Biopolis may not advertise the sort of political ideology or market economy we sport on our fronts, but what the Singaporean research center does offer is a whole-hearted backing of the intellectual curiosity of these scientists. It has become a haven for top US researchers who are simply fed up with the stem cell-stifling policies of the Bush Administration. Among them are two of the nation's top cancer researchers who were 'napped' by Philip Yeo, a headhunter of sorts. He and others of his mission have taken advantage of the US political climate and converted it into a fueling energy towards the research. The center receives continued backing by the Singaporean government and even international institutions such as Cambridge University which set aside $45 million in 2006 to fund the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium.
The analysis of Biopolis' role may be simple on the surface: it is analogous to a child sneaking dessert after being told not to, analogous to Al Capone's speakeasies during the Prohibition era. By regulating the activity of such research in the US (the only place where our US policies take effect), we have simply encouraged the sprouting up of such international centers and concentrated the world's brightest minds in the field together on one campus.
Taken deeper however, we may be able to gain valuable experience regarding our views and implementation of such views. For those who directly oppose stem cell research--whether theologically, ethically, morally, economically, politically-- has the Bush administration been successful in blocking the advance of the field? Have we forgotten that other countries can 'nap' the same top minds that we 'napped' when we advertised freedom of curiosity and scientific pursuit?
It may seem counterintuitive, but the best (only) policy for slowing the pursuit of stem cell research and experimentation may well be to allow it. If that does not work, perhaps there is no real way to control human curiosity. Personally, I find that a very good thing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/17/business/worldbusiness/17stem.html?_r=1
1 comment:
“Brain drain,” that’s such an unappealing term; the very sound of it implies its negative undesirable effects. It’s a good concept to open your blog with. It upsets the reader, makes them sit up a little straighter in their seats, pound their fist on the table, and think in indignation, “Hey! Where are our smart scientists running off to?” If anything it sparks some curiosity.
Unfortunately I don’t feel like you did the best job satisfying that curiosity. You tell us why they’re running off to Biopolis, because unlike the US it’s a place that allows them to conduct stem cell research. That’s simple enough. But what you don’t tell us is the “where,” you just jump right on to the “so what.” I know these blogs aren’t supposed to be that long, so you didn’t have a lot of space to say all that you wanted to say, but I think you missed an important detail. You set the stage for this really cool interesting place that even has its own unique name, “Biopolis,” but then you just leave it as some vague idealized place somewhere in Singapore. Even if you used just a few details – where it is exactly, how many people live there, how big it is, what it looks like – you could have easily “materialized” it.
More importantly, I think your analysis of the “so what” was right on. It’s very ironic that policies designed to dampen stem cell research have actually worked towards the forming of these stem cell havens that bring together all the leading experts. But I think you missed the dimension that the US government was accomplishing something else with this policy. They didn’t necessarily think they could stop stem cell research entirely. They were making a stance – declaring that the US as a country doesn’t support stem cell research.
I agree with your analysis that the best way for the US government to slow down stem cell research would have been to keep the scientist inside the country where they could have been monitored and controlled. But luckily you’re also right in that curiosity can’t be limited and the current administration is hopefully going to recognize that and condone stem cell research in the US. After that point, it will be interesting to see if the residents of Biopolis will return home or not.
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