Scientists hold key to RI's industrialization<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Scientists hold the key to Indonesia's current
\ndrive to become a modern industrial society, equal to any
\ndeveloped country in the world, President Soeharto said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
"The role of scientists is very crucial and decisive,"
\nSoeharto said in the keynote address opening the Sixth Congress
\nof Indonesian Science, at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Despite national efforts to produce more scientists, through
\nlocal and foreign education institutions, their number is hardly
\nsufficient for the nation entering the 21st century, he said.<\/p>\n
"That's why we have to give generous amounts of attention to
\nthe efforts to produce more highly qualified researchers, by
\nproviding the necessary infrastructure, facilities and funds."<\/p>\n
He appealed to the meeting of Indonesia's top brains to work
\nout ways of making their profession more attractive to the young
\ngeneration.<\/p>\n
Some 635 scientists of all disciplines are attending the five-
\nday congress, which continues today at Serpong just outside
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Soefjan Tsauri, chairman of the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences, said during the opening ceremony that three cabinet
\nministers will address the forum.<\/p>\n
The participants will discuss six main papers, 19 papers from
\nguest speakers and 167 papers from contributors.<\/p>\n
Today, the forum will also hear a lecture from Yuan Tseh Lee,
\nthe Nobel prize winner in chemistry from Taiwan, who will present
\na paper on discussing science and education in developing
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Soefjan said the congress's theme is to look into the role of
\nIndonesian scientists in national development in facing the 21st
\ncentury.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, in his speech, stressed that while Indonesia is
\nstriving to become an industrial nation, it must do so by
\nstriking the right balance between fulfilling material and
\nspiritual needs.<\/p>\n
While science and technology form the foundation of the
\nnation's advancement, they could also be destructive he said,
\nciting erosion of moral values, widening social disparity and
\nrising crime rates as some of their negative impacts.<\/p>\n
"In building a modern society, we must not neglect the role of
\nvarious social and humanitarian sciences," he said.<\/p>\n
The President said scientists should hold more forums of
\ndiscussion, not only among themselves, but also, no less
\nimportant, with members of the public. Scientists should also
\npublicize their findings by writing for both special and general
\npublications, he added. (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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