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)