sábado, mayo 31, 2008

Ciencia para paises subdesarrollados

PLOS ha publicado un artículo donde dan "10 reglas para cientificos en paises de bajos ingresos".
Algunas reglas en realidad son comunes para la ciencia en general (Eduque a los cientificos mas jovenes, mejore sus habilidades de comunicación), hay varias que realmente son especificas para nosotros los subdesarrollados (LIC en la jerga: Low-Income Country).
Aunque lo que mas me interesó fue esta definición que lamentablemente es muy cierta:
for most people and many politicians, science is a curiosity performed in high-income countries
.

Aca copio el artículo completo (tiene licencia Creative Commons):

Ten Simple Rules for Aspiring Scientists in a Low-Income Country

Edgardo Moreno1*, José-María Gutiérrez2

1 Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica, 2 Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica

Being a scientist entails a common set of characteristics. Admiring nature and having concern for social issues; possessing a strong academic background, team work abilities, honesty, discipline, skepticism, communication skills, competitiveness, ability to accept and give criticism, and productive relationships are some of the most obvious traits that scientists should have. To be a scientist in a low-income country (LIC), however, requires a complementary set of qualities that are necessary to confront the drawbacks that work against the development of science. The failure of many young researchers to mature as professional scientists upon their return to their country from advanced training elsewhere, motivated us to propose these ten rules.

Rule 1: Understand Your Country

Most LIC scientists want to live in their home country. Nevertheless, you must be realistic and prepared to face rudimentary laboratories, power cuts, poor water supply, deficient libraries, slow Internet, and scarce or non-existent national funds for supporting research, hiring personnel, and providing maintenance or equipment. You must understand that science is a minor component of the cultural environment of an LIC and that, for most people and many politicians, science is a curiosity performed in high-income countries [1]. Within this adverse scenario, you should establish broad and strong links with your community and country. This involves becoming interested in historical, social, and political issues. LIC researchers have to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of their country, and cultivate the desire to contribute to the scientific development of their homeland and to the well-being of its people. Do not endorse deep doubts about the possibilities of performing research. It can be done—but not alone. Try to join efforts with other investigators facing the same problems. Learn how they sidetrack difficulties, and incorporate yourself into a research team. If you are not able to find a group that fits your specific interest, then procure a group of researchers who, although investigating topics marginal to your own, are capable of understanding the relevance of your work. At the initial phases of your career, belonging to a creative scientific environment in which your knowledge and skills are appreciated is of major importance. Be part of a team before trying to lead one.

Rule 2: Focus on Your Scientific Work

Your formal education has finished, but your scientific career is just beginning. Research should be your main professional activity. Consider that you may be the country's only specialist in a particular topic, but keep in mind that science is global. You are a small fish in a big pond and part of an international community. Grow within this global context. Concentrate on your work, and do not pay attention to flattering comments. Above all, keep away from activities that distract you from scientific endeavor, such as excessive administrative duties, and too many committees. Limit the number of meetings and attend only the relevant ones. Even though you are well prepared, modestly declare yourself as “ignorant” in topics that may distract you, and fight against excessive lecturing. However, participate in graduate programs and seminars. This is the right environment for the promotion of academic knowledge and skills.

Rule 3: Be Wise When Selecting Your Research Topic

LICs face many problems that await creative solutions. Bizarre as it sounds, you can turn this into an advantage since these same problems constitute excellent sources for research and offer comparative advantages. Try to choose a topic that is not directly pursued by many or strong international research teams. At the beginning of your career, you cannot compete with them and your efforts may be frustrated. Identify the potential bottlenecks. Remember that in LICs research time runs slower and that good science is not so much related to the subject as to the answers you extract from your investigations. Frequently, local models become universal once a coherent story is built around them. Become an expert and, simultaneously, broaden your knowledge in collateral areas that may open new possibilities.

Rule 4: Improve Your Communication Skills

English is the language of natural sciences, and you cannot avoid this fact. Consequently, you should be proficient in this language. The international scientific community is lenient about strong accents. However, the same community does not tolerate poor writing. Thus, writing skills are essential, since research begins with written proposals [2] and does not end until your results have been published [3]. You, more than native English speakers, must practice your oral presentations [4].

Rule 5: Collaborate Locally and Internationally

Collaboration is essential for the advancement of science. Although this holds true for any researcher in the world [5], it is crucial for LIC investigators. Identify local groups who share your scientific interest, have equipment, or perform activities or techniques that are useful for your research. Keep in touch with your former tutor and colleagues and explore new collaborations abroad. Do not be shy about requesting help, and offer something that attracts the attention of your counterparts. Attend international meetings and present your work. Research is, in a way, a trade market of ideas, methods, and goods. Travel and visit research institutions. If some experiments cannot be carried out in your country, arrange to perform them abroad, or convince people to do them for you. There are international funds available for this purpose.

Rule 6: Commit Yourself to the Education of Young Scientists

LIC researchers should participate in graduate training programs since this is the best way to build a strong scientific community. It is also a way to identify good young students and potential partners. Carefully choose the subjects for your students, pondering the possibilities of your research center, and be realistic about what they can achieve and the tasks you are imposing on them. Upgrade your students' education by sending them abroad for seminars and for learning specific methodologies (http://iscbsc.org/scs3/index.htm). There are international fellowships for this purpose (http://www.twas.org/). Be strict but generous with your students and colleagues, and, whenever possible, share your facilities and knowledge. Do not be self-centered. Promoting the success of others is also a way to promote your own success.

Rule 7: Write Research Grants and Publish in International Journals

Scientific amateurism is common in LICs. Science is not a hobby but a professional activity that requires strong commitment. Inform yourself about local and international granting agencies, and apply for money [2]. There are international agencies and programs that provide grant and travel funds for LIC investigators (e.g., TWAS, IFS, EU, NIH, etc.). Although funds are limited, they will help you to build your scientific career. Incorporate yourself into international consortia; they may find your ideas and resources interesting. If you do not have access to essential publications, send requests to authors, editors, or colleagues abroad. Avoid publishing your results in magazines or low-quality journals, and instead submit your work to international journals. Do not overestimate or underestimate your work, be realistic when choosing a suitable journal [3], and, above all, do not be overly frustrated when grants or papers are rejected; instead, use the experience as a source of learning. Even though some reviewers may undervalue research performed in LICs, most of them pay more attention to the results and ideas than to nationalities [6].

Rule 8: Develop Endurance When Confronting Difficulties

It is understandable that the limitations of performing research in LICs sometimes weaken your enthusiasm. Remain calm and try to identify the source of the problem; avoid complaining excessively in front of students, colleagues, or your partners abroad. A negative attitude is contagious, lowers your prestige, and has the tendency to attract unproductive people. Share your problems with other local scientists and confront them as a team. You should cultivate your abilities to find alternative solutions, as well as skills to improvise and to persuade people.

Rule 9: Educate Yourself as a Professional Scientist

To be a specialist in an LIC is not enough. Be aware that the scientific community in an LIC is in short supply and lacks redundancy. In order to confront the drawbacks and deficiencies of the system, you must acquire a wide scientific knowledge, and become a well educated person in a broad sense. In addition to helping the quality of your research, this will give you the credentials to participate in political decisions related to science, to promote your ideas, and to spread scientific knowledge in your country. Acquaint yourself with local and international trends related to scientific performance and keep track of the major breakthroughs in science. Give talks and write about science whenever you consider it pertinent, but without diverting your attention too much from your main scientific duties.

Rule 10: Appreciate Being a Scientist

As most scientists from high income countries and from LICs know, we are prone to facing economic difficulties at the beginning of our careers. Generally, salaries for scientists are comparatively low. Nevertheless, in time scientists can achieve a satisfying income; furthermore, there are compensations, especially if you become a successful scientist. A sense of achievement and contribution to your community, prestige, travel, meeting interesting people, and consulting opportunities are some of them, but nothing is more rewarding than the intellectual stimulation of science itself. This was your original motivation; nourish it with more and better science.

Acknowledgments

The style for this article was inspired by the “Ten Simple Rules…” papers published by Philip E. Bourne in PLoS Computational Biology. We acknowledge the comments and revision of our colleagues and former students.

References

  1. Moreno E, Alveteg T (2002) Collaboration between Sweden and the Public Universities of Nicaragua. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida, Evaluation 03/31). Stockholm. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/43/21/35213123.pdf. Find this article online
  2. Bourne PE, Chalupa LM (2006) Ten simple rules for getting grants. PLoS Comput Biol 2: e12. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0020012. Find this article online
  3. Bourne PE (2005) Ten simple rules for getting published. PLoS Comput Biol 1: e57. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010057. Find this article online
  4. Bourne PE (2007) Ten simple rules for making good oral presentations. PLoS Comput Biol 3: e77. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030077. Find this article online
  5. Vicens Q, Bourne PE (2007) Ten simple rules for a successful collaboration. PLoS Comput Biol 3: e44. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030044. Find this article online
  6. Yousefi-Nooraie R, Shakiba B, Mortaz-Hejri S (2006) Country development and manuscript selection bias: a review of published studies. BMC Med Res Methodol 6: 37. Find this article online
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jueves, mayo 22, 2008

Indiana Jones IV

Siempre crei que Pitfall era una copia de Indiana Jones. Quizas lo haya sido. Indiana Jones y el reino de la calavera de cristal es una copia de Pitfall (especificamente de Mayan advantures):

http://www2.worldvillage.com/wv/gamezone/images/scrnshot/pitfall1.gif

Incluso me atrevo a decir que en una escena usan la misma música.
Similitudes: Escenario (selva peruana), música, lianas, arenas movedizas, relación padre-hijo, y sobre todo, un feeling, algo de ambiente dificil de explicar.
Una cosa que lei antes de ver la pelicula era que trataron de poner la menor cantidad posibles de CGI (efectos por computadora) para darle mas realismo y que sea parecida mas a las anteriores. En general lo lograron. Por ahi en unas escenas donde aparecen hormigas gigantes lo podrian haber evitado un poco (como pasó en su momento con las serpientes, muchas eran reales y solo las "protagonistas" eran robots o titeres). Por supueso que cuando aparece el plato volador al final era inevitable, pero no estuvo mal tampoco.
Recomendación: Vayan a verla.

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lunes, mayo 19, 2008

Diosas cíclicas

Pseudociencia pura y dura en Clarín: Diosas cíclicas

lunes, mayo 12, 2008

DHL, compadre, robale a tu madre.

Compré una remera en USA. Costo: u$ 30. Envio (por DHL): u$ 31. Costos de importación: u$ 45. Pretenden que pague 45 dolares por una remera de 30.
Por supuesto que no pagué y pediré que me manden la remera a USA, desde donde me la mandarán en equipaje sin pagar un $ extra.
Aca les muestro el recibo que hacen los de DHL, para que piensen 2 veces antes de usar los servicios de esta empresa. Sé que muchos de los cargos detallados no los factura DHL, pero recibo cosas por otros correos y no pasa la mercaderia por aduana, menos algo de tan poco valor, pero estos estafadores te cobran por una comisión por pasarlo por la aduana, asi que mas vale que tus envios por DHL van a pasar por la aduana.



Estimado Sebastian, desde ya muchas gracias por contactarnos. Le informo que todos los envíos de mercadería que ingresan al país por sistema de correo courier están sujetos al pago de impuestos de importación, i.v.a., factor de convergencia, y honorarios por nacionalización. Estos cargos no están incluidos en el costo del transporte (shipping & handling).

Este procedimiento no tiene que ver con el país del cual provenga el envío sino con las regulaciones aduaneras para el sistema courier en Argentina.

- Los envíos son despachados de Aduana por DHL quien debe abonar a la Aduana Nacional Argentina los derechos e impuestos de importación correspondientes a cada envío. Estos gravámenes son calculados sobre el VALOR CIF de la mercadería (COSTO + SEGURO + FLETE) y los porcentajes se aplican de acuerdo al nomenclador que ampara cada tipo de producto o mercadería que se importa al país.

- El monto total que DHL abona a la aduana debe ser cobrado al cliente contra entrega, además de un cargo en concepto de honorarios de DHL por el despacho de importación efectuado.

Adjunto preliquidación de impuestos para que pueda conocer el detalle y el importe a abonar.

Preliquidacion Contado.

Lman

XXXX G

Nro. Solicitud

XXX.EZE/08-5

Nro. particular

0807XXXXXXXXXA

Marca DDP


Cotizacion ($/U$S)

3,18

Preliquidación Detalles

Posic. Aranc.


Val. Fob

Flete

Flete Collect

Seguro

V. Aduana

% Derecho

Derecho

Estadística

Desaduana

Imp. Int.

% IVA

6210.50.00

MUESTRA TEXTIL

29,99

1,59

0,00

0,32

31,90

20,00

6,38

0,16

6,54

0,00

21%

Valor de Aduana(Cif/Vfob+Flet+Sgro)

31,9

Desaduanaje (Taxes+Duties/Dere+Esta+Iint)

6,54

Flete Collect

0,00

Tasa Aeropuerto y adicionales

0,45

Handling

0,00

Almacenaje

0,00

Honorarios

25,00

Sub. Total 1

63,89

Total IVA

13,42

Ingresos Brutos

0,00

Sub. Total 2

77,31

Sub. Total 3

45,41

Redondeo

0,00

TOTAL A PAGAR

Usd 45,41

*** IMPORTANTE !!! VALORES SUJETOS A HANDLING Y ALMACENAJE ***


IMPORTANTE!!! Total sujeto a cambios por valores de Handling y Almacenaje

Asimismo solicito tenga a bien contactarse telefónicamente con nuestro centro de atención al cliente al 0810-2222-345 o 4630-1000, para poder coordinar la entrega y el pago de dichos impuestos.

Quedamos a su disposición para cualquier consulta o información adicional.

Saludos cordiales,

Patricia Jimenez
Customer Service Specialist

DHL Express (Argentina) S.A.

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