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Thursday, 29 July 2010

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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.

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