Lethargo

First:

Internet connection's just been cut... Lethargic, so blog posts will be few. I will, as such try my best to give quality instead. Sincerest Apologies.

Second:

Disclaimer for my Blog

Any information here was written at my pleasure. If ever I quote someone, he or she owns it.

I also will comply with any requests for any information in this blog to be removed especially if you believe i have infringed on your rights.

Third:

I want to post this article. It struck me like an axe striking a sequoia.

A Jolt from the True State of Science in the Philippines
By Flor
LacanilaoINQUIRER.net
Posted date: May 11, 2007
Graduation address to the
Institute of Biology, U P Diliman, 21 April 2007
If you are expecting an
inspirational talk, I am sorry to disappoint you because I am going to jolt you
with the true state of Philippine science.You have had enough inspirational
talks from your teachers in the last 4 years. It is the teacher’s job to inspire
students to learn, that is why you are here today. Congratulations! You are now
equipped to face the challenges of the real world, as you pursue your career in
science and responsibilities to your family and to your country. Always remember
these two, for they are the reasons you have been educated. Say thanks to your
parents.I will give you a glimpse of the world waiting for you – focusing on the
sad state of our science – hoping that you will make it part of your job to
improve it. Recently I have been writing about science in the Philippines,
mainly on how it should be done. The stories have been published in the
Philippine Star, in the column called Star Science every Thursday. After four
articles I was informed by the column editor that many of our respected
scientists found my articles adversarial and counter-productive. My fifth paper
was not printed. That was in August last year.Let me give you some excerpts from
these articles, which form my main message to you:1. The progress of a nation
depends on its performance in science and technology, which is measured by the
number of valid publications -- publications in international refereed
journals.2. Nations with more publications in international journals are ahead
of the Philippines in economic growth. In 2000, the total number of Japan’s
publications in international journals was 160 times that of the Philippines;
that of China was 58 times. Ten years ago, publications of smaller Taiwan were
23 times and tiny Singapore, 6 times more than those of the Philippines.3.
Problems that stunt the growth of science in the Philippines are rooted more in
wrong research practices than lack of funding as commonly thought or made the
excuse. 4. In the early 1990s, our S&T budget increased four-fold or from
about P800 million to more than P3 billion. Holders of graduate degrees in
science and engineering also increased. The UP College of Science alone granted
over 500 advanced degrees in 1985-1994. But our S&T performance did not
improve. The yearly publication output remained the same for 14 years in
1981-1995. 5. Poor graduate training is a major cause. An important feature of
advanced training in science is the thesis, which is meant as preparation for
published research. But in our graduate schools, except UP, the graduate degree
is granted without a published thesis.6. Hence, out of the country’s nearly 500
publications in international journals in 2002, UP’s share was 40 percent,
whereas the combined publication output of La Salle, Ateneo, UST, and San Carlos
was only 8 percent. 7. In university rankings using academic capability
indicators (such as advance degree holders), four from the Philippines (UP, La
Salle, Ateneo, UST) made the list of the top 100 universities in Asia and the
top 500 universities in the world. But in other rankings that used academic
performance indicators (such as research output), no university from the
Philippines made it in the top 100 in the Asia Pacific, or in the world’s top
500. These studies show that indicators of capability do not guarantee
performance; PhDs do not assure valid publications.8. Publications in
international journals should therefore be required in (a) granting the PhD
degree, (b) appointing members of the graduate faculty, (c) giving research
grants, promotions and awards, and (d) appointing science administrators. With
these, we can never go wrong.9. Making these changes will not be easy. The usual
problems with incumbents, politics and mediocrity have defied past attempts. For
example, faculties often voted against changes because members enjoy benefits
with project reports only. 10. “The public will remain uninformed and uneducated
in science until the media professionals decide otherwise, until they stop
quoting charlatans and quacks, and until respected scientists speak up.11.
Finally, whereas science alone cannot save the Philippines, the Philippines
without science cannot be saved. This was also said of Africa.Should speaking
the truth spark negative reactions? People say the truth hurts. I think the
truth hurts only the culprits.Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted as having said,
“Speak the whole truth, as you see it, or do not speak at all.” And from Albert
Einstein, “If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the
tailor.”My articles also got positive reactions. One was from a
Filipino-American scientist, Dr. Raul Suarez, who was a graduate student here in
early 1970s, in the former zoology dept. He is now a professor of Biology at the
University of California at Santa Barbara and editor of a leading international
journal, the Journal of Experimental Biology, published in Cambridge, UK.Dr.
Suarez’s article also appeared in Star Science, Part 1. on 12 April 2007 and
Part 2 on 5 April 2007. His concluding statement: “We learned from Rizal’s life
that it should not be considered a bad thing to write of darkness, foul air, and
dirty water. Filipinos shot the messenger in 1896 and his message was censored
for decades afterwards by the Church and banned in some of the best universities
in the country.
“It is in this light that I view negative reactions to
objective analyses of the state of Philippine science. How sadly
counter-productive! How contrary such reactions are to the interests of the
Filipino people! But for every Filipino in Rizal’s firing squad in 1896, there
were thousands of others who joined the revolution. Today, for every person who
does not want to read or hear of dysfunction in Philippine science, there are
many more who realize that it is time for change.”I gave you only a quick look
of the science atmosphere in the Philippines, under which you will pursue your
science career. I hope you give Philippine science a longer look to make
improving it a part of your career.Thank you and again, congratulations.

A critique will follow later on.

It scares me to be a scientist now. But its my duty. My destiny. My all. I have the power to save my country if I become a scientist. Only then can i do my Dharma... Though I will be unappreciated, yes, I believe that I want to trade this job for no other job.

My country is my love. However, I also love a gorilla =) Different types of love that is, but I love my country better since the gorilla I love is part of my country...

That is all...

Getting weary...

Bye for now...