Scientists hold key to RI's industrialization

JAKARTA (JP): Scientists hold the key to Indonesia's current drive to become a modern industrial society, equal to any developed country in the world, President Soeharto said yesterday.

"The role of scientists is very crucial and decisive," Soeharto said in the keynote address opening the Sixth Congress of Indonesian Science, at the State Palace.

Despite national efforts to produce more scientists, through local and foreign education institutions, their number is hardly sufficient for the nation entering the 21st century, he said.

"That's why we have to give generous amounts of attention to the efforts to produce more highly qualified researchers, by providing the necessary infrastructure, facilities and funds."

He appealed to the meeting of Indonesia's top brains to work out ways of making their profession more attractive to the young generation.

Some 635 scientists of all disciplines are attending the five- day congress, which continues today at Serpong just outside Jakarta.

Soefjan Tsauri, chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said during the opening ceremony that three cabinet ministers will address the forum.

The participants will discuss six main papers, 19 papers from guest speakers and 167 papers from contributors.

Today, the forum will also hear a lecture from Yuan Tseh Lee, the Nobel prize winner in chemistry from Taiwan, who will present a paper on discussing science and education in developing countries.

Soefjan said the congress's theme is to look into the role of Indonesian scientists in national development in facing the 21st century.

Soeharto, in his speech, stressed that while Indonesia is striving to become an industrial nation, it must do so by striking the right balance between fulfilling material and spiritual needs.

While science and technology form the foundation of the nation's advancement, they could also be destructive he said, citing erosion of moral values, widening social disparity and rising crime rates as some of their negative impacts.

"In building a modern society, we must not neglect the role of various social and humanitarian sciences," he said.

The President said scientists should hold more forums of discussion, not only among themselves, but also, no less important, with members of the public. Scientists should also publicize their findings by writing for both special and general publications, he added. (emb)