Reviving science without fanfare

The slogans about investment in the future, about supporting industrial output, about research and higher education a priority, have been ringing hollow for quite a while now. We have seen three different political parties in power in the last decade, and none of them really cared about the scientific research in the country. Even prior to that, while the investments did increase substantially through HEC in the Musharraf era, the outcome of that investment is, at best, mixed. We have seen the former leadership in science write endlessly about the glory days of that time, but the proof in the pudding tells a different story. Research based industries remain nonexistent or unstable. Exports driven by scientific research are nowhere to be seen. The industrial R&D sector is weak, and most industry related jobs remain in services. Despite tall claims, the country was unable to produce basic products (e.g. rapid testing kits) for Covid-19. The output of the scientific enterprise cannot simply be measured in increased publications while the quality continually declines, or when plagiarism is rife in the academy. The output cannot also be simply measured by increase in the number of universities when most of them continue to limp and produce graduates who are unable to find adequate jobs.

Sooner or later, a neatly wrapped message about the necessity of science will appear again as a new government takes the reins in Islamabad. But before we all nod in agreement, we should perhaps ask a few basic questions. First, why do we want to invest in science? The reality is that we have an unrealistic expectation of what science does for society. We expect science to provide returns in a period that is unreasonable (especially when we have so much catching up to do). We expect science to solve our grand problems which are inherently political and are a result of mismanagement, corruption, nepotism and ego. We expect science to change how people behave at a time when the traitor certificate is widely available in the marketplace, in the assemblies and in our drawing room conversations. Science will not change any of this. What science can do, and that too gradually, is to allow for new discoveries about our world and beyond, create new and better jobs, increase valuable exports, and improve the economic condition of the people. If we think it will allow for more rational discourse, or a more inclusive society — we should be looking towards more humanities and social sciences.

None of the promises of science will materialise, however, without decency and humility in leadership. The investment will continue to fail when it is run by people who are interested in bombastic claims or self-praise. It will also remain an elusive dream if we jump on the latest bandwagon without thinking of our own challenges. Finally, it will continue to be a disaster if all we can think of is to convert the PM House into a university.

Just as we should know what not to do, we have two data points in the recent past of what leadership does look like. The first one is the action-oriented, no fanfare approach of NCOC in managing Covid-19. The success of NCOC in working across institutions, focusing on the problem at hand, bringing provinces together, and doing so without spinning tales of previous golden eras is a reminder that we can deliver when so many others have failed. The second data point is the life of Bilquis Edhi — an exceptional humanitarian who worked tirelessly with dignity, simplicity and without ever feeling the need to malign anyone. I hope that all of us who were touched by her life directly or indirectly will continue to live in the light of her legacy. Her life offers a lot more lessons to our scientific institutions about delivering when it matters, than those who claim long resumes or loyal party affiliations and cannot seem to see beyond their own selves.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2022.

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