Hikam practices practical science<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bringing science back to earth seems to be the
\nintention of State Minister of Research and Technology A.S. Hikam
\nas he tries to put a dose of market common sense into endeavors
\nin his office.<\/p>\n
Hikam maintains that the changes being ushered in at his
\noffice and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
\nTechnology (BPPT) which he chairs, are necessary and in fact in
\nline with the paradigm shifts in the nation from being state
\noriented to being societal oriented.<\/p>\n
Two very important fundamentals being imposed is that the
\nresearch and technology produced must be applicable to the
\npublic, and that it must be incentive driven.<\/p>\n
Gone are the days when scientists could look at the state as a
\nbottomless pit of resources for often conjectural studies.<\/p>\n
In the past \"technology was isolated from society, the market,
\nand industry. It was just a hobby oriented activity,\" Hikam said
\nduring a recent discussion at The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"What's the use of creating sophisticated labs if it has no
\ndirect contribution to society?\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
In the past the state ministry and the agency often have been
\ncriticized for embarking on projects with little relevance for
\nimproving the welfare of most Indonesians.<\/p>\n
While various projects will continue, Hikam pointed out that
\nwhat is important now is to undertake projects based on their
\napplications to the public.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that scientists themselves have to understand
\nthe social dynamics so their innovations can be widely \"accepted\"
\nby the majority of unsophisticated public.<\/p>\n
\"The most important priority is how to secure agribusiness and
\nindustry, maritime exploration, and small and medium
\nenterprises,\" he said of the three sectors which have proven
\nthemselves most resilient during the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
In an effort to adapt high technology to suit the people's
\nneeds Hikam cited the adaptation of biotechnology for creating
\nhigh quality seeds, and radio isotope for fattening livestock.<\/p>\n
\"We are also distributing booklets of our more practical
\nexperiments like how to make earthworm flour,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Worm flour is a powdered form of the earthworm used to treat
\nsymptoms such as temperatures and fevers.<\/p>\n
The second important change is that research must now be
\nincentive driven, in that state sponsored projects must yield
\nsome sort of return.<\/p>\n
This also highlights the need to increase the role and
\nparticipation of the private sector in research.<\/p>\n
\"The role of the state in this field must be changed from
\nexecutor to facilitator,\" Hikam remarked.<\/p>\n
Research without heeding market needs only wastes resources
\nand the results are irrelevant and useless, he explained.<\/p>\n
Any discussion of the State Ministry could not escape the
\nmention of former president B.J. Habibie who headed it for two
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
Without directly referring to Habibie, Hikam admits that he
\nhas had to reorganize the internal shortcomings of both the state
\nministry and BPPT which were a result of past regimes.<\/p>\n
He even suggested that beyond the grand edifice, the internal
\nstructures of the organizations are weak.<\/p>\n
\"For years people saw what they believe was the majestic
\nadvancement of science and technology...but in the end what we
\nreally saw was a myth,\" Hikam remarked. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hikam-practices-practical-science-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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