Clarity Needed In Woravat Vs Scientists Row

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Clarity needed in Woravat vs scientists row
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The campaign against Science Minister Woravat Auapinyakul has been rumbling on for a few weeks already under the "Fight for Science" theme.

But to the majority of people, what does science mean in this case? How will it affect their lives and Thailand as a whole?

Indeed, anti-Woravat scientists and researchers must have these two main questions answered before they can see their campaign gain any real momentum.

When rural doctors wore black against Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, the public watched the situation closely because they knew if the medical workers went on strike, public-healthcare services would be disrupted and they could be affected. Reacting to this public scrutiny, PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva has finally stepped in to arrange a negotiation that ended well last week.

So, if scientists and researchers at the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) really want to throw Woravat out for his perceived flaws, they need to explain their points clearly.

To date, the "Fight for Science" campaign has accused Woravat of lacking understanding in science, showing no respect for scientists, interfering in the NSTDA's work, and lacking good governance.

According to the black-clad scientists who have joined the campaign, Woravat has cut the budget of NSTDA by 25 per cent. This year, NSTDA has received just a Bt3 billion budget despite the fact that Thailand needs to allocate more resources for the development of science and technology.

Woravat was also accused of pushing his own men onto the NSTDA board, which has a say on who should sit on the panel selecting the new NSTDA director.

Moreover, he has changed the rules requiring any procurement valued at more than Bt2 million to be subject to his review first. In the past, such a procurement could be approved by the top executive of each agency under the Science Ministry's supervision. Due to this new rule, many procurement plans are left pending because there is a long queue for Woravat's review.

Woravat has not yet appointed the selection panel for the new director of NSTDA, though the current director will complete his term this month. Suspicion has arisen that Woravat wants to install his man at the helm of the NSTDA.

In the eyes of many scientists and those with close ties to NSTDA, Woravat has clearly tried to interfere in the agency's work.

The anti-Woravat camp is now trying to drum up support for their "Fight for Science" theme. Last Saturday, they held a forum titled "Fight for Science…for What" at the Chulalongkorn University to explain how science has contributed to the country's development and how political interference in NSTDA research will hurt the country.

However, scientists seem to lack the skills to communicate well with the public.

Most people in the community feel NSTDA is not really relevant to their lives. They don't see the problem at NSTDA as a public issue.

When scientists blame Woravat for not understanding their work, they're simply saying the NSTDA research is for establishing good science and a technical foundation for Thailand. But Woravat wants to force them to respond rapidly to the private sector's needs. For example, he has demanded quick research and answers into longan exports.

Woravat, meanwhile, has responded by accusing the NSTDA protesters of launching the campaign because they just want bigger bonuses.

He has also accused the NSTDA of failing to fulfil performance targets on several indicators.

Shrugging off an accusation about political interference, Woravat has said he needs to field some of his men in the NSTDA board because he needs to monitor the agency's works.

Woravat has also explained that his decision to check procurement plans worth more than Bt2 million is due to good intent and to prevent any irregularity.

Regardless of Woravat's performance as the science minister, he has already spoken up against his opponents and his points are clear. So, if scientists and researchers feel Woravat is really unfit for the science minister's post, they must communicate effectively about Woravat's flaws and the impact they may have on society.

Only when they effectively get their message across can they put Woravat in hot water, while protecting the country's huge interest in achieving proper scientific and technological development.


-- The Nation 2013-06-11

[Thai at Heart]

Funny this.

NSTDA funded a blatantly copied product, I was importing at the request of a former distributor. Highly original huh?

[OzMick]

Seems many government funded organisations are having their budgets cut, but there's still a few hundred billion available for the rice scam. Interesting priorities.

[FWIW]

Science funding in Thailand is a disaster. They should be spending 2 to 3% of GNP on R&D (like Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and most developed nations) - even China spends about 1%.

Thailand? On average, 0.25% (and although I have not seen very recent figures, I hear currenty it is even lower).

What funding there is gets whipped around from latest fad to latest fad - multi-billion baht schemes set in place to develop research - then killed within 2 years.

The 25% cut to NSTDA has no justification, other than "my team" "your team" politics as usual.

[geriatrickid]

This one is a toughie. My sympathies lie with the scientists, but they have to accept that some of their past purchases have been questionable. The minister does have a responsibility to verify that the request for equipment purchases are genuine and that the equipment is actually needed. In government funded research labs, if you don't use up your budget, you don't get to keep it for next year. You lose the money. There is an incentive to spend as much as you can. There is no long term planning. Rather, you role the dice each budget. Thailand's scientists are like their counterparts elsewhere. They range from the brilliant, hard working people to some arrogant twits who think their poop doesn't stink. Part of the problem is that these scientists do not know how to make a case for spending money. They just think people will accept what they say.

As for the science minister's qualifications, well, when has the ministry ever had someone that could be classified as top tier? I do hope this can be worked out.

Edited June 11, 2013 by geriatrickid

[hellodolly]

Sounds to me like Woravat is just making an attempt to get a bigger share at the trough.

In a way he is being honest why should the scientists be given more money when most of the work they do has all ready been done and is just duplicating work done in other countries.

Perhaps if the scientists could come out with a list of their accomplishments and donations to society through their own efforts rather than copy cat efforts the public would be more interested.

On the other hand what do we expect. Those ministries are handed out as rewards for brown nosing not for the qualifications of the people receiving them.

Edited June 11, 2013 by hellodolly

[cup-O-coffee]

What one side says could be good, and then again it could be bad, because they are Thai, and we'll never really know, will we?

And what the other side says could also be good, and then again it could also be bad, because they are also Thai, and we'll never really know that as well, will we?

[hellodolly]

It just struck me was it not members of the Thai scientists who proposed a ten mile deep tunnel 100 miles long that could be used as a road way in the dry season to solve the flood problem in Bangkok?

[cup-O-coffee]

It just struck me was it not members of the Thai scientists who proposed a ten mile deep tunnel 100 miles long that could be used as a road way in the dry season to solve the flood problem in Bangkok?

I did a quick search for notable Thai scientists and couldn't find enough to count on one hand. There were no Thais listed for the hard sciences. There are some websites about famous Thais, but they are mostly deceased, and consist of kings and generals. Another website describes Thai scientists getting awards, but the awards are coming from other Thais.

So then I gave up and did a quick search on world famous Thais and ended up with only a list of big name politicians and movies stars for the most part. Mr. Condom was also on the list. The latter was encouraging, but in the end I was beggared!

[drdoom6996]

Seems many government funded organisations are having their budgets cut, but there's still a few hundred billion available for the rice scam. Interesting priorities.

Don't forget the 2.2 TRILLION Baht they want to borrow.