The Research Behaviour and Dynamics of Science in Periods of Crisis: Case Study of COVID-19 Leading to Discovery of mRNA Vaccines

No studies to date allow us to explain the dynamics of science and research behavior in the presence of crisis to support research policy for allocating resources with effectiveness and planning scientific research to provide solutions directed to positive societal impact. The main goal of this study is to explain the research behavior and dynamics of science during a global crisis, focusing on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has generated a pandemic crisis worldwide. Results suggest critical characteristics of the research behavior and dynamics of science in global crisis, namely: evolution of research field is driven by new and consequential environmental threats in human society to be solved in a short run; evolution of crisis-driven research fields field is pulled by few (parent) disciplines (3–5) that generate more than 80% of documents; the most active institutions in crisis-driven studies are mainly academic institutions localized in advanced countries; main funding institutions in scientific production of crisis-driven research fields are public organizations of rich nations and global charitable foundations; the most productive countries of crisis-driven research fields are nations direct to support their global leadership; moreover, research behavior of crisis-driven research fields is mainly based on scientific publications having open access for a widespread diffusion of results for a higher social impact; finally, scientific production of crisis-driven research field has a higher density of short communications with letters and notes to systematize quickly findings, publish and spread them. Overall, then, this study provides critical characteristics of research behavior and dynamics of science in global crises that could be of benefit to policymakers to design science policies and plan research programmes to generate fruitful science advances and technological breakthroughs directed to reduce negative effects of crisis on socioeconomic systems and improve wellbeing of people.

The Institutional Building of Science and Innovation Diplomacy in Latin America: Toward a Comprehensive Analytical Typology

Science and Innovation Diplomacy (S&ID) has emerged in recent years as a relevant scholarly movement and interdisciplinary research agenda internationally. This field is promoting a significant impact on the understanding of the cultural and political dynamics of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I), implementing initiatives from local to global level. Notwithstanding, S&ID is growing asymmetrically around the world, setting up over a particular configuration in the so-called Global South (GS) societies. In Latin America (LA), although S&ID is a recent, unequal and intra-nationally fragmented process, there are important achievements that have been able to create a favorable mix of approaches, agendas, and practices in this field. Addressing the scope of the special issue “Science Diplomacy and Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Latin America,” this article aims to present a comprehensive analytical typology to the study of the emerging experiences of S&ID in LA, catching the diversity of this research agenda. This is a qualitative merged method-based study, sustained by a literature review, documentary research, online data analysis, and typology building. We understand S&ID in LA as a tentative re-organization of different states and subnational actors around the study and institutionalization of the governance of contemporary transformations on the systems of ST&I.

Systemic learning of physical theories

The dynamics of science development and the accumulation of an enormous amount of information impose upon corrections in physics didactics, from the perspective of optimization of the teaching and learning process and the improvement of the content assimilation by the pupils. In this article is proposed the method of systemic learning of physics theories, which uses the idea of learning algorithmization, creation of mental models, which would allow for the realization of the theory acquisition with a minimal effort consumption by both pupils and teachers. In support of this position, it is presented a model of study and systematization of thermodynamics, with the use of certain criteria from the general plan of physics theory study, promoted by experts in this field.

Fasilitasi FGD Tokoh dan Seniman Musik Kalimantan Selatan dalam Perumusan Konsep Musik Lagu Banjar

Abstrak: Artikel ini mendeskripsikan hasil kegiatan FGD para tokoh dan seniman musik Kalimantan Selatan dalam mengklarifikasi dan merumuskan konsep musik lagu Banjar. Oleh karenanya, artikel ini tidak disusun dalam bentuk artikel ilmiah. Kegiatan ini adalah salah satu program kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat Prodi Pendidikan Sendratasik FKIP ULM tahun 2020. Latar belakang kegiatan FGD ini berbasis realitas atau kenyataan musik yang ada di Kalimantan Selatan. Pada sisi keilmuan musik, “musik Banjar” dan “lagu Banjar” terus digali dan dikembangkan oleh beberapa pihak. Misalnya seperti yang telah dan akan dilakukan oleh Program Studi Pendidikan Sendratasik FKIP ULM. Setidaknya hal ini nampak pada aktivitas pendidikan, penelitian, dan kegiatan pengadian kepada masyarakatnya. Orientasi ilmiah yang dituju dari aktivitas Tri Dharma tersebut tidak lain adalah: membangun dan mengembangkan keilmuan musik yang berbasis kebudayaan Banjar. Atmosfer keilmuan yang ideal itu, setidaknya dapat ditandai dengan menjawab dua pertanyaan berikut: (1) apakah musik Banjar telah menjadi satu wacana yang hadir dalam dinamika ilmu pengetahuan? (2) apakah musik Banjar kerap dibawa pada forum-forum ilmiah seperti simposium, konferensi, atau seminar ilmiah? Dari hal itu maka menjadi relevan untuk melakukan kegiatan yang bersifat diskusif, untuk dapat memetakan persoalan terkait nilai lokalitas dalam bentuk musik lagu-lagu Banjar. Kegiatan yang dianggap representatif dan relevan adalah Focus Group Disscussion (FGD). Kelompok diskusi terbatas yang terdiri dari para tokoh, ahli, dan seniman musik di Kalimantan Selatan ini memiliki target akhirnya, yaitu diperoleh suatu klarifikasi dan rumusan tentang konsep musik lagu Banjar. Target tersebut diharapkan dapat menjadi referensi pengetahuan umum maupun akademik di Kalimantan Selatan.Kata Kunci: lagu Banjar, FGD, musik tradisional, musik popular, Kalimantan Selatan Abstract: This article describes the results of the FGD activities of South Kalimantan musical figures and artists in clarifying and formulating the concept of Banjar song music. Therefore, this article is not compiled in the form of a scientific article. This activity is one of the Community Service activities for the 2020 FKIP ULM Sendratasik Education Program. The background of this FGD activity is based on reality or music reality in South Kalimantan. On the scientific side of music, "Banjar music" and "Banjar songs" continue to be explored and developed by several parties. For example, what has been and will be done by the FKIP ULM Sendratasik Education Study Program. At least this can be seen in educational activities, research, and community outreach activities. The scientific orientation aimed at the Tri Dharma activity is none other than: building and developing musical science based on Banjar culture. This ideal scientific atmosphere can at least be characterized by answering the following two questions: (1) has Banjar music become a discourse present in the dynamics of science? (2) Is Banjar music often brought up in scientific forums such as symposiums, conferences or scientific seminars? From this, it becomes relevant to carry out discussive activities, to be able to map problems related to locality values in the form of Banjar songs. The activity that is considered representative and relevant is the Focus Group Disscussion (FGD). This limited discussion group consisting of figures, experts, and musical artists in South Kalimantan has the final target, which is to obtain a clarification and formulation of the musical concept of the Banjar song. This target is expected to be a reference for general and academic knowledge in South Kalimantan.Keywords: Banjar song, FGD, traditional music, popular music, South Kalimantan

Scientometric analysis of COVID-19 studies: how the velocity of science leads to discoveries and new technology

Scholars argue that the ‘‘science of science’’ studies have to investigate the critical role of exogenous events in the emergence of new research fields. The goal of this study is to analyze and explain the birth and growth of new research fields driven by exogenous event to science, such as COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) global pandemic crisis. This study here analyzes how the novel research field of COVID-19 emerges, in a comparative analysis with other scientific fields concerning respiratory illnesses (e.g., Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD and Lung Cancer), to explain factors determining the unique dynamics of science that is generating scientific breakthroughs in a short period of time. The origin and evolution of the research field of COVID-19 reveal that has an acceleration of scientific production equal to a growth of 1.71% daily in 2020, laying the foundations for science advances and a likely paradigm shift in the treatment of infectious diseases with novel mRNA vaccines. Main results are generalized in properties that clarify the dynamics of science and explain the characteristics that generate the origin and evolution of new research fields driven by unforeseen crises with critical implications for technological and social change directed scientific progress of human societies.

Summary and Conclusions

Three themes have been central to my research program: (1) the dynamics of science, technology, and innovation; (2) the scientometric operationalization and measurement of these dynamics; and (3) the Triple Helix (TH) of university-industry-government relations. University-industry-government relations provide an institutional infrastructure carrying the potential of self-organization in the knowledge base of an economy. I elaborated these themes into the problem of relating (i) Luhmann’s sociological theory about meaning-processing in communications with (ii) information-theoretical operationalizations of the possible synergies in Triple-Helix relations, and (iii) anticipatory mechanisms in cultural evolutions.

Science towards cultural memory – (about) alchemy discourse(s)

The article concerns dynamic aspects of scientific discourse understood as a domain of communication subject to cultural influences. The problem, inspired by Michel Foucault’s concept of archaeology of scientific reason, is presented through the ex- ample of alchemy, a specific phenomenon co-creating a scientific discourse both in the past and in the present. The relation of science with its discursive aspect (in various ways) with the past, and thus also with memory is undeniable, no matter how you consider the issue. This relation also affects the perception of science as such and scientific discourses, which is still an interesting field of observation. The discourse(s) on alchemy and its very status in the universe of communication confirm the dynamics of science and the discourses belonging to or co-constituting it, but in no way do they confirm the thesis of the teleological (in the sense of improving development) history of communication, including scientific communication.

The phenomenon of New Knowledge in the conceptual framework of the philosophy of science

The article, as a result of the analysis of the philosophical and methodological content of the new knowledge and dynamics of science concepts, substantiates the thesis about the necessity to radically shift the research priorities of the modern philosophy of science. The author critically evaluates the current methodological potential of the philosophy of science, which has developed on the basis of postpositivist concepts of scientific knowledge, and he attempts to outline the philosophical-methodological problems associated with modern scientific trends. According to the author, attention on the philosophy of science should be focused today, first of all, on interdisciplinary research programs that are implemented in the most popular and advanced areas of scientific knowledge. Within these programs, it is not the theoretical constructions (and their relationships), but the disciplinary structures of knowledge that act as the main cognitive unit of the organization of knowledge. Thus, to the fore of the philosophical-methodological approaches come the tasks related to the search and the analysis of methodological guidelines that provide cognitively effective communication (mutual understanding) of scientists within collaborations, i. e. interdisciplinary scientific teams. The author believes that the epistemological perspectives of comprehension and methodological development of such guidelines open up when referring to the cultural-historical dimensions of scientific knowledge. It is the cultural-historical epistemology that takes into account the existential, motivational attitudes of the scientist, which at the same time assume methodologically significant parameters of scientific research (the style of scientific thinking, the dignity of knowledge, and the historical continuity of science as a cultural phenomenon). As a result, the cultural-historical epistemology opens up the possibility of an effective methodological orientation of the most important areas in modern science.