AsianScientist (Jul. 11, 2011) – The Indonesian government should invest more into science and technology, says the U.S. science envoy to Indonesia and Pakistan, Dr. Bruce Alberts.
Alberts, a prominent biochemist who is also Editor-in-Chief of Science, said that science and technology was a wonderful long-term investment for the future of Indonesia.
“The Indonesian government needs to pay attention and ask questions about how they spend money and prioritize needs in science and technology,” Alberts told reporters after a presentation about Indonesia’s future in science at the U.S. Cultural Center in South Jakarta last week.
He added that there are many talented scientists and engineers in Indonesia and the government should make use of this talent pool to develop various scientific fields.
Alberts said that the U.S. government could help by promoting bilateral partnerships like the first Indonesia-American Kavli Frontiers of Sciences Symposium which was jointly organized by the Indonesian Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
Held from 8-11 July in the city of Bogor in Indonesia, the symposium brought together 70 of the brightest young Indonesian and American scientists to discuss cutting-edge advances and opportunities in the fields of alternative energy, climate change, infectious disease, marine science, biomaterials, and rice genomics.
“I hope that new kinds of scientific partnership will form after the symposium,” Dr. Alberts told The Jakarta Post.
Alberts said that his mission was to connect young American and Indonesian scientists and engineers, and to encourage young Indonesians to study science and technology in the United States.
Alberts’ trip to Indonesia, his third as US science envoy, is part of the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. The Partnership advances cooperation on a wide range of issues such as the environment, health, education, science and technology, human rights, and entrepreneurship.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine.
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