THE pandemic has clearly and firmly established the value of science in making important decisions that affect lives and livelihoods across the world. No ideology, political creed, religious belief or philosophical orientation can defeat the virus. Only hardcore science can — and will. It is difficult to imagine any other situation where the value of scientific opinion and the contributions of scientists were so evidently manifest. Individuals and governments throughout the world are listening to what researchers have to say. There is no alternative, except for those suggested by scientists. Only science matters when it comes to making good decisions — the rest is commentary or distraction.

Science implies a dispassionate search for the truth and use of resultant knowledge effectively. Its process is basic: observe the world without bias, quantify and systematically link observations to generate tentative theories, and test theories in a way that permits refutation. Only data-backed theories are accepted as provisional truths. The possibility of refutation makes us sceptical of cherished theories and helps science advance by discarding old theories. The ongoing Covid-19 vaccine trials illustrate this process. Whereas people and governments are pressing for a cure, researchers are ensuring that the process is not compromised and the solutions are robust.

It is not that science is all good; it is a tool that can be used to make lives better or worse. But it is the best tool that humanity has created. It can be hijacked by dogma and politics. Yet, science by its very nature resists such attempts because it develops a mindset that constantly challenges the status quo and pushes its practitioners to continue searching for the truth. Dogma withers away in the face of truth, though it may sometime happen belatedly. The pandemic exploded so rapidly that half-hearted attempts at denial or resistance, motivated by dogma and politics, waned quickly.

There is no alternative, except for those suggested by scientists.

Pre-pandemic, Pakistan existed in a state of deliberate and effective resistance to and denial of a scientific way of thinking and living. The virus has exposed us as a nation. We cannot even make basic machinery and equipment to protect citizens from devastating diseases and other threats. We may be able to reverse-engineer production processes and use imported machinery, but we are decades away from producing the knowledge and machinery that makes advanced products such as ventilators and vaccines. So we borrow and buy, and wait for aid and equipment. Necessity used to be the mother of inventions. Now we have aid and debt; we have become good only at inventing reasons to get more aid and debt.

We cannot keep buying advanced technologies on borrowed money in the futile hope that future generations will pay off our debts. They can’t, unless we provide them with the advanced knowledge and skills to create a better future. Our reliance on foreign experts, equipment, knowledge and aid is a curse, which is not only harmful in many cases but also disincentivises development of local expertise and capacity. Instead of buying, we must start making. Currently, we mostly make low value-added products on imported machinery or its reverse-engineered local versions. The transition from low value-added production to high value-added production is possible only through indigenisation of scientific and technological knowledge and expertise. Manufacturing is limited not only to products and equipment but also includes knowledge. Research creates knowledge.

Post-coronavirus, our only hope of having a respectable status in the world, and creating a place worth living for our future generations, is through aggressive investments in the development of science and technology. A digital Pakistan without a strong scientific-technological foundation is a pipe dream, akin to putting the cart before the horse. Due to Covid-19, the public has temporarily realised the value of science. We should capitalise on this opportunity and not allow the forces of dogma and politics to reassert themselves.

We must (a) sensitise people about the value of science; (b) highlight how scientists are working relentlessly and selflessly — at incalculable personal cost — to make the world safe without any discrimination; (c) make immediate investments and attract talent to kick-start the development of science and technology; (d) incubate start-ups focused on development and application of scientific knowledge and technology; (e) activate current research institutions and give them incentives and bold targets to develop expertise in developing scientific processes and manufacturing advanced equipment; and (f) cultivate a research culture in our universities and institutes of advanced learning.

Without science and technology we are nothing but the wretched on the earth, colonised forever and not even permitted a death in dignity.

The writer is a faculty at the Suleman Dawood School of Business, Lums.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2020