1188 



LOSS OF SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL MANPOWER 



Within this generalized professional elite is the specialized profes- 

 sional, the scientist, engineer, and physician, those who in conjunction 

 with specialists in other fields constitute the vital human resources for 

 development. It is this group that provides the kinetic energy for in- 

 stitutional change and national development. It is widely observed, 

 and in any case virtually self-evident, that without this essential core 

 of talent progress can be arrested. 



Effects of Loss of Vital Talent. — It is commonplace that future 

 technological development in the world depends on scientific and en- 

 gineering manpower. Scientists are the pointmen for the advancement 

 of knowledge ; engineers, as a nation's problem solvers, translate that 

 newly acquired knowledge into practical use.*^' But, as Dr. Steven 

 Dedijer, a Yugoslav scientist, observed, world science and technology 

 are already concentrated in the advanced countries. The LDCs are the 

 dispossessed. Between 15 and 30 of the 120 countries in the world, with 

 less than one-third of its population, possess practically all its science, 

 spend 95 percent of the world's research and development funds, and 

 gain most of the benefits therefrom. Some 100 of the world's nations, 

 he said, have "either in an absolute or in a relative but very significant 

 sense, no science." *^® 



And the needs of the advanced countries are growing, thus magnify- 

 ing the imbalance in technical manpower resources. Future projections 

 of American requirements, for example, suggest that shortage rather 

 than surplus of technical manpower may characterize this century 

 from the late 1970's or early 1980's on.*" To satisfy these needs, the ad- 

 vanced countries complement their own indigenous stock with emi- 

 grants from the LDCs. 



Yet, the LDCs cannot afford this "unrequited gift" of technical 

 manpower, as some specialists term brain drain, because it jeopardizes 

 their essential human resources for development. Professor Moravcsik 

 explained the relationship between science and development in these 

 few words : "Excellence in science is mainly based on excellence in sci- 

 entific manpower, just as manpower is the key to almost any other 

 type of undertaking also." *^^ And with equal brevity he and Prof. 

 Francis E. Dart explained the effect of this loss in technical manpower 

 on development : "Shortage of adequately trained manpower is one of 

 the most important obstacles in the development of the emerging 

 countries. In fact, many believe that as far as the development of sci- 

 ence is concerned, it is the most important obstacle." *^^ Dr. Kidd 



*M U.S. Congresi?, Honsp, Committer on Science and Astronautics, Report on the Na- 

 tional Science Board, The Role of Engineers and Scientists in a National Policy for 

 Technologu, f)2d Cone., 2d ses.s., 1972. pp. 9-10. (House doc. No. 92-281.) (Hereafter 

 cited as. Report of the National Science Board, 1972.) 



«■"' Quoted In Henderson, "Foreign Students: Exchange or Immigration?" Selected 

 Readings on Internatioiud Education, House Committee on Education and Labor, 1966, 

 p. .S.50. 



*'■'' Report of the National Science Board, 1972. p. 22. 



■"■^ >foravcsik, Basic Scienti^c Research in Developinq Countries, n. 4. 



*^» Francis E. Dart, and Michael J. Moravcsik, The Physics Interview Project, University 

 of Oregon, Eugene Oreg., r>. 1. (tvpescrlpt, undated) 



The final renort of the UNESCO conference at Santiago, Chile made the same general 

 observation : "The International conferences held to study the conditions necessary for 

 sneedlng up the economic and social development of underdeveloped countries have 

 unanimouslv recognized that the shortage of adequately trained sclentiflf' and tee'inleal 

 personnel is one of the main obstacles to the carrying out of anv development plan." 

 (UNESCO. Final Report of the Conference on the Application of Science and Technology 

 to the Development of Latin America, 1965, p. 27.) 



