Technological gap between rich, poor nations widening<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that the
\ntechnological gap between advanced and developing countries
\nshould be bridged immediately.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening of the Second Asia-Pacific Conference
\non Medical Genetics, the President said that industrialized
\ncountries have made very rapid progress because they are
\nsupported by scientific and technological might and huge
\nfinancial resources. The developing nations, meanwhile, are
\nbogged down in a quagmire of backwardness and hunger.<\/p>\n
"Unless this gap is bridged immediately, humankind will always
\nbe subjected to injustice and constant disquiet," Soeharto told
\n300 participants from 13 countries.<\/p>\n
The four-day conference was sponsored by the Indonesia-based
\nEijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and the World Health
\nOrganization. The opening ceremony took place at the State
\nPalace.<\/p>\n
The conference will discuss chromosome abnormalities, advances
\nin molecular genetics and in human genome project, genetic
\ndisorders of red blood cells and country reports on genetics.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said history illustrates how the use of science and
\ntechnology has led to a quantum leap in progress.<\/p>\n
The use of science and technology has made what people used to
\ndream of into reality, he said.<\/p>\n
"This is why we fully understand that science and technology
\nmust guide us in the effort to accelerate the attainment of
\nprogress," Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
He also warned the scientists of their responsibility to
\nmaster science and technology.<\/p>\n
He said that one of the scientific disciplines which has
\ndeveloped rapidly is molecular biology, which development has
\nimpacted on the knowledge about the process of how a disease
\ndevelops.<\/p>\n
The Eijkman Institute was established in 1888 by Dr.
\nChristiaan Eijkman, a Dutch scientist who discovered the
\ncorrelation between vitamin-B deficiency and beriberi.<\/p>\n
Eijkman won a Nobel Prize in 1929 for this discovery. The
\ninstitute was later named after him.<\/p>\n
After the Japanese occupation of Indonesia began in 1942, the
\ninstitute's activities declined drastically. It closed down in
\n1965.<\/p>\n
In 1992, State Minister of Research and Technology B. J.
\nHabibie re-established the institute but shifted its task to
\nmolecular biology research.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Soeharto greeted the participants of the
\nsecond Eijkman Symposium on the Molecular Biology of Disease.<\/p>\n
Sangkot Marzuki, director of the Institute, told reporters
\nlast week that the Asia-Pacific conference was actually scheduled
\nfor next year, but the institute insisted on holding it this year
\nto celebrate the 50th anniversary of Indonesian independence.<\/p>\n
Sangkot, the winner of an ASEAN achievement award on biology,
\nsaid that the conference will hear five keynote speakers from
\nvarious countries. One of them is Sir Gustav Nossal, director of
\nthe Australian Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical
\nResearch.<\/p>\n
Nossal will give a lecture on medical genetics and preventive
\nmedicine tomorrow night at the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue of the
\nconference.<\/p>\n
According to Sangkot, the Eijkman Institute has cooperated
\nwith the Australian institute to research the malaria parasite.<\/p>\n
"The research will include molecular biology field work in
\neastern Indonesia," he said.<\/p>\n
Sangkot expected ASEAN countries to set up a network to enable
\nmember countries to communicate better.<\/p>\n
"The main problem about the regional network is funds," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sangkot expressed the hope that the region will have a network
\nlike the European Molecular Biology Association to help mobilize
\nexperts. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/technological-gap-between-rich-poor-nations-widening-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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