More than 300 posters on the scientific research carried out by the Universidad Nacional de Rosario were exhibited during the 18th Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Within the framework of the National Week of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario hosted the 18th Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation. This annual initiative brings together scientists and society through various actions to disseminate science, technology, innovation and art.
In the difficult context that the Public University and scientific production are going through, this meeting “is an act of resistance,” said at the opening ceremony the Rector Franco Bartolacci, the Secretary of the Area of Science, Technology and Innovation for the development of the UNR Elena Gasparri, the Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Province of Santa Fe Erica Hynes and the vice dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, host of the Conference, María Cristina Pérez.
For two days, the University's scientific community exhibited, through printed and narrated posters, the work they carry out with their teams in different areas: Natural and Exact Sciences, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Architecture and Technologies, Social Sciences and Humanities and Arts.
“Our intention is to continue supporting scientific development at this University, which is a source of pride. The aspiration is to support all research projects, but also to think about strategic lines, in connection with central issues on the public agenda where the University and science necessarily have to make a contribution,” said Bartolacci.
The Rector referred to the delicate context that science and higher education are going through, not only in terms of underfunding but also because of “a sustained, systematic and planned campaign that constantly harasses, belittles and mistreats the nation's university students and scientists.” Something that he considered unusual if one takes into account that one of the few public institutions that still retains legitimacy and prestige in the country is precisely the Public University.
In addition to considering it unwise, “it is the opposite of what all developed countries in the world do,” which allocate more budget to scientific production because they understand that the knowledge society is differential in order to develop and grow.
Bartolacci believes that this is unfair compared to the efforts of many poorly paid professionals, without recognition, who dedicate their entire lives to studying, inventing, producing and creating something that can solve some of the problems that the country has. In addition, “they have to tolerate their work being disparaged, what they do being despised and when they try to raise their voice or support something dissident, they are harassed so that their voice is silenced.”
To justify this model, the Rector said that a campaign is systematically used to try to generate a cloak of suspicion regarding what happens in science and in the University, so that this suspicion discredits it and that this discredit justifies the lack of funding, and these phenomena occur in a scenario where the logic of public debate has characteristics that are not appropriate for a democratic society.
“What remains is to do more and better everything we know how to do, putting our bodies, ideas, creativity, establishing alliances, networks, weaving, creating, generating, building consensus that can reverse this situation,” he emphasized in front of an audience of teachers and researchers and appealed to the commitment of the scientific university community to continue in the same direction. In the face of irrationality, sanity; in the face of aggressiveness, tolerant, open dialogue; in the face of systematic hostility, committed work to sustain the legitimacy that the system has.
“It is with an open university, with students taking courses and passing the test, with research teams working, with producing science in our institutes. What brought us here and what will sustain us is the recognition, the support and the moving embrace of Argentine society that does not give in,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation for the development of the UNR, Elena Gasparri, said that with the support of the province of Santa Fe, a call for technological experimentation called “Experience 2024” was created, which is developing actions and projects to bring artificial intelligence, augmented reality and immersive reality to the University classrooms. She also announced that the call “University and sustainable development” will be continued, through projects co-financed by the University and the province. “The fact that there are 324 posters, 24 of which are narrated, that we are meeting and strengthening the link between those of us who produce science and technology at the University, constitutes an act of resistance,” she stressed.
Starting this year, the Conference will be held annually in a different Faculty or space of the University, which will allow exploring new environments and enriching the experience of the participants. As in previous editions, it is possible to access content produced especially for these meetings and the online gallery of scientific posters through the website: jornadasctei.unr.edu.ar.
The event was organized by the Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Area through its departments of Science Communication, Scientific Promotion, Interdisciplinary Research, Technological Linkage and Innovation for Development.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/Photographer: Camila Casero