Don't let scientific and technological research falls into the 'administrativeization' trap

Editor’s Board: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan has had an "Open Letter" to scientists working in specialized Scientific Research Institutes and Centers under the MARD. Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper would like to present the full content of the letter. Title set by the editor's board.

At the beginning of the letter, I would like to send my best regards and dearest feelings to the scientists working in the institutes, academies, specialized scientific research centers.

From the first day receiving the assignment until now, I have not had the opportunity to greet all of my colleagues who are dedicated to study and research. I have been concerned about this and will try to arrange to visit, work and express my gratitude to scientists who have dedicated themselves to the mission of creating and spreading intellectual value for the country's agriculture.

The initial impressions from the recent visits have helped me to empathize more with comrades and friends in many issues that I have not had the chance to approach and learn in-depth before. Facilities, laboratories, equipment,… of scientific research and training institutions still have many limitations, unable to fully draw out the capabilities of scientists.

Even so, I really admire and am proud of the reports on research results and topics for practical application. Overcoming objective shortcomings and difficulties, while mechanisms, policies and legal regulations have not been adjusted appropriately and timely, you have done what seemed impossible.

With talent and dedication, with passion and love for the profession, MARD’s team of scientists has produced research products that are both academic, in-depth, and meet the urgent requirements from real life.

Together we’ll change, switching from the "agricultural production" mindset to the "agricultural economy" mindset. Together we’ll transform the growth model from width to depth. Together, we’ll pursue the goal of creating added value, instead of increasing output.

The added value in agriculture is accumulated on the basis of increasing knowledge content and applying scientific and technological achievements. The added value in agriculture starts with laboratory studies, moves to experimental and trial areas, and is gradually accepted at farms and farmlands…

Added value in agriculture originates from questions of life. That is, how agricultural products can achieve higher quality and value. That is, how to optimize the value generated per unit area. That is, how to make farmers' income and quality of life better. Before creating value for life, each person needs to find his own value.

Each question kindles another knowledge. Questions derive from the urge to wish the surrounding world to be more and more complete, and life is better and better. Questions come from the discontent with the old, not accepting the existing.

The question promotes inquiry, discovery, activates innovation, creativity in order to move towards something more advanced, to reach unprecedented heights.

I want to share that with the implication that there are many topics, problems, research questions waiting for answers from scientists. There is a conclusion that each of us only uses one-tenth of our abilities.

And so, we can even do more things, do better at the things we are doing and the results we have created, try things we have never thought of.

I also feel that, here and there, heavy matters are holding back the ability of each person: Concerns about mechanisms, policies and remuneration regimes; Worries about the working environment not unleashing creative inspiration; Worries about the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Therefore, we need to equip ourselves with the skills to transform negative emotions into positive ones. Positive emotions will add abundant energy to live, work and contribute.

Sow action, reap habit. Sow habit, reap character. Sow character, reap destiny. Today's attitude determines our future. Attitude is more important than qualifications. The knowledge equipped is of yesterday. The world is constantly changing, the newborn has not yet been shaped, but a newer one has already prepared to follow.

Having made the imagery comparison "life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving", the brilliant scientist Albert Einstein sent the message: "Once you stop learning, you begin to gradually die”. Yes, we have to keep learning, keep moving.

It all starts with an idea. Ideas often come from one person, but to perfect the idea and put it into practice, requires the cooperation of many people. The wider the scope of the research topic, the larger the circle of interaction and connection of the participants.

Scientists from different disciplines and majors need to collaborate closely in working groups. In order for the team to work effectively, apart from the skills of collaboration, coordination, participation attitude, and professional qualification, each participant needs to know how to overcome their "ego".

The scientist of relativity had contemplated something almost absolute: “Ego and knowledge are inversely proportional to each other. The more the knowledge, the smaller the ego. The less the knowledge, the bigger the ego." Knowing how to overcome the "ego", the difference does not lead to separation or opposition, but instead complement each other, contributing in a constructive mind so that products and collective works can be further completed.

In the vast ocean of knowledge, what we know is like a grain of sand. Even things thought to have been known, sometimes, are just a point of view, an approach. The knowledge agriculture we are building needs civilized criticism, feedback, and constructive contribution. In order to activate multi-dimensional interaction, to encourage different, novel and bold ideas, it is necessary to have a democratic, open and market-oriented environment - where everyone is respected, every opinion is heard, where biases or prejudices do not exist.

Remember, discussion is better than argument, because argument is only to find out who is right, while discussion has a goal: to find out what is right.

Professor Luong Dinh Cua is a bright example of an intellectual who is committed to his passion and devotion to Vietnam and the country's agriculture. Recently there have been many events honoring "barefoot scientists".

Those farmers probably do not have many opportunities to access academic and scholastic knowledge, have never had the opportunity to step into the laboratory, but have contributed many initiatives and technical improvements, contributing to solving urgent requirements from fields and paddies. That affirms a truth: "There is no job that is small or inferior, only those who do not find meaning in work".

Agricultural scientists are not satisfied with the research projects that have been accepted, but always ponder and cogitate about the meaning and practical value of the research topics and works in solving the issues and problems of agriculture, rural areas, farmers.

Agricultural scientists are well aware of their responsibilities and duties, always grateful and respectful to each agricultural product created from the sweat and labor of tens of millions of farmers.

We often talk about the "brain drain" situation, unable to retain talented people. As for the scientists who choose to "stay" to contribute and dedicate themselves, the question is whether they have made full use of their intellect, specialized knowledge, that is, "gray matter", or the fire of enthusiasm keeps diminishing day by day, sometimes because of this situation, sometimes because of another condition.

It is necessary to remind each other that there will never be ideal and optimal conditions as desired, but we can always actively choose our approach, attitude to live, behave and work.

While conditions and circumstances are yet changeable, we can always change, first of all, from within ourselves. Do not let scientific research activities fall into the trap of "administration". Don't embark on a task as a repetitive habit. Don't pen your research paper as pre-programmed.

Science comes from ideas, from feelings. Ideas are correlated with emotions, with passion for observation, curiosity, discovery. Ideas can arise anytime, anywhere, beyond the existing frameworks, scopes and limitations. Then why not find joy in scientific research and know how to turn this academic activity into joy?

According to the law of life, all will move in a more positive direction. In the future, mechanisms and policies will be adjusted and changed appropriately when resources are more abundant. Tomorrow, the position of science and technology will really be the driving force of development. Tomorrow, the "market" of science and technology will become dynamic and bustling as the State's policy is aiming for.

But in order to arrive at "tomorrow", then "now", we need to together forge a positive attitude, find new ways of working, create an effective operating model, and diversify resources.

We need to proactively create favorable conditions for public-private linkages and cooperation, "commercialize" step by step, bring scientific research topics and products to the market, and meet the diverse demands from farmers, businesses, from the whole society.

Please actively "open the gate", open the heart to connect with many partners, many friends who are willing to accompany us.

New things are inevitably surprising and confusing at first, but if you boldly step out from the old entanglement which has been too long, the new horizon promises to shine. “Head towards the sun, and the shadows stay behind”. "Light the torch, instead of complaining about the darkness." Life is always vibrant and colorful, if we can feel it whole, we will "live a life worth living".