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Search for Research

Aug 27, 2012 Editorial

We have attempted over the years to encourage the practice of research at UG. But this orientation towards research must be inculcated long before the student hits university. In fact it must begin in the nursery schools and continue through the primary and secondary levels. Some may ask, what is so important about research?
Research can be justified on several grounds that are common to the majority of scientific disciplines: research is an activity that adds to knowledge, which helps humankind and benefits the society at large; research is a vehicle that is vital for advancement of knowledge across scientific disciplines; research helps in solving persisting societal problems. But most importantly, what we hold is that research encourages a ‘show me’ attitude that facilitates informed decision-making.
For our country to progress – by any measure that we may choose – economically, politically, socially etc., we as a people must move beyond dogmatic ‘beliefs’ by testing them for their validity. This can range from as to whether our people vote using ethnic or economic criteria or any combination or permutation of the same or whether we can produce rice that uses less fertilizer but need more growing time. If our people are inducted from childhood to conduct research to test their prejudices, nothing will be able to stop our progress.
Research is any systematic inquiry towards the creation of a body of knowledge or addition to it. This definition establishes the focus of the research process as well as its essential ingredients: systematic inquiry and creation of knowledge. Scientific knowledge is typically classified under three heads: pure sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, etc; Applied Sciences, such as engineering, medicine, architecture, planning, surveying, etc; and social sciences, such as languages, religion, philosophy, history, ethics, etc.  Even from nursery, our children can be taught the value of asking questions and encouraged to investigate for answers. Rote learning must be abandoned.
Systematic inquiry refers to the essentials of conducting research. It is undertaken through a variety of formats and methodologies, depending on the objective and nature of the research. However, there are some common types of research processes that are usually applied either independently or in combination. Problem solving research focuses on the development of workable solutions to an identified problem.
Research is needed to provide practical solutions to the majority of our daily life problems. Such research options need wider application to make them worth their discovery and development. For instance, housing for low-income groups is a pressing issue. Several projects, programmes and schemes have been initiated without catering to the plight of the needy.
Many pressing problems related to our national life need solutions based on objective research. Choice of power source between hydro and wind; water logging and salinity in relation to the existing farm drainage techniques; desertification; low-cost but sustainable flood protection options; effective and sustainable methods of urban sewerage disposal and treatment; sustainable forestation; efforts to impart literacy and awareness; making development projects compatible to ecological considerations; minimising the re-settlement impacts of transportation and power projects; regulating the informal economy; and providing social support to economically invalid social groups in the context of market economy are a few areas that require unabated research input for evolving workable solutions.
The matter of establishing the significance of research in various scientific fields cannot be swept under the carpet for long. Academic research, which is the core area in this regard, needs to be strengthened on priority basis. The University of Guyana must interact with the foreign institutions to obtain feedback and support in their respective research exercises. Most importantly, UG’s research agendas must incorporate national priorities.
Incentives must be ensured for the scholars engaged in serious and original research. Generous prizes for research work of substance can be a means of encouragement. Assessment of the same can be done through research participation assessment of the faculty and scholars, a standard exercise which is conducted in universities across the world. Until such measures are taken, despite its invaluable potential for national development, research shall remain an obscure entity.

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