Five hundred academics have signed a petition urging continued government support for multidisciplinary research on sustainable development after rumors suggested the National Science and Technology Council would shift gears on scientific funding.
Rumors have suggested that the council is considering cutting funding for multidisciplinary research in sustainable development, disaster management and spatial information technology, the petition said.
Officials who supported the move purportedly believed the state-funded research programs in these fields lacked focus and did not achieve the desired results, it said.
Photo: Wu Po-hsuan, Taipei Times
That assertion would be surprising, as these fields are key to President William Lai’s (賴清德) digital transformation, resilient Taiwan and sustainable environment initiatives, it said.
The council’s proposed strategy to re-entrench the division between fields of study would contradict modern scientific approaches and would not be fair to those who have worked to develop science in Taiwan in the past 30 years, it said.
The government should take seriously the complex challenges and requirements in Taiwan’s quest for sustainable development, the academics said, adding that the council should have been more transparent and communicative in the policymaking process.
Academia Sinica Biodiversity Research Center fellow Li Wen-hsiung (李文雄), Academia Sinica Institute of Earth Sciences Research fellow Chang Wen-yen (張文彥) and University of Taipei president Elton Chiu (邱英浩) are among the academics who signed the petition.
The council said that the scientific research budget has been increased every year and that further discussion is required to adjust the government’s strategy.
The council said it understands that Taiwan’s societal problems require dialogue between different fields and complex solutions, adding that it has invested NT$480 million (US$15 million) this year and would invest another NT$520 million next year to address such problems.
It is committed to discussing the national strategy for sustainability, disaster management and spatial information technology research with the nation’s academics to better respond to challenges, the council said.
It would consult with domestic experts to make the best use of the nation’s resources and broaden academic participation in crucial research goals, the council added.
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
MAKING PROGRESS: Officials and industry leaders who participated in a defense forum last month agreed that Taiwan has the capabilities to work with the US, the report said Taiwan’s high-tech defense industry is to enhance collaboration with the US to produce weapons needed for self-defense, the Ministry of National Defense said in a report to the Legislative Yuan. Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Yen-pu (徐衍璞) discussed building regional and global industry alliances with US partners at the US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Philadelphia held from Sept. 22 to Tuesday last week, the ministry said in the declassified portion of the report. The visit contributed to maintaining bilateral ties, facilitated Taiwan’s efforts to acquire weapons and equipment, and strengthened the resilience of the two nation’s defense industries, it said. Taiwan-US ties
CONCERNS: Allowing the government, political parties or the military to own up to 10 percent of a large media firm is a risk Taiwan cannot afford to take, a lawyer said A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator has proposed amendments to allow the government, political parties and the military to indirectly invest in broadcast media, prompting concerns of potential political interference. Under Article 1 of the Satellite Broadcasting Act (衛星廣播電視法), the government and political parties — as well as foundations established with their endowments, and those commissioned by them — cannot directly or indirectly invest in satellite broadcasting businesses. A similar regulation is in the Cable Radio and Television Act (有線廣播電視法). “The purpose of banning the government, political parties and the military from investing in the media is to prevent them from interfering
RSS