Science & Technology: What for?

November 12, 2012, 7:56 pm , The Island


By Dr.C.S. Weeraratna

World Science Day fell on Nov. 10. This article examines to what extent Science and Technology has been effectively used in Sri Lanka to alleviate poverty and to advance the socio-economic development of the country.

The Science and Technology status of a country is the backbone of its development strategy. Most of the South and South East Asian countries, during the last two decades, have developed considerably by effective use of Science and Technology. In Sri Lanka, during the last decade, perhaps billions have been spent on Research and Development (R&D) but, what were the benefits the country received from all the money spent?

The General President of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), in the year 2005, in his inaugural address said, ‘What has bothered me over the years is the insignificant, almost negligible impact on economic, industrial and agricultural development that we have had from research that has been conducted over the past fifty years……." The president of the Sri Lanka Economic Association, at the SLEA annual meeting held last month, too highlighted the very low level of Science and Technology in Sri Lanka.

Scientific institutions

In Sri Lanka, there are around 30 institutions, in addition to the 14 universities, that carry out research on various aspects related to socio-economic development. The National Science Foundation (NSF), the Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP) and National Research Council (NRC) are expected to promote research. According to NSF data, in 2008, there were nearly 4000 scientists in Sri Lanka , 1025 in Natural Sciences, 939 in Agricultural Sciences, 927 in Engineering, 768 in Medical and 111 in Social Sciences. Almost 61% of the scientists are in universities. Out of the 4,000 scientists around 2200 have postgraduate qualifications.

NSF during 1995-2000, funded 217 research projects involving a sum of Rs. 102 millions. The details of the research projects funded by NSF since 2000 are not available .Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP), since its inception in 1988 to 2005, has funded about 500 projects related to agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, involving around Rs. 550 million. There is hardly any information available on the expenditure by NSC in promoting research. A large number of papers are presented by our scientists at numerous seminars, symposia etc. For example, during the period 2004-2008, around 1,100 papers were presented at the SLASS annual sessions. However, in spite of all these organizations and qualified scientists, Science & Technology appears to have not played a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.

Many in S&T institutions lament that the expenditure on S&T is very low. They are of the view that a higher % of the GDP needs to be spent on development of Science and Technology. This is very true, but it is also important that the money spent is utilized properly. Various institutions spend large sums of money to purchase very expensive equipment but little is used. We do not have a centralized scientific equipment repair centre. As a result, research equipment bought at high costs is not used, may be for want of a simple repair.

In 2004, National Academy of Science of Sri Lanka held a workshop titled ‘Impediments to Science and Technology in Sri Lanka’. In the paper on "Science and Technology Development in South and Southeast Asia - A Review" presented by Dr.K.A. de Alwis, (the present President of National Academy of Science of Sri Lanka ), at this workshop highlighted a number of reasons for poor performance of S&T in Sri Lanka.

Challenges

The socio=economic problems and the challenges which we face in Sri Lanka are many, and have increased considerably during the last decade. For example, the trade deficit which was Rs. 588 billion in 2010 has almost doubled to Rs 910 billion in 2011. It is estimated that this will exceed Rs. 1,000 billion in 2012. High trade deficit is one of the factors contributing to increasing govt. debt which stands at around Rs. 6,000 billion.

A major problem we are facing is the fuel crisis. The cost of importing petroleum in 2009 was around Rs 300 billion. In 2012, it is likely to be Rs. 600 billion. A high expenditure on petroleum will widen our annual trade deficit. There have to be short, medium and long term plans to overcome the issues related to fuel crisis. The Ministry of Finance and Planning and other relevant organizations, such as, the Ministry of Power and Energy, need to formulate a plan, in consultation with relevant scientists to mitigate the increase in expenditure on fuel imports. There are similar issues which warrant the involvement of scientists and technologists.

Relevant research

The primary objective of use of Science and Technology in a developing country, such as Sri Lanka, must be the conduct of appropriate studies on critical issues and advice the authorities on relevant action to be taken. Science and Technology needs to be used to utilize locally available resources. The research efforts need to be directed more towards those aspects, which have a direct impact on the socio-economy of the country.

Vidya Jyothi Late Dr Ray Wijewardene, former Chancellor of Moratuwa University, in his presentation at the workshop on " Impediments to Science and Technology in Sri Lanka" organized by the NASSL, said, " I must admit that our scientists in Sri Lanka have failed to take a lead in helping exploit the vast resources with which this country is blessed…  and not only to the extent of ‘ writing a paper’  for some foreign journal… or publishing pious recommendations; but ensuring that their research is both socially and financially sound in the context of this (their) country."

The organizations which are involved in scientific research have the responsibilities to promote research that is needed by the country. This is why the Minister of Science & Technology, in his message to the 62nd Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science said that. " the research effort should place more emphasis on development. Relevant research is critical for development and has a positive impact on the other development processes.

Last year, NSF very correctly initiated National Thematic Research Programme (NTRP), where the themes are decided as per the national priorities. The NSF identified ‘Energy Security’, ‘Food Security’, ‘Water Security’ and ‘Climate Change’ as the priority areas to start with under the NTRP. This programme is expected to promote research, the results of which can be harnessed for national development. Up to now the NTRP has not got off the ground.

Socio-economic development depends on a number of factors, among which is availability of appropriate technologies. The technologies developed by research need to be effectively utilized/ commercialized, for which investments have to made. Institutions, such as, Ministry of Industries, the Board of Investments etc. need to coordinate with the scientific organizations to attract investments on commercialization of proven technologies.

In fact, one of the proposals of Mahinda Chintanaya in relation to Science and Technology (Chapter 12 of Mahinda Chintanaya : Vision for News Sri Lanka) is to recognize the key role of Science and Technology as an important and essential item in national development by carrying out a number of activities such as:

a. Establishing Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committees

b. Including scientific and technological planning in the ministerial, sectoral and national level plans of the country

c. Integrating scientific and technological planning into the national level plans of the country and

d. Involving scientists and technologists in all relevant sectors

The National Science and Technology Policy (NSTP) of 2008, too emphasizes application of Science and Technology for national development. Among the 10 objectives of NSTP, one was to enhance Science and Technology capability for national development by making use of Science and Technology expertise in the national

planning process, and strengthening governance and policy implementation mechanisms. One of the strategies to achieve this objective was to include scientists and technologists in the formulation of national development policies and plans, review strategies, legislation in decision-making and implementation, at the national and provincial levels, properly utilizing relevant scientific data. The proposed main agencies for implementation of strategies/initiatives in relation to this objective are Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance and Planning , NSF, NRC, CARP, University Grants Commission, SLAAS and NASTEC. Three years have passed since this NSTP was brought to light, but no action appears to have been taken by any of the organizations indicated. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) should give leadership in implementing this strategy.

A few years ago, when current Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa was the Minister of Agriculture, an advisory council consisting of a number of scientists was established. The scientists who were in this council made several recommendation towards development of the agricultural sector. These recommendations were brought to the notice of the present Minister of Agriculture, but no action appears to have been taken to implement these recommendations.

Role of institutions

To make use of Science and Technology effectively, it is important that the private sector interacts with the scientists/technologists to improve their output quantitatively and qualitatively and also to reduce their COP. It is also necessary that scientific organizations in the country play appropriate roles. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) has around 4,000 members representing a number of scientific fields, such as, Medical, Dental and Veterinary Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, Engineering, Architecture and Surveying, Life & Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences and Social Sciences. National Academy of Science of Sri Lanka (NASSL) has around 125 scientists who have achieved excellence in their respective scientific / technological fields. One of the objectives of NASSL is to act as a consultative body to the government of Sri Lanka on all matters and activities related to the application of Science and Technology in national development. There are many other professional associations which could play a prominent role in making Science & Technology beneficial to the country.

It is also important that the chairmen/ directors of the numerous government research/technological organizations are scientists qualified in the respective fields. We have a number of research related organizations, such as, CARP, Agrarian Research & Training Institute, Institute for Post Harvest Technology, Rubber Research Institute manned by non-scientists. According to the Sugarcane Research Act, the minister responsible for the Sugarcane Research Institute should nominate three eminent scientists to the board. But, the minister’s nominees are not eminent scientists, making the SRI Board illegal.

It is up to the Secretaries of ministries, chairmen of Boards and other institutions to make use of the human resources available in the country in the formulation of national development policies and plans, review strategies, legislation, and in decision-making and implementation, at the national and provincial levels, as proposed in Mahinda Chintanaya. The Advisor on Science Technology to the President, and the Minster of Science & Technology, need to take the lead in getting the scientists / technologists involved in the formulation and implementation of development plans, if Sri Lanka is going to be the Miracle of Asia.

csweera@sltnet.lk