Nature triumphs over society at the Institute of Sciences

Nature triumphs over society at the Institute of Sciences

By Mochtar Buchori

JAKARTA (JP): Are social sciences being devalued at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)? And are basic and exact sciences being subjected to reappraisal at the same institution?

These questions were asked by Prof. Sediono Tjondronegoro in his recent article in Kompason Feb. 14, 1996.

He felt compelled to ask these two questions after a ceremony installing institute leaders on Feb. 5 presided over by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

He noticed that at present six out of the seven top bureaucrats at LIPI are hard scientists (five natural scientists and one engineer). It should also be noted that it is the first time the deputy chairman for social sciences and humanities there was recruited from the physical sciences, a physicist.

In his article, Prof. Tjondronegoro wondered whether the decision for these appointments took into consideration certain basic realities.

He noted that our national development efforts face serious problems at the moment. Within the agricultural sector we are facing a shortage of new land areas suitable for agriculture to compensate for the lands that have been converted into industrial and residential areas. There is also a shortage of agricultural workers in our villages.

Within the industrial sector we face a shortage of skilled and educated workers. And in the social and cultural fields we are confronted with an increasing number of social and political problems, which need a professional approach if we are to succeed in our national development efforts.

Prof. Tjondronegoro added that LIPI has been expected to help solve the problems. However, social sciences have not been given proper attention and proper treatment. He also reminded his readers that top LIPI executives are not mere managers.

They are leaders of scientific endeavors, for which professionalism and scientific integrity are absolute requirements. Why, then, are social scientists being overlooked? Are they less equipped for tackling social and cultural problems than natural scientists and engineers?

He then asked former LIPI leaders (and he mentioned my name, among others) for their opinions.

Prof. Tjondronegoro is a social scientist. I sympathize entirely with him, and I share his feelings about this situation. I felt sad when I first heard about the decision. Has the community of social sciences and humanities within LIPI become so impoverished academically that it has to look "outside" for someone capable of fulfilling the leadership role?

The problem of finding a suitable deputy chairman for social sciences and humanities within LIPI has long been considered difficult, sensitive and touchy.

Finding deputy chairpersons for natural sciences, technology, scientific infrastructure, and administration are considered much easier. Why? As Prof. Tjondronegoro said, LIPI is in its design heavily oriented towards natural sciences and technology.

To find a social scientist from the LIPI rank and file who can feel at home in this kind of environment and is not easily intimidated by numbers, tables, and mathematical models is next to impossible. He or she must be able to see the "correct academic path" in a heavily politicized environment, and be young enough so that he can serve in this capacity for at least five years, ten if possible.

The first three persons for this position were "imported" from outside, including myself. There are basically three criteria which have to be met to fulfill this function: academic competence, personal willingness and political acceptability. The problem is finding someone who is considered competent by his or her peers, who is willing, and who is politically acceptable as viewed by various agencies within the highest stratum of the state bureaucracy.

As for personal willingness, I know that there are a number of social scientists within LIPI who are capable, measured by any academic standard. But they are not willing to serve as deputy chairpersons.

Two reasons have been mentioned: economic and scientific. Those who declined the position for economic reasons said that it is too expensive to be LIPI's deputy chairman for social sciences. This is the "driest" division within LIPI.

If you are an economist with some reputation, then you cannot afford to miss those fees that come easily from consulting. Those who have refused to be in this post for academic reasons frequently stated that they will not get academic satisfaction from doing a deputy's job.

A young brilliant scholar within LIPI who was considered to have the potential was once asked this question: "If you were asked to become deputy chairman for social sciences and humanities, would you consider this request? He said no immediately. If you can neither get satisfaction nor gratification from a job, then what are you working for? Power? I am not interested, was the answer.

There is still another consideration which makes certain social scientists with reputation reluctant to accept this position. It is conscience, scientific conscience. Any good social scientist must have his or her personal view regarding problems he or she perceives in his or her environment.

He or she will then take a stand on certain issues for which he or she is totally accountable. And if in the line of duty you have to act against your conscience, can you still be at peace with yourself?

For these persons, to live in constant conflict with oneself is a price they cannot afford to pay. In this kind of situation LIPI's leadership has to choose the best alternative from a number of choices that are less than ideal.

What does this particular situation signify? Does it mean that social sciences and humanities within LIPI are on the decline? Or does it mean that social sciences in this country as a whole are on the decline?

Whatever it means, I would like to join Prof. Tjondronegoro in wishing good luck to the new leadership of LIPI. May God always guide you, protect you, and give you additional strength in your efforts to serve our beloved nation and country.

The writer is an observer of social and political affairs.