Scientific Research in Sudan, The Need of a Change of Approach and Change of Culture
04 December, 2012
KHARTOUM, (Sudanow)—1. Introduction: The 21st century is acentury of information and communication, so scientific research is based on these two factors. Research service providers should always be closer and closer to research users whoever they are and whenever they were. The level and scale of basic and applied research and the use that is made of their results determines the level of development of a country.
Public institutions, interest groups and private initiatives on a commercial basis stimulate scientific research and provide a measurement tool for progress, stagnation or regress of research. Market oriented, community oriented research services are becoming of focal importance to economic growth and development. Nonmarketable research is defined as “research of the past” and “wasting research facilities, money, time and effort”
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2. Challenges and Constraints of Research in Sudan
During the 20th century Sudan used to be a leading African country in scientific research, generating well worldwide reputed scientists in fields of – agriculture, animal resources and natural resources in general. This great achievement was aborted because of the monetary, social, economic and political changes that took place from 1980 to date the major constraints, although not exhaustive, can be highlighted in:
· The loss of trust between researchers, society and the state expressed in blaming each other for their failures
· The researcher is always self- centered looking for his individual glamour and promotion irrespective of the society needs
· The public research institutions, at present, are not accountable to the public, the government or the interest groups.
· The repeated failure of the researchers and their institutions to establish a national strategic research policy, which is rational, workable and target oriented.
· A weak university education in building scientific research capacities and capabilities to generate active and enthusiastic future researchers.
· Lack of or weak social and socioeconomic research to prepare the public for other scientific research.
· Lack of the private sector research institutions.
· The culture of researchers to advise others without practicing that “good” advise for themselves of course, many other “ behind the door” constraints can be listed
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3. Why Sudan doesn’t make rational use of its both Scientific as a Subject and Researchers. As electorates (citizens) do not exercise pressure on politicians because of their small numbers and therefore low priority. There is a chronic non mix chemistry.
The environment mentioned above where there is lack of interest or pressure groups, lack of political will and commitment and lack of scientific research governance, it is difficult to envisage an optimum use of Sudanese researchers. Such constraints create a strong brain drain. The relative success of our researchers aboard is due to presence of the carrot (incentive) and stick (disincentive) policy and high competition among researchers for their more existence in foreign institutions.
4. The Future of Research in Sudan
Listing the above constraints is not intended to demote or depress policy makers, researchers or research users at large. To the contrary, the intention is to bring such big problem to the surface, to create a strong debate issue to find a way forward and this is what I think Sudanow is doing.
There is a prominent opportunity for Sudan to take lead again. Unfortunately or fortunately, this opportunity is predicted (beyond 0 – 01 level of significance) to come from outside. Global interest in Sudan natural resources and its potential ability to produce food and medicine for itself and for the world is obvious. Such human and natural resources with the rich indigenous knowledge and rich biodiversity, will provide the national?? for the future research and researchers
The writer:
· Researcher since 1976 to 2009 – Now Freelance Consultant.
· Assistant Director General, Animal Resources Research Corporation.
· Advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology
· Epidemiologist and economist
· Nobel prize Laureate (2007).
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