New Peruvian president raises scientists’ hopes

Nature : On Monday Ollanta Humala became Peru’s president-elect after a very tight race. Unlike opponent Keiko Fujimori, Humala included an extensive science and technology plan in his platform: He called for more technical institutions, support for foreign collaboration, scholarships in the sciences, the creation of a well-paid professional science and technology career path, and the creation of a ministry of science, technology, and innovation, writes Elie Gardner for Nature. In addition, in Humala’s victory speech Sunday night he said he hopes to lure Peruvians from all professions back home with additional investment and the creation of jobs. “Science and technology in Peru may have an excellent opportunity to increase its investment of 0.15% of its GDP in this presidential term to 1%,” said Jorge Del Carpio of the National Council for Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation.