The International Village for Science and Technology

Today the Tanzanian parliament is discussing Tanzania’s science, technology and innovation policy. There has been a cry for a serious look into this matter since ages. Below is a lecture by Prof. Leonard K. Shayo presented at the Mathematical Association of Tanzania (MAT), Annual Seminar Iringa, in 1991. It addresses one of a few suggestions that this country could pursue in order to develop and increase the local stock of knowledge in science and technology.

Introduction

The idea of creating the International Village for Science and Technology (AVSTI) started in 1986 following the conclusion of a workshop on curriculum development in mathematics, physics and computer science held in Nairobi as part of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) external activities program. One of the recommendations of that meeting was the creation of centres of excellence in Africa. Following on the recommendations, a paper on Afro-Maths project was developed and this stimulated a lot of enthusiasm among African scientists to create such centres. In an ingenious move, Professor Abdus Salam, the director and founder of ICTP, decided that such ideas, which were aimed at the promotion of science in Africa, should be implemented from a base in Africa, and as a consequence the ICTP regional office was created at the University of Dar es Salaam in March 1987 under my leadership. Since then, these ideas have been developed and expanded to culminate in the creation of the IVST in Arusha.

When Prof.  Salam founded the ICTP in 1964, with the objective of promoting theoretical physics in the third world; he rightly and inevitably included mathematics as a second subject of promotion. Physics like any other science, cannot flourish without mathematics! Apart from being the queen of science, mathematics is the simplest science to learn, especially in the early years, basically because it does not require laboratory ware. For the same reason, all nations stand an equal chance for realising excellence in mathematics. Furthermore, geniuses in many disciplines often manifest themselves through their mathematical capability at an early age. These and other characteristics of mathematics makes the subject a natural choice to start the IVST, at least as far as the attainment of excellence is concerned; it is the only choice for achieving international excellence within a short period, of the order of one decade.

What is IVST?

IVST is basically a resort village for scientists and technologists, and a village of training institutions for talented scholars. It is designed to offer a conducive environment for deep and critical thinking which is so crucial for scientific and technological discovery. By offering such an environment, IVST will enhance science and technology through: (i) development, (ii) adaptation and modification, (iii) promotion, and (iv) extension and utilisation, for socio-economic development.

The IVST master-plan represents buildings in a botanical garden of international repute. These buildings will house international centres for researchers and innovators, with modern libraries, laboratories, engineering workshops and offices for visiting scientists and technologists, as well as modern facilities for primary, secondary and university education aimed at providing the best possible environment for the optimal development of talents.

The research centres will cover all aspects of science and technology which are essential for the enhancement of the socio-economic development of the developing countries in general, and Africa in particular. These centres will provide generous hospitality to scientists and technologists from all over the world, with particular attention to Africa, to conduct scientific and technological activities. Thus scientists and technologists from all over the world will be able to gather, from time to time at the village in order to deliberate on their discoveries and innovations, as well as to interact among themselves.

Further, experimental scientists and technicians from all over the world would also be able to gather at the village to develop and discuss new designs, and fabricate prototypes of equipment. Such equipment would, in turn, be used for teaching science in our schools and colleges as well as for conducting scientific experiments at research institutions. Our young bright school and college students as well as other innovative Tanzanians would, through the village, secure an opportunity of meeting and interacting with scientists visiting the village. There would be a deliberate effort to popularise, boost and focus the youth’s interest in science. In particular, the village will have facilities for the training of talented scholars. It will then be possible for such scholars to attain the highest level of academic excellence in a minimum period, and compete with their counterparts in the rest of the world.

At the regional level, the creation of IVST would be very much appreciated because of the following facts:

1. There is the scramble by African scientists to interact among themselves, and with colleagues from developed and other developing countries; added to this is the fact that we are in need of a place in Africa for such interaction.
2. There is an urgent need to redirect the minds of third world intellectuals to the problems in their own countries through facilitating regional interactions (south-south interactions).
3. On several occasions African scientists have realised and expressed the necessity, and called for the creation of such a village in Africa.
4. Physics, mathematics, computer science and biotechnology are the sciences for wealth creation in the 21^st and later centuries. While Africa cannot afford to remain behind, individual countries cannot develop these disciplines independently to give noticeable impact. Moreover, there cannot be technology transfer without science transfer. IVST will enable African scientists to pull resources together for the required impact of science and technology on human development.
5. There is an urgent need to arrest brain drain in Africa. Apart from brain drain  through physical migration to developed countries, there is brain drain through:  (i) Mental migration, whereby a talent in Africa is exploited to solve problems which are specific to developed countries to a total neglect of African problems of comparable academic experience. (ii)  Brain decay caused by underutilization of talents due to weak or poor values for science (drain in the brain-type of brain drain). The IVST is a practical way of reducing brain drain of all types.
6. IVST will enhance reverse brain drain through its international activities. There cannot be fast scientific and technological development without such reverse brain drain.
7. IVST will promote African unity.
8. There is need to stimulate and encourage interest in science. The village will achieve this by monitoring the progress of young talents and offer opportunities for interaction through associate programs and links with academic institutions.

Do we need IVST?

We need an institution like IVST in order to address the shortcomings of the traditional institutions of higher learning. In the final analysis, the creation, mastery and utilisation of modern science and technology is basically what will continue to distinguish the developing from the developed world. In an attempt to appreciate this fact, many developing countries have, over the last few decades, imitated the developed world in their efforts to build-up scientific and technological capacities. The most notable of these efforts are the creation of high institutions of learning and research centres. Other efforts include the so called transfer of appropriate technology. While such efforts are circumstantially commendable, their revolutionary potential is limited by poverty, the economics of acquiring read-made technologies, and the intellectual property laws which favour innovative and creative nations.

Efforts made by developing countries to compete in scientific and technological enterprises must necessarily be revolutionary in order to catch up with the already fast developing developed countries. In this connection, the village model offers a unique potential for a revolution in the science and technology. This model addresses the poverty syndrome by pulling resources together, and it discourages the dangerous dream, of acquiring ready-made technology, by encouraging indigenous discovery and innovation. It is noteworthy that the only qualification to go to the village is one’s innovative capability rather than academic certificates.

The developing world today needs international research institutions like the IVST because in the absence of internationalism, science and technology, especially high technology, cannot flourish. Internationalism makes it possible to guarantee high standards, keep abreast with new ideas and new developments, and ensure a continuous transfer of science and technology through their respective creators and innovators. Moved by their idealism and commitment to excellence, such scientists and technologists will make the village their second home.

Some people may argue that it is not wise to create IVST at this time when our economy is so bad, and instead we should concentrate on improving existing institutions, which are in fact in a very bad shape. At the very least one can discern sinister motives in such arguments, especially when it is appreciated that our economy is bad precisely because of our scientific and technological backwardness. Moreover, it is worth appreciating that the creation of IVST is precisely a step aimed at improving existing institutions.

The talented scholar’s program of the village is a natural response to the fact that the traditional educational system does not cater for talented scholars: some very talented scholars drop out of school very early due to their inability to cope with a system which is too slow.

It should be noted that 500 years ago, Europe was desperately poor in comparison with the great civilisations of the east. Despite the fact that Europe was even made poorer by wars, its foundation for future wealth had been laid in science and technology. It is noteworthy that Europe invested in science and technology despite its poverty then. Corrective measures to a country’s poor economic conditions are necessarily expensive, and it is illogical to suggest that one should not take such measures now because one is poor, since in doing so one would be suggesting that we should forever remain doomed to perpetual poverty.

Is IVST feasible?

The total cost of constructing all the buildings of the IVST now is estimated at USD 20,000,000. This amount is very small, especially when it is appreciated that this is equivalent to sacrificing 1000 Landrovers! A better appreciation of the smallness of this amount is provided by the fact that all the buildings could be completed now if every Tanzanian between the age of 18 and 50 years were to donate only 4 kg of Sugar to the future generation of this country in particular, and Africa in general. The cost of running the village in the first five years is estimated to be at USD 5,000,000 per year. This is equivalent to each working Tanzanian donating 1 kg of sugar per year. But what will the village produce?

The village and school education in science and technology

The village will promote excellence in schools in several ways; first, the international primary and secondary schools for talented scholars at the village will provide a standard of excellence to which all schools could aspire to achieve. This would generate a competitive wave among our schools, the result being improved standards particularly in science education. This characteristic has already been noticed even at this early stage.

Secondly, there will be programs at the village which are specifically designed to promote excellence in schools. Already the village has designed two programs: the IVST book series and the IVST lecturer-tour program.

Thirdly, the impact of the discoveries and innovations made at the village will promote excellence in learning institutions through improving productivity.

Conclusions

It is an agonising fallacy to continue harbouring the belief that we can develop by buying the products of technology from abroad, rather than developing our indigenous capability.

It is sadly true that if we do not take science and technology seriously, there will come a time when the differences between the humans with technology and those without technology will be so great that those without technology will be closer to the animals in the game reserves than humans with technology. The fact is that we have no alternative but to go scientific and technological at a revolutionary speed. We must train the thieves of science and technology because some very essential technologies can only be procured through dubious means.

IVST will produce far-reaching consequences on the future scientific, technological, economic and political development of Africa, in general, and Tanzania in particular. The benefits for hosting such an international village have been made obvious. We have to act now because time is not on our side.

The stubborn fact of the last five decades for all independent African countries is that science and technology have been neglected and, as a consequence chaos reigned… We must build, instead, on what has been achieved and what has been achieved and what has been learned over almost five decades of borrowing experience. We must support the IVST.

The chairperson, distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for your attention.