Invest in research, development

ONE of the Papua New Guinea’s top scientists, Dr Clement Waine stated in a 2004 newspaper article that the Government should critically consider supporting research and development in information technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT).
He said then that the two items selling like hot cakes around the world were mobile phones (products of IT) and seeds (products of BT).
Pharmaceutical researches could be geared towards harnessing the country’s rich biodiversity in order to develop new medicines and agrochemical products.
Waine estimated then that if the Government were to invest up to K30 million in both agriculture and pharmaceutical researches every year, PNG scientists could come up with products that could be licensed to large corporations for further development.
And the nation could gain substantially from licensing fees and royalties.
There is now a critical mass of highly trained PNG scientists, both in academia and other statutory and private agencies that can be pooled and funded to do cutting-edge research.
Lately, Waine has developed a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) curriculum which the six national high schools, which have been declared schools of excellence, will use to train smart students to enter the universities.
Technological innovation and new business ideas are the driving world economies and human life generally.
From the earliest crop and animal husbandry, to the invention of the wheel, to the present day internet-based transactions, all developments in knowledge and technology have enhanced life on the planet incrementally or rapidly over time.
In the last few decades and years, there have been tremendous advances in technology to a point where today, government individuals are talking about artificial intelligence and even the morality of man creating man through cloning and the like.
Man’s pursuit of new ideas and ways of doing things is unstoppable.
State entities and businesses are continually developing technologies to improve life or beat their competitors.
Those lagging behind the rest in ideas and investments are simply passive consumers of what others have created. PNG is in this category of consumers and unless the country takes some radical steps to invest in science, technology and research, we may remain passive consumers for a long while yet.
The possibilities of biochemical research into aspects of the country’s rich plant and animal life is an untapped area that serious funding and management can unlock for possibly new discoveries in medicine or food production.
Stem subjects will be the focus of the six national high school with the goal to produce the best graduates ready for universities, says Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra during a visit to an education display at Port Moresby National High School last week.
Like the secretary said, the country needs to prepare the next generation of leaders, innovators, builders, developers, technocrats and industrialists for economic prosperity as well as having the skills and knowledge to be able to work anywhere in the world.
Port Moresby National High School is set to take the new Stem curriculum to set a legacy for other schools to follow.
Two critical issues that need addressing by the Government are to train or attract and retain Stem teachers to mentor the future generations of innovators and thinkers; and providing adequate funding for research and development in tertiary education level or even in industry.
We can train students in Stem subjects at secondary level and push them into universities but then they could feel neglected like some of our scientists are today, if the necessary investments are not made for them to continue into research and development.
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