Science should have bigger role in policy making

Photo DB: Xinhua

Science should play a bigger role in policy making and the task should be upheld by scientists in governments, an American scientist said here Thursday.

Roger N. Beachy, vice chairman and president of Emeritus Donald Danforth Plant Science Center of the United States, told a public lecture in Bogor Agriculture Institute in West Java province, that in everything concerning human kind, science should be an important component.

“This is something that becomes an international issue. It’s not only in Indonesia, but in every country. There has a long history in many countries that governments did not listen to science or having science to be co-opted by government,” he said.

He said that 15 year ago American scientists started a global campaign to get science and policy more side-by-side in policy making.

“At least governments could make policies after listening to science. They could use or not use science in decision making. Our job is to raise issues of science. They can choose to dismiss it or not,” he said.

He said that in the United States there are more than 36 members of science academia in the government, the highest number ever, that could influence policy making.

“In Indonesia, more and more people with Phd title are in the government. You have a better opportunity to influence policy with science,” said Beachy.

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