The science boffins are worried about whether
the government will fund their research, or switch the money to RDP work.
Jonathan Ancer and Fumane Diseko report
Scientists are holding their breath while the government prepares a White Paper laying out plans for research and development.
With the new government likely to use its limited resources for tackling poverty, many scientists fear pure research — for which they have received international recognition — will take second place to research geared towards development.
The panic comes in the wake of a listing of institutions whose work is most-often cited, or mentioned in the work of other scientists, a standard measure of importance in the academic
Many of the citations are for work with no discernible development application, like the most-cited paper in the country entitled The ecological role of water-column microbes in the
The ranking comes from the Institute for Scientific Information in the United States, which reveals that the University of Cape Town (where the paper was written) has managed the highest number of citations, followed by the University of the Witwatersrand (see sidebar).
Next year government funds to science councils will be allocated on the grounds that the research is beneficial to development.
According to Arno Webb, the deputy director of science and planning — a committee of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), the government will fund scientific research which will help solve problems facing the country such as research into low cost housing; economic upliftment; agriculture and health.
Yet the survival of pure research has important educational implications, says Professor Jan Boeyens. In an office at the University of the Witwatersrand, Boeyens, an internationally celebrated scientist, is researching molecular modelling and the theory of molecular structure.
Boeyens acknowledges that his work has no immediate application. “If you ask me to apply my research to the food, petroleum or building industries … I can’t.”
He argues that the value in his research comes from the fact that his students are being trained to assess and use new knowledge and when they go into industry they will know how to solve problems.
Boeyens believes that, through funding, the government is going to put pressure on science institutions to change the focus of their research.
“I don’t think there is appreciation for the value of fundamental research. If the politics of the day demands that research for the aquisition of knowledge for its own sake will not be funded we are going to suffer. If money will only be available for research that has a direct benefit, and many research projects can not be described that way, then many of the best scientists will be deprived of research funds.”
He also believes that it is the function of engineers to be involved in development and when a scientist takes over this role it ends in failure. “Scientists are trained in one thing only and that is research.”
Professor Robin Crewe, Wits University’s Dean of Science, argues that research institutions must maintain a balance between innovative research and applied research.
He also argues that it is a question of perspective and points out that the grant that the university gets for research would “probably only keep a corvette going for two days.”
The Dean of Science at the University of Cape Town, Professor Cliff Moran argues that the government will be remiss to cut out pure
“If we are going to remain a viable country our researchers have to do long term strategic
The Foundation for Research and Development (FRD), a major source of funding for South African researchers, is planning to announce a set of programmes which will reflect the priorities of the new government.
FRD President, Reinhard Arndt, states: “We support people and institutions for the research process to provide knowledgeable and skillful expertise. That expertise will enter the market and the market will focus on RDP objectives.”
While some scientists do fear that Reconstruction and Development Programme- oriented research will mean that they can’t explore things they are curious about, Jardine states, “We are acutely aware of scientists’ concerns and this is reflected in the White Paper.”
A vehicle, in the form of the Science and Technology National Forum, has been established for the department to interact with scientists.
Jardine explains that the White Paper, which is entitled Preparing for the 21st Century will shape and set out parameters for long term policies: “We hope to present a national vision on science and technology which will take us into the 21st century”, he said.