Addressing the symptoms rather than the causes is our common approach to solving problems
By Flor Lacanilao
Manilla Philippines
Let's take the problems of poverty and overpopulation discussed in a letter to the editor.
(Inquirer, 6/18/07) They are symptoms of underdevelopment, forming a
vicious cycle, making economic growth more difficult. Dealing with
symptoms is just like administering medicine to ease the pain instead of
curing the disease. We must address the cause to achieve the objective.
The basic cause of our underdevelopment is poor science and
technology (S&T). While controlling population growth may facilitate
economic progress, this cannot be achieved without Science and technology. We should
learn from densely populated countries that have left us behind and the
sparsely populated African countries, which have remained poor.
When Singapore was developing its industrial base in the 1960's and 1970's, its population density was higher than that of the Philippines
today; but its government relied much on the country's scientists and
focused on advancing science and technology. By 1995, the number of its
scientific publications (the established measure of Science and technology performance)
was six times more than that of the Philippines, even though we were 20
times bigger than Singapore.
In India, which has 1 billion people and a high population density
(368 persons per sq km against our 300), economic growth is in rapid
progress. Signs are accumulating that India is on course to becoming
one of the world's scientific and technological leaders. More and
more young scientists now are opting to stay or at least return to
India. Not only are living conditions improving, but opportunities for
exciting work are exploding owing to a growing roster of research and
development centers that multinational companies have been establishing
there in recent years.
African countries, however, have remained poor despite low population
densities. For example, Zimbabwe, Congo, Mozambique, Sudan, Zambia and
Angola have only 10 to 32 persons per sq km. Hence, it was said, whereas science alone cannot save Africa, Africa without science cannot
be saved.
While our government, by its pronouncements, has long recognized the
importance of Science and technology to economic growth, it has failed to institute
programs to improve science.
Poor science has been our major obstacle to economic growth. And it
has led to the public's confusion and difficulty in distinguishing
between the causes and symptoms of national problems. Mainly to blame is
the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), which is
mandated to advise the President and the Cabinet on matters related to
science and technology.
Corruption in government and common crimes are also symptoms of
underdevelopment. So are poor education and environment degradation.
Like poverty and overpopulation, they are problems that largely
disappear as a nation achieves real growth through Science and technology. The few
crooks that remain in developed countries are for sociologists to
explain. They are not development-related.
Development goals that do not recognize the importance of science
and technology in economic transformation are likely to fail, especially
those aimed at reducing poverty and raising income levels. (Harvard
Report: Meeting the needs of developing countries, 2001)
Flor Lacanilao is a retired professor of marine science
at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. His series
of published articles on public understanding of science are now posted
at www.philippinestoday.net (under SciTech Update). The articles discuss
how science should be done and how the Filipino scientific community
has failed in its social responsibility.
Source:
The enquirer newspaper
Africason 
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