The (Con)Science of the Academe

A stereotypical scientist speaks jargon and shuts himself or herself in the laboratory for days to conduct research on protons and neutrons-in short, a nerd detached from social issues. Dr. Giovanni Tapang, however, is anything but that. A Physics professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, he also has other things on his mind besides experiments and lectures-like promoting the use of science and technology for the benefit of the Filipino people by means of writing critical papers and speaking in various forums and symposia.

Dr. Tapang was one of the speakers at the forum-book launch of Mula Tore Patungong Palengke, an anthology of critical essays on Philippine neoliberal education edited by Bienvenido Lumbrera, Ramon Guillermo and Arnold Alamon. The forum-book launch was held on June 26 at the Claro M. Recto Hall of the Faculty Center of UP Diliman. It was organized by Ibon Foundation, Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in cooperation with the UP College of Arts and Letters and UP Student Council.

The event sought to inform the Filipino people of and beyond the academe about critical issues concerning their welfare. Its theme was the same as the book's, which was the impact of neoliberalism (e.g. privatization, deregulation, globalization) on the education system, particularly on the students and teachers.

In the forum, Dr. Tapang said in Filipino that despite the numerous inventions and discoveries in the world, such advances in science and technology are still not utilized by the majority, particularly those in the Philippines. He added that the government could not answer the needs of the people because it does not create the national industries that could make use of such scientific advancement.

Because of this lack of government support, the number of scientists actually conducting research has dwindled from 14,411 in 1996 to about 9,000 in 2002.

"[Filipino scientists] leave not only because of the greater opportunities abroad but also because of the small budget given to [scientific] research and development. Only 0.22% of the [country's] gross domestic product (GDP) is being used of science and technology," he said.

Dr. Tapang also cited the lack of available scientific journals and laboratories and the low publication rate of universities as reasons for the backwardness of science and technology in the country.

He mentioned that Filipino scientists who wanted to work as scientists (not as call-center agents or nurses) had no choice but to go to other countries with thriving industries because there are no basic industries in the Philippines owned by fellow Filipinos producing the needs of the people.

"Of course, the biggest problem would still be the lack of industries in the country. If we do not have basic industries, then why would we need science and technology? Why would we bother with research and development if we do not have the industries on which to apply them?" he said.

Furthermore, Dr. Tapang said that whatever industries found in the Philippines were dominated by foreign-owned multinational corporations that exhaust not only the natural resources of the country, but also the intellectual resources of its people.

To give an example, Dr. Tapang said that most of the graduates of the MS Material Science and Engineering program offered by UP Diliman ended up working for multinational companies either within the Philippines or abroad. The rest had to make do with the job of transcribing scientific journals.

"All these happened because there were no semiconductor industries in the Philippines," he added.

Dr. Tapang further explained that in order for science and technology to be used and fully developed in the Philippines, the fundamental economic and political obstacles must be obliterated. One must remember that the largely backward agrarian economy and the lack of basic industries stand as hurdles to the goal of addressing the people's daily needs.

"The people of the Philippines must first become free in order to improve science and technology in the country," he said. "If the government would not take seriously the need to create domestic industries for the people, then the science and technology happening in the academe will never be for the people."