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I believe it’s of interest to
reproduce below a few paragraphs from a statement made recently by my son
Federico, who is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology:
“It seemed that with a critical mass
of researchers and research centers we were going to be able to ‘catch the
train’ of European science, but unfortunately this is now in danger: our
scientific risk premium, our differential with other leading countries in the
world, is once again on the rise.
This gap is widening, aggravated by
the fact that these current times of global economic crisis (as well as a
crisis of values, more relevant than ever) make it easier to relegate knowledge
to a level of lesser importance.
Advanced societies must have the
critical capacity to generate knowledge, transfer it to future generations and
transform it into applications. This is essential if we are to face the future
with certain guarantees of success.
It appears particularly appropriate
at this time to remind society of the significant advances achieved in
healthcare, diagnostics, genetics and new materials… gleaned from basic
research. It’s clear that cutting-edge research plays a fundamental role in
development and welfare.
It’s not only the task of scientists
to call for support for research, but rather society and entrepreneurs should
likewise demand that science be made a priority…
I must warn of the risk that the
flight of so many young scientists to other countries entails. The opportunity
to play a prominent role in science, attracting brilliant young people to
scientific fields may be frustrated by the current budget cuts, restrictions
and pessimism”.
I fully agree with these points of
view. It’s the fifty-something generation that we should listen to, rather than
our own.
Yes, the scientific risk premium is the one that really counts.
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