Chilean researchers push for stronger science investment

Guardian : A group called More Science for Chile, consisting of members of the country’s scientific and academic communities, is advocating for more investment in scientific research. Although Chile ranks 21st in the world (and 1st in South America) for scientific research in terms of citations per article, writes Pablo Astudillo Besnier, a member of More Science for Chile, investment in R&D was only 0.5% of Chile’s GDP. Besides more money for science, the group is promoting better public attitudes toward research and science; the reinstatement of the Scientific Advisory Council, which was eliminated almost 40 years ago; and the creation of a ministry of science. “Science has been widely recognized as a path to social and economic development,” writes Besnier. More Science for Chile is working to make a small country competitive with the “big” ones.