Import of scientific research
President Mahinda
Rajapaksa made a pertinent observation when he called for all
scientific research done in the country to be focused on
development. He told a gathering of scientists at Temple Trees
that their research should not be confined to study but there
should be a viable mechanism to bring them to an implementation
level.
The importance of scientific research in the modern age for
any country cannot be overemphasized. We often read in the
newspapers of some break through or other in diverse fields
following scientific research in countries that will have a big
impact on the lives of people. New inventions are being
discovered almost on a daily basis in some corner of the world
that would bring economic benefits to the countries concerned.
Governments in these countries too have recognized the
importance of scientific research in today's context and
reserved huge chunks of their national budget for the purpose.
True, as a small country Sri Lanka is yet to venture into the
realm of space science or other rarefied fields of the kind. But
it could certainly step up research in other fields that would
benefit our people even in a small way. Regrettably though the
scientific research so far carried out in this country, if any,
have not delivered the desired results. It is a fact that the
large mass of our people today do not benefit from any
scientific research carried out locally. Nay most of the people
are not even aware if such research exists.
True, bodies like the Rice Research Institute have done some
experiments with new strains of paddy and the Rubber Research
Institute also came up with a finding on how to produce rubber
at low cost. But by and large scientific research in Sri Lanka
have failed to touch the lives of the public. The President put
it pithily when he said how institutions which were originally
established to promote a research culture in the country ended
up by producing medical reports to hospitals. So much for
scientific research.
In fact from all accounts, research has taken a back seat in
the scheme of things. One of the reasons may be the lack of
funds to undertake monumental works in the field of scientific
research. This sate of affairs should be remedied and pride of
place given to this subject if Sri Lanka is not be left behind
the rest of the world. The large exodus of our scientists
leaving for greener pastures have also exacerbated the problem.
What is needed therefore is the necessary incentive for
scientific research by way of necessary funds and a conducive
environment for the conduct of research. This is important given
the gigantic tasks ahead of us to rebuild the country from the
ashes of war where the importance of the inputs from scientific
research cannot be overemphasized.
This is time to get all research work activated given the
President's oft repeated desire for using local expertise in the
development tasks. These should not necessarily be confined to
conventional scientific research. Encouragement should also be
given to innovative ideas out of the realm of the academic to
augment the work of scientific research. A good example of this
is the latest high-teach electricity producing system driven by
solar power introduced by the Power and Energy Ministry.
According to the new method, electricity is produced with the
aid of a set of solar panels which are more efficient than
conventional solar panels and operate even in low sunlight
conditions. Time and again we come across some village youth who
have hit on some invention or other that would be economical to
use. But after the first flush of excitement the matter is
forgotten. This is hardly the incentive for talent to flourish.
Let us hope that all assistance is given to promote and expand
the latest "Net Metering System" introduced by the Power and
Energy Ministry.
Similarly our researchers should strive to uncover similar
devices and methods that would ease the demand on the national
grid and also produce cheap sources of electricity affordable to
the public. For the whole purpose of scientific research is to
derive benefits that are economical to the public and adding to
also those that added to their comfort and convenience.
It is hoped that scientific research in this country will be
given the attention it deserves and not receive the stepmotherly
treatment it had been receiving all these years and the Science
and Technology Ministry elevated to its due status now that the
Head of State himself has come to acknowledge the importance of
scientific research and the impact it could have on the lives of
the people. |