Can one do creative science in a third world setting?

Are original science meant only for the advanced rich countries?

Published on July 25, 2004 By web_poet In Pure Technology

I teach biochem and do research on soil actinomycetes and bacilli. We work in a tiny lab,smaller than a phone booth> And most of the time we face shortages of costly media,chemicals, and protocols and they are often difficult to get locally. The worst problem is acdemic isolation and lack of institutional feedback. Can one do creative science in such a setting or must we not try at all. Is science meant for only rich contries. Then do we leave all our resources to be exploited and patented by rich companies. Or is there a way of doing science with alternate chemicals,media and protocols that are more affordable? Can we, third world scientists bloom although late,just as the wonderful actinomycetes are( slow growing soil bacteria producing earthy smell od soil and antibiotics) by producing our creative 'geosmins'? Is any third world scientist or world bank or Unesco listening? Ciao

Comments

kingbee

on Jul 26, 2004

a great deal of extraordinary science has been done with much less by the geniuses of ancient china, the native cultures of meso america, the great minds of ancient greece & rome.

im not meaning to diminish your very valid concerns. the third world has been unfairly exploited, conditions improve slowly; it must be terribly frustrating to be undersupplied or not supplied at all yet aware the tools you need exist out of reach.

its a poor consolation but utilizing adversity is to creativity (in many cases) as weightlifting is to increasing muscle mass and tone.

web_poet

on Jul 26, 2004

Very thouhtful comments, thanx kingbee

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