The scientific and technological system in Argentina is mired in a climate of great anxiety, given the continued lack of funding that the region suffers from, the degeneration of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation into an undersecretary, and obstacles and delays in bureaucratic aspects, such as entry into the professional life of already appointed researchers and delays in the start of doctoral grants. And post-doctorate.
Part of this entire scenario was the subject of analysis by the CONICET researcher. Diego Golombeka renowned biologist and science communicator: during his time at the National University of La Matanza, He warned of the critical scenario that the national flag is experiencing The initiative for this Wednesday the 17th to be held A symbolic hug for the scientific communitybased on reading more than a thousand letters from national and international authorities in different parts of the country.
“We are at a very dangerous moment in the entire scientific system One strategy was to seek help around the world. Argentina is highly recognized, which is why the 68 letters from Nobel Prize-winning scientists appearBut also letters of support from researchers from all over the country and from abroad as well.” CtyS-UNLaM Agency.
In this sense, Golombek commented that, from his point of view, “the mistake that scientists usually make is not to announce what we are doing. There is concern in the world and this also appears in articles from the most important scientific journals such as nature, about the status of the Argentine flag. “This initiative in the scientific pole aims to read these adhesions together and of course present them to the authorities of both CONICET and the current Secretariat of Science and Technology,” he pointed out.
Moreover, in dialogue with University Radio From UNLaM, the scientist confirmed that “There is a real concern that the scientific system is collapsing, which makes sense. We must not forget that thanks to the fact that we have – or somehow had – such a strong system, we were able to respond immediately to some challenges.
“Now we don't remember much, however At the beginning of the pandemic, Argentine science immediately came out to respond: the diagnostic kits developed in the country were created, we had CONICET masks, and today we have almost developed a vaccine entirely made here.. “All this because there is a powerful system that, if we destroy it again, it will take years to rebuild it.”
Regarding discussions about the usefulness of science and its funding, Golombek said: “I'm not worried about the malicious attack by paid trolls, what I'm really concerned about is the reaction of people who sometimes buy into the rhetoric about what needs to be done.” If science is useless, a small part of the responsibility falls on us scientists, who do not consider that disclosing what we do is part of what we do.
On the other hand, we have the destructive policies of the scientific system that will be very difficult to rebuild. This is something we already know is very complex, and it is clear that a young man interested in science will think about it several times at this moment before devoting himself to what he really wants in Argentina.
