Freedom and fun, key to science: Gajdusek<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A visiting Nobel laureate yesterday reminded
\nresearchers of the two essentials to boosting science -- freedom
\nand fun.<\/p>\n
\"A researcher would rather be given an empty warehouse, than a
\nlaboratory based on someone else's idea,\" American Daniel
\nCarleton Gajdusek, 1976 Nobel prize winner in Physiology and
\nMedicine, said in a speech before the National Research Council.<\/p>\n
A strong sense of fun in seeking the unknown guarantees \"a
\ngreat career in science,\" Gajdusek said.<\/p>\n
He said that it pays for any country to invest in scientists.
\n\"It is not all that expensive to invest in young people, as the
\nones most willing to be scientists will not be those looking for
\nvery large salaries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gajdusek was invited to speak as part of the Council's 10th
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
The council announced on Monday the eight winners, out of 410
\nentries, of the national research contest.<\/p>\n
Gajdusek's address on boosting scientists hit home, as
\nresearchers said freedom is a luxury where essentials, even
\njournals and research time, are lacking.<\/p>\n
The biotechnology inter-university center at the Bogor
\nInstitute of Agriculture, for instance, has not subscribed to a
\nsingle journal for a long time, until funds were recently
\nobtained from the research fellowship of the Research Council.<\/p>\n
\"It's even hard to find what you need at the library of the
\nIndonesian Science Institute although the catalog lists all the
\ntitles,\" said Antonious Suwanto, who won this year's research
\nselection in the biotechnology category.<\/p>\n
Gajdusek stressed that research agencies must allocate part of
\ntheir budget for studies in basic science and not simply spend
\nthem all on applied science.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the National Research Council, Samaun
\nSamadikun, said that from 4,500 entries in this year's
\nselection, almost all were in the fields of applied science and
\nnew technology.<\/p>\n
Only few were in basic sciences and practical, production
\ntechnology, he said. \"This was surprising,\" Samaun said.<\/p>\n
Gajdusek, a 71-year-old pediatrician and neurologist, was
\nawarded the Noble prize mainly for his studies in the field of
\nchild growth and development and disease patterns.<\/p>\n
The Research Council requested his advice on fostering
\nresearch, to which he responded he had never been an
\nadministrator, and that good scientists must never be asked to
\nhold administrative positions.<\/p>\n
Among some of the winners of the research contest were the
\nteams under Umar Anggara Jenie in medical technology, Djarot
\nSasongko Hami Seno in biotechnology for husbandry and Indarto
\nKatim in process technology.<\/p>\n
Hadi Prasetyo from the Ministry of Mining and Energy won the
\ngeology category, Ihsan Hariadi from the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology in microelectronics and Achiar Oemry from the
\nIndonesian Science Institute won in the development of new
\nmaterial. Riwanto Tirtosudarmo, also of the Institute, was
\nselected for the social sciences category. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freedom-and-fun-key-to-science-gajdusek-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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