Science and democracy?

     The physicist Carl Sagan, in the second chapter of his book "The Demon-Haunted World" (1995), draws a parallel between science and democracy, saying that both have values ​​that are often indistinguishable, and two are the reasons given by him to corroborate that assertion. The first is that "science gives power to anyone who takes the trouble to learn it (although many have been systematically prevented from acquiring this knowledge). The second is that it feeds actually need, the free exchange of ideas; their values ​​are opposed to secrecy. " 

     I fully agree with the first of the reasons presented above, however, the second did not convince me. I may be very wrong, because I was introduced to academia very recently, but I have the impression that, once the status of a researcher is given here in Brazil by the number of publications and citations (among other factors) many scientists do not share your ideas for fear of losing a publication to other colleagues. The result are works that give the feeling of incompleteness, but that if they were made in collaboration with other authors in related areas, could produce much better quality jobs and more effective applications. 

     In this sense, thinking about work related to environmental issues, it seems highly profitable that, increasingly, are developed by a group of professionals specialized in different areas of knowledge. Then, as the science communication, I find it very accessible to anyone who can look with the wide availability of online bibliographies and congresses that allow the exchange of ideas between researchers. The technologies for exchanges abound, even though in many cases they do not work in practice. Goodwill? It Will Be? 

     Another thing that bothers me in the development of science in Brazil is the high incentive for the publication of new things and against the low investment for many of them get off the ground. There are technologies produced in the country for energy produced from movement of the waves and hydrogen-powered vehicles, just to name two examples (there are many others), but we do not see any of them being implemented in our cities, knowing how advantageous would be the environmental point of view. Why is that? Political issues. There is no investment by the government, probably because it is economically disadvantageous. 

     It is this reflection to you readers. As for the book mentioned in the first paragraph, is the tip of your reading. Despite the unusual title, this is an excellent book, which deals with the distinction between science and pseudoscience, how much of the population takes the latter by the former and how it can be harmful to those who do. It is available free at: www.filosofia.art.br/download/filosofia/carl_sagan_o_mundo_assombrado_pelos_demonios.pdf.

Sarah Norberto