Retorts

Science and Technology Promotion Riddles

The government, through the Ministry of Research Science and Technology, has distributed $300,000 for the promotion of science and technology in the community. I have no quibble with this -- except it should be more, and should have started years ago. But then I started thinking about the philosophy behind the policy, and became exceedingly confused.

One main target group for this promotion is senior school students and their parents. The aim is to fill prospective university entrants with such an enthusiasm for science that they eschew the law and commerce faculties, and crowd into the science schools, thus overcoming the predicted shortage of science and technologists in the not-too-distant future. A Grand Vision.

But wait a bit! Isn't this the government which exhorts us to be ruled by Market Forces, the Law of Supply and Demand? Doesn't the market react to shortages of a commodity by raising its price? Is there any suggestion that the price paid for scientists and technologists should be increased, either in salaries or in employment conditions? I don't remember hearing it.

The cynical could conclude that these newly enthused young scientists may find themselves in the same situation as nursing and other "caring professions" have been. "They're dedicated to their job, so we don't have to pay them."

The other philosophical conundrum is even more puzzling. The Hon Maurice Williamson said when launching the Science and Technology Promotion Programme:

"The Prime Minister has pointed out that getting more people to value science and technology can only help our requests for greater government investment in science and technology."

I'm sure my logic is wrong here. As I see it the government believes that science and technology are valuable, so it is prepared to spend money to convince people that science and technology are valuable, so that the people can tell the government that science and technology are valuable. This, I think, is what we call "leadership" these days.

But, being an idealist, I believe that the government is promoting science and technology for all the most wholesome reasons. Apart from their economic values, science and technology must be better understood in the community because they are intrinsic elements of our culture. They are parts of who we are.

So let's stop thinking, and get on with promoting.

David Swain, Levin