Science out of touch with modern networked economy

7 December 22004

Scientists are confused about their role in modern society and need to earn again their licence to research, delegates to a major conference in Sydney heard today.

Professor Johan Bouma, formerly of Wageningen University in The Netherlands, told the 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference being held at the University of Sydney, that science had not caught up with changes in society in the past few decades and needed to ‘tap into the experience economy’.p>

“Traditional institutes are becoming less important than networks (communities of practice) organised around particular values and interests …it’s time to go back to our cultural roots.”

Prof. Bouma said that “even though Adam was created out of the earth, soil science has been overwhelmed by other disciplines” and should look for new applications and partners to make it relevant to modern society.

He continued the theme started by Prof. Donald Sparks, President of the International Union of Soil Scientists, who urged delegates to communicate more effectively with policy makers and lay people.

“We need to improve our image as many people don’t appreciate us and the work we do to help human kind,” Prof. Sparks said.

The theme of soil as the building block of life was continued through the day with papers presented in 16 themes covering the latest research in soils and climate change, soils and water quality, contaminated soils, salinity, GIS and remote sensing and farming systems.

More than 370 people are attending the conference in Sydney, which is the major bi-annual meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Soil Science Societies.