Scientists hold key to RI's industrialization

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)