Transcript Basic/Fundamental Science - Universiti Teknologi MARA

Fundamental Research Grant Scheme
(FRGS)
Ministry of Higher Education
Malaysia - Putrajaya
Muhamad Awang
(Chairman of FRGS)
Dept. of Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Environmental Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang
Definition:
Research is:
- a cost or investment;
- far from delivering guaranteed results,
- it is highly speculative,
- highly uncertain effort
- requires the greatest managerial competence to
produce results
How fundamental the fundamental is?
“technology saves the day” – advances
in the science such as genomics,
proteomics, systems biology, etc. – will
make it possible to identify with a
high degree of precision promising
drug candidates at extremely early
stages of the R&D process”
(Pisano 2006)
Basic/Fundamental Science
Value of basic scientific research (BSR)
-fundamental theoretical
or experimental
investigative research to advance knowledge
without
a
specifically
envisaged
or
immediately practical application
- the quest for new knowledge and the
exploration of the unknown
- naively perceived as unnecessary luxury
that can simply replaced by applied research
to more directly address immediate need
Demarcation: basic/fundamental versus applied
research:
- not at all clear cut
- inextricably inter-twined
- hybrid of new knowledge generation and subsequent
exploitation
- major innovation – rarely possible without prior
generation of new knowledge founded on basic
research
- strong scientific discipline + strong collaboration =
generation of new knowledge and application
Retard basic research = stifle innovation and application
New scientific knowledge:
- fostering innovation & economic growth
- sound foundation for education and training
Investment in basic research (ARGUEABLY):
- why not focus primarily/exclusively on the existing
information to develop applied solution?
- superficially (such approach) facilitated by the
emergence of global society (internet access)
– merit for a short-term (may be)?
Neglecting basic and applied research is seriously
flawed! WHY?
- Basic & Applied Research: a continuum and
interdependent
- integration of B&A research is crucial to problem
solving, innovation, and product development
- knowledge is more than information - transfer of
scientific knowledge requires well-trained (cognitive
capability, skills and training) scientists at both ends of
the exchange
- excessive dependency on foreign B&A research
rarely likely lead to solving local problems
Charting future research:
globalization and participation
“…a country with no basic scientific research
capacity effectively excludes itself from having any
real influence on the future directions of science…”
Why??
Antarctica
Global knowledge economy:
-Thriving scientific community to generate new
knowledge and to exploit it (academia and
industry – irrefutable)
-Exploitation and application of scientific
information requires skilled scientists with
good understanding of the basic theories and
practice of science
-Adequate investment in B&A research is
critical
-
WHY ???
E = mc2
support for basic science is
not something that can be
postponed or diminished when
times are hard in the misplaced
hope that applied research
alone will provide a better
return…”
“…
(ICSU 2004)
One of the primary objectives:
Universities and the funding process
(MoHE) in this space should be to reshape
the scientific landscape through more
integrated, cross-disciplinary research and
training
Broad Institute at Harvard and MIT bring
together scientists from biology, chemistry,
mathematics, computer science, physics,
engineering and medicine
JK Penilaian Geran Penyelidikan Fundamental
IPTA:
TOR: evaluation and recommendations
Sector:
1. Pure and Applied Sciences
2. Social Sciences and Humanities
3. Sastera/literature dan Sastera Ikhtisas
4. Medical Sciences
5. Technology and Engineering
Membership: Chairman and five members
Guidelines of research proposals:
a) able to generate new ideas for the development of
new research leading to: patent, product
development and commercialization
b) covers issues on humanities and social sciences for
the purpose of improvement in their quality of life
globally
c) value-added to the existing policies and
methodologies
d) opens to IPTA’s focused “niche and national
interest” leading to industrial development and
national economic growth
Main criteria for the recommendation:
a) follow the guidelines provided by the ministry
b) within two years the project should be able to produce new
ideas, policy, or concept
c) newly established universities will be provided with “seed
money” to encourage the research culture, development and
commercialization
d) traveling cost for attending seminars will be provided
e) each researcher is allowed to have at least one/two
postgraduate student at Masters or Ph.D. level
f) researchers on study leave, RA and RO are not eligible
g) only one proposal will be considered and recommended
Classification of Research Proposals:
a) Category A : Highly Recommended
b) Category B : Recommended
c) Category C : Not Recommended
d) National Heritage and Biodiversity
Observations and Findings:
a) Complete and clear in terms of objectives, methodology and
expected out-put and comply with the definition of FR
b) Not clear and could not be classified as FR
c) Complete and clear in terms of objective, methodology and
expected out-put, but could not be classified as FR
d) Satisfy the requirements but the proposed budget is too high –
the committee recommended for other sources of funding
(MOSTI)
e) Do not satisfy the requirements as the proposals more inclined
towards applied research in nature
f) Incomplete application forms – partly due to the nature of
assessment conducted at the respective IPTAs
Observations and findings (cont.): more specific – not
recommended:
g)
nature of projects more on monitoring and survey
type
h) already at the product development stage
i) incomplete of application form including detailed
costing
j) no endorsement from the authority (e.g. RMC or
DVC)
k) classified under different field and category
Way Forward: Recommendations for the
future improvement
a) niche areas considered as top-down
projects; natural history issues
(biodiversity, taxonomy, ecology,
archaeology and geology
b) those projects (a) should be given a
priority
c) pure and applied sciences should be
further subdivided or categorized –
physical, biological, biochemical,
environmental, mathematical, bioprocess
and chemical processing
Monitoring and Auditing:
Progress report will be monitored and audited by
the respective IPTA
JPT will monitor the financial status/disbursement
and achievements
RMC of the respective university will evaluate the
research performance
Overall performance evaluation be conducted by
JPT Assessment Committee
Report submission to JPT: not later than Feb.15 of
the following year.
Do we get greater research effort from the “jump” in
research expenditure (RM5 – RM9)?
Or
Simply represent more spending on;
a) “non-research” and especially on “research support” –
clerks, report writers, massive (and largely useless)
elaboration,
b) new buildings, and complex equipments and
c) “fashionable apparatus” without even asking whether
these “beautiful machineries” will ever be used for anything
as sordid as commercially usable results
d) “Researchers” are not doing research
Twelve Research Management Fables (Drucker, 1963):
1. The more research projects there are – the more
research results there will be
2. The best way to use the few first-rate research men of
proven ability and dedication is as a buttress for the
weaker brethren and as a blood donor to moribund
projects
3. The more researchers, the more results; and the
advanced degree makes the researchers
4. The less one demand of research scientists, the more
they will produce
Twelve Research Management Fables (cont.)
5. To keep the research people busy, load them down with
forms
6. Research needs its scientific (technical) objectives
7. Management need not select its own research program;
it can follow the leaders, they must know what they are
doing
8. Push compromise projects which promise a moderate
improvement in return and take a moderate amount of
time, such as three to five years
Twelve Research Management Fables (cont.)
9. Don’t allow the research to rock the boat
10. Limit the research work to products for which clear,
definable market already exist
11. Reward a productive researcher by promoting him/her
to research manager
12. If your productive researchers don’t want to be
rewarded with management jobs, for any reason, call on the
least productive researchers for that work
Purpose of Education
•
•
•
•
Human resource allocation – certification,
sorting and matching of the individuals by
ability and interest to meet the need of the
society (horizontally and vertically)
Transmission of cultural values and beliefs
at the local and societal levels
Development of human potential, helping
individuals to actualize their talents and
interests
Maieutic function – birthing ground of new
ideas and vision for future of the world of
enlightenment and emancipation
Education is a business important
for job and economic development in
the community
• Education is about everything
• Learning (deep and broad) – about research,
teaching, budget and taxes, drugs and
discipline, religion and values, and political
correctness and connections:
a) instrumental knowledge
b) communicative knowledge
c) emancipatory knowledge (transformative & deep
learning dimension)
Conclusion
The road to “technological nirvana”:
“ in order for transition to happen, we
need enterprises that can engage in and
develop the basic science…….we need
economically viable science-based
enterprises” (Pisano, 2006)