Hikam practices practical science
Hikam practices practical science
JAKARTA (JP): Bringing science back to earth seems to be the
intention of State Minister of Research and Technology A.S. Hikam
as he tries to put a dose of market common sense into endeavors
in his office.
Hikam maintains that the changes being ushered in at his
office and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
Technology (BPPT) which he chairs, are necessary and in fact in
line with the paradigm shifts in the nation from being state
oriented to being societal oriented.
Two very important fundamentals being imposed is that the
research and technology produced must be applicable to the
public, and that it must be incentive driven.
Gone are the days when scientists could look at the state as a
bottomless pit of resources for often conjectural studies.
In the past "technology was isolated from society, the market,
and industry. It was just a hobby oriented activity," Hikam said
during a recent discussion at The Jakarta Post.
"What's the use of creating sophisticated labs if it has no
direct contribution to society?" he remarked.
In the past the state ministry and the agency often have been
criticized for embarking on projects with little relevance for
improving the welfare of most Indonesians.
While various projects will continue, Hikam pointed out that
what is important now is to undertake projects based on their
applications to the public.
He also stressed that scientists themselves have to understand
the social dynamics so their innovations can be widely "accepted"
by the majority of unsophisticated public.
"The most important priority is how to secure agribusiness and
industry, maritime exploration, and small and medium
enterprises," he said of the three sectors which have proven
themselves most resilient during the economic crisis.
In an effort to adapt high technology to suit the people's
needs Hikam cited the adaptation of biotechnology for creating
high quality seeds, and radio isotope for fattening livestock.
"We are also distributing booklets of our more practical
experiments like how to make earthworm flour," he said.
Worm flour is a powdered form of the earthworm used to treat
symptoms such as temperatures and fevers.
The second important change is that research must now be
incentive driven, in that state sponsored projects must yield
some sort of return.
This also highlights the need to increase the role and
participation of the private sector in research.
"The role of the state in this field must be changed from
executor to facilitator," Hikam remarked.
Research without heeding market needs only wastes resources
and the results are irrelevant and useless, he explained.
Any discussion of the State Ministry could not escape the
mention of former president B.J. Habibie who headed it for two
decades.
Without directly referring to Habibie, Hikam admits that he
has had to reorganize the internal shortcomings of both the state
ministry and BPPT which were a result of past regimes.
He even suggested that beyond the grand edifice, the internal
structures of the organizations are weak.
"For years people saw what they believe was the majestic
advancement of science and technology...but in the end what we
really saw was a myth," Hikam remarked. (10)