Reflections on science and technology policy

Reflections on science and technology policy

In this paper we want to present some brief ideas about public science and technology policy, in the simplest way possible, with due respect to specialists, from an academic perspective in the field of social and political sciences, but, of course, put forward some ideas that may seem irreverent.

We can begin by noting that thinking about science and technology policy implies putting all areas of science on an equal footing and not believing, as it was thought in the recent past, that there are some “serious sciences” and some less serious, because we started badly. In addition, it should be noted that there are forms of knowledge that are the product of practical experience, such as the knowledge possessed by our peasants, people of African descent, and indigenous peoples that over time allowed them to cultivate and use their lands and reproduce traditional seeds. The main reason that should motivate science and technology policy is, in addition to helping to solve human problems, to enable cultural and artistic developments, without ignoring the importance of progress in various fields of knowledge.

Thus, we must say that the public policy of science and technology should have at least three axes:

1. The organization and support of all that we consider ancestral and folk knowledge, which is, without a doubt, a field of knowledge of paramount importance – which is derived from the ancient experience or knowledge of our societies – and is central to agricultural production, especially the production of small producers or communities, but also to regional gastronomy traditional medicine, fishing and mining practices, among many other topics; In this regard, we recognize that sometimes there may be a reluctance on the part of some leaders of this population to share their knowledge due to negative past experiences, but that efforts must be made to overcome this reluctance, precisely through a serious policy such as ours. suggest.

2 – Stimulating the traditional scientific research carried out by universities, research centers and technical and technological training institutions, which is characterized by the use of the so-called “scientific method”. But without excluding individual researchers, who can also propose research projects and get support. In this field, significant results have been achieved in various fields of knowledge, manifested in the publication of books, scientific articles, patents, artworks, spin off

3. Properly disseminate research developments, not only for general information to the community and the international community, but also to stimulate new research, especially in young people; Ie to promote new hotspots for researchers.

Leaders in the field should be placed at the head of each of these axes, who, with all institutional support, can strengthen and motivate them and achieve the goals expected in the science and technology development plan.

Thus, the general policy of the sector can lead the search for solutions to national problems, so that society perceives this policy and its implementation as something close to solving everyone’s problems and not something far off that interests only specialists.