National Science Centre vital to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Prof. Ajith de Alwis

Dr Nobel Jayasuriya

Every individual needs to use scientific knowledge to make choices for themselves that arise everyday, from health and nutritional issues to resilience to disasters. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka the public perception of science and technology is one of sheer indifference. The majority of Sri Lankans, including policy makers and the younger generation have not yet changed their mindset about the direct involvement of science and technology in national development. Given the high literacy and relatively high per capita income compared to other countries in the region, Sri Lanka lacks a science culture due to the poor understanding of science and technology and innovations at all levels of the society.

An attitudinal change would be the foundation from which knowledge empowerment and rapid economic-takeoff towards a knowledge based economy could occur. In a rapidly advancing world, every citizen needs to be adequately equipped with the latest knowledge to engage intelligently in public dialogue and debate about important issues of the society from genetically modified food to energy options, safety of food, water and environment and nuclear energy. It is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure adequate scientific literacy amongst its people.

In this backdrop President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his budget speech 2013 marks Government allocations for a National Science Centre as a gigantic step towards making the country a knowledge hub. Science centres are becoming increasingly recognised and valued as a key component of educational and recreational infrastructure in many countries, specially to inculcate scientific culture in the communities. This sort of institutes can be either as science centres, museums or even as an Exploratorium. According to data gathered by Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation aka COSTI, even in the South Asian region we are the only country living without such an institute. India already has 27 Science Centres, Pakistan has two, Bangladesh and Nepal has one each. Singapore has one such institute, Malaysia has two, Thailand has one and Philippines has three - apart from larger figures we see in the much developed countries.

Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and National Science Foundation have been pushing the concept of having a science centre established in the country. "National Science Centre is not a new one. It is high time Sri Lanka established a Science Centre. It is to encourage the young generation for experiential learning," said Prof. Ajith de Alwis, Project Director of the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), a newly established state entity mandated with coordinating and monitoring scientific affairs.

It is a place to encourage visitors to make connections between ideas in a different and unexpected way through exhibits that reflect contemporary issues and the dialogue around interdisciplinary exchange. It is a place to explore relationship with culture and science. It would remind the visitors of the vast constellation of ideas represented in the history of sciences. Luckily for art museums and science centres the opportunities to highlight connections between the arts and sciences are numerous.

The Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) was established on February 1, 2013 as mandated by the cabinet decision of September 9, 2011 with the specific aim of coordination and monitoring of Science, Technology and Innovation activities in the country.

It will also work towards promoting value addition and commercialisation in line with the National Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy of Sri Lanka approved by the Cabinet in August 2010.

GII 2013 report, ranks 142 economies. It uses a broad set of 84 indicators including the quality of top universities, research spending, availability of micro-finance and venture capital. It calculates both innovation capabilities and measurable results, and places them in a broader socio-political context.

Malaysia tops among upper middle income countries (overall rank 32) while China is 35. India comes in at No 66, the highest ranked in South Asia. Sri Lanka, with a score of 30.45 out of a total possible 100, is ranked at No 98, two thirds of the way down the list.

"We may have slid down - or others may have been more active! Our 'neighbours' in 2013 rankings are the same as in 2012 rankings," he said.

"Sri Lanka hopes for not only a per capita income uplift but a different economic status too.

An innovation driven economy implies internal innovativeness and an excellent national competitiveness in a global marketplace.

Science and technology play a significant role in this transition. Having mere expectations with any type of activity will not deliver this situation. It is not easy to be an innovative economy," Prof. de Alwis said.

"When Sri Lanka is forging towards becoming a knowledge hub, but going there without a place like a Science Centre looks odd, said Prof. de Alwis.

A key goal of the COSTI will be to coordinate and monitor the planning, preparatory and implementation stages, linkages with Science Centres and other relevant organisations abroad and subsequent monitoring the functioning of the National Science Centres.

The COSTI will report to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation," said Dr. Nobel Jayasuriya, Program Director of COSTI.

"We need the active participation of all stake holders - private and public both - in order to make this a reality. A science Centre is not a museum. It is an interactive place," said Dr. Jayasuriya.

Through COSTI collated previous ideas of establishing a science centre the concept was incorporated in to the 2014 budget of the Government.

"We are trying to coordinate among the stake holders and make the process move on to finally have the Science Centre in Sri Lanka," said Prof. Alwis.

Thus, the COSTI is planning getting all the local stakeholders together and incorporate international assistance in guiding Sri Lanka to set up a vibrant science centre making the dream of creating a knowledge hub in Sri Lanka a reality.