Management Of Scientific Research In Developing Countries

Author(s): Ram Prasad
Publisher: Ram Prasad

Page 1

Science Policy, as fostered in most Third World Nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America is geared to satisfy big business and corporate interests and is primarily concerned with exploiting of the local natural resources and maximising profits. It does not adequately deal with the real needs of the masses; nor does it aim to develop these nations into self reliant industrial countries. “Thus the Management problem of the developing countries”, the author maintains, "Is not of making science more efficient, but of making it relevant." -Ed.
The Management of Scientific Research .. . in Developing Countries
RAM PRASAD
There are two distinct although not entirely independent aspects of the management of scientific research-academic, which is the subjective side, and socio-political—the objective side. As far as the subjective side is concerned, the problems are more or less similar in most of the countries in which scientific activities exist. But the objectives of science are different in the three worlds-socialist, capitalist and the rest. In the socialist world the guiding principle is the use of science and technology for the benefit of the society as a whole. In the capitalist society use of science and technology is made for the private profit of the privileged few. In the countries of the third world which continued to remain underdeve. loped science and technology do not play significant roles.
Definitions
An academic discussion on the organization of Scientific Research would need certain definitions and these may well be quoted from a document recently circulated by Unesco. These definitions of science, scientific methodology technology, research and development are independent of the scale of the research effort or the field of operation.
“Science is the process whereby mankind makes an organized attempt, by means of the objective study of observed phenomena, to dis
* This paper was presented at The Seminar on Research Management organised by
CSIR Scientific Workers' Association, July 1974.