Distinguished science club fails to impress public
Distinguished science club fails to impress public
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), a
board of the nation's most distinguished scientists, has
accomplished little after more than two years in existence, one
of its leaders says.
Sabana Kartasasmita, the outgoing secretary general, on
Saturday blamed the poor record of the academy on a lack of
member participation.
Sabana, who will soon become Indonesia's ambassador to Belgium
and Luxembourg, said that the academy has not taken a strong role
in public life.
"AIPI is perhaps among the least prominent independent
agencies in the country," he said, contrasting the academy with
the National Commission on Human Rights, which has been a magnet
for publicity since its founding last December.
The academy was begun in November 1991 with the task of
advising the government and the public on the mastering,
utilizing and development of science and technology.
The list of the board's 26 members reads like a who's who of
Indonesian science. Most famously, leading economist Widjojo
Nitisastro chairs the board and State Minister of Research and
Technology B.J. Habibie joins him.
Sabana, who is a political scientist, cited one of the main
drawbacks in the political and other social sciences is that the
issues tend to be very sensitive.
"The exposition of truth in social sciences may cause some
reactions from the authorities and other members of society. A
political scientist needs extra courage to expose some of the
more controversial findings," he said.
He added that things are changing, as the AIPI board has
already initiated frank exchanges of view among the membership on
everything from nuclear to social problems.
"Someday, there will be a time when we have the courage and
feel free to express every scientific truth," he said
optimistically. He also pointed out that unlike the pure
sciences, social science is much more subjective.
Transfer of post
Sabana was speaking to reporters during the transfer of the
AIPI secretary general post from him to Mohammad Ridwan, a
nuclear expert and a board member of the international science
program at Uppsala University, Sweden.
AIPI board chairman Widjojo Nitisastro during the ceremony
said that the main concern of the Academy is to assess the state
of every branch of science in Indonesia and abroad.
Widjojo said the AIPI is not intended to generate practical
solutions but rather to give scientifically sound contribution to
government and society.
"Give us time. We will work intensively according to our
commissions," Widjojo said.
The academy is divided into five discipline categories. The
commission of engineering is chaired by Habibie, the commission
of medicine by Mahar Mardjono, the commission of social sciences
is headed by Selo Soemardjan, the commission of basic sciences is
presided by J.A Katili and the commission of culture is led by
Kuntjaraningrat.
The Academy now has 26 members and six honorary members. All
of them are noted senior professors of their respective fields.
Among the Academy's contribution to the government are reports
on scientific and technological progress and a humanistic
development approach which has been sent to the National
Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and a formulation on East
Timor development and the progress of democracy in Indonesia.
(prs)