p>\n
Sabana Kartasasmita, the outgoing secretary general, on
\nSaturday blamed the poor record of the academy on a lack of
\nmember participation.<\/p>\n
Sabana, who will soon become Indonesia's ambassador to Belgium
\nand Luxembourg, said that the academy has not taken a strong role
\nin public life.<\/p>\n
\"AIPI is perhaps among the least prominent independent
\nagencies in the country,\" he said, contrasting the academy with
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights, which has been a magnet
\nfor publicity since its founding last December.<\/p>\n
The academy was begun in November 1991 with the task of
\nadvising the government and the public on the mastering,
\nutilizing and development of science and technology.<\/p>\n
The list of the board's 26 members reads like a who's who of
\nIndonesian science. Most famously, leading economist Widjojo
\nNitisastro chairs the board and State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology B.J. Habibie joins him.<\/p>\n
Sabana, who is a political scientist, cited one of the main
\ndrawbacks in the political and other social sciences is that the
\nissues tend to be very sensitive.<\/p>\n
\"The exposition of truth in social sciences may cause some
\nreactions from the authorities and other members of society. A
\npolitical scientist needs extra courage to expose some of the
\nmore controversial findings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that things are changing, as the AIPI board has
\nalready initiated frank exchanges of view among the membership on
\neverything from nuclear to social problems.<\/p>\n
\"Someday, there will be a time when we have the courage and
\nfeel free to express every scientific truth,\" he said
\noptimistically. He also pointed out that unlike the pure
\nsciences, social science is much more subjective.<\/p>\n
Transfer of post<\/p>\n
Sabana was speaking to reporters during the transfer of the
\nAIPI secretary general post from him to Mohammad Ridwan, a
\nnuclear expert and a board member of the international science
\nprogram at Uppsala University, Sweden.<\/p>\n
AIPI board chairman Widjojo Nitisastro during the ceremony
\nsaid that the main concern of the Academy is to assess the state
\nof every branch of science in Indonesia and abroad.<\/p>\n
Widjojo said the AIPI is not intended to generate practical
\nsolutions but rather to give scientifically sound contribution to
\ngovernment and society.<\/p>\n
\"Give us time. We will work intensively according to our
\ncommissions,\" Widjojo said.<\/p>\n
The academy is divided into five discipline categories. The
\ncommission of engineering is chaired by Habibie, the commission
\nof medicine by Mahar Mardjono, the commission of social sciences
\nis headed by Selo Soemardjan, the commission of basic sciences is
\npresided by J.A Katili and the commission of culture is led by
\nKuntjaraningrat.<\/p>\n
The Academy now has 26 members and six honorary members. All
\nof them are noted senior professors of their respective fields.<\/p>\n
Among the Academy's contribution to the government are reports
\non scientific and technological progress and a humanistic
\ndevelopment approach which has been sent to the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board (Bappenas) and a formulation on East
\nTimor development and the progress of democracy in Indonesia.
\n(prs)<\/p>",
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