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IKVINI MAULAYA - 4-Weekly Assignment
IKVINI MAULAYA - 4-Weekly Assignment
Collectivized Science
Ravetz describes this process as the industrialization of science, implying that the
industrial mode of research has become more prominent. But in reality, collectivized science
more likely refers to the interfusion of academics and industrial science. This interfusion is not
only caused by external force, but also from the internal side of academic science as the result of
its development. The external influences indeed have more impact in collectivized science, as the
need of R & D became more apparent, affecting the academic science while academic science
constantly interacted with society. The viewpoint of science as an instrumental thing became
more obvious in World War II where scientists proved to be as useful as engineers and
physicians.
In recent decades, governments in many nations are trying to utilize academic science
into more strictly utilitarian science in many ways, where immediate results can be seen and
used, such as technology. Nonetheless, the internal of academic science itself also contributes to
collectivized science since many researches need more high end apparatus and researchers.
Surely both of those two aspects need a lot of money which is almost impossible if the fund only
comes from one individual. Henceforth, the private industry or state plays the role of the funder
who has the right to decide the purpose of the research.
R & D Organization
In the point of view of society, science is instrumental in many aspects of life, including
but not limited to the daily life of one person to the economy and politics of a state. From this
view, science can be described as part of “science and technology” that cannot be separated from
human life. To highlight this function of science, the fact that states and industrialized companies
tend to distribute funding to R & D Organizations as a means for long term investments. As time
goes by, this practice rendering the instrumental function of science becomes more tangible, as it
is bound to become, in the long run, what people think it is or ought to be.
R & D has been long described as the incorporation of academic science and industrial
science. Albeit this statement emerges logical, but to what extent does this amalgamation take
place?. Therefore the R & D organization can be classified into four sub-division or spectrums
which cannot be precisely defined or mutually exclusive. The spectrum of relevance represents a
gradient from 'academic' to 'industrial' R & D organization respectively are basic science (purest
form of academic science), strategic research (knowledge oriented but mixed with utilitarian
purpose), mission oriented ( a clear utilitarian motive and expected to produce results that can be
put into action in a practical wa) and technological development (immediate utility is the
paramount consideration).