069 - Possibilities for Cooperation between the
Republic of Croatia and Croatian Scientific Diaspora in Australia
Boris Martinec
(Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute,
Australija)
Science and scientific knowledge are an essential part of human culture.
Given that over centuries scientific discoveries have provided the basis of
technological progress that helped to improve the human living conditions and
also greatly contributed to justice and fairness in democratic societies around
the world, advancement of science and its applications is vital to advance
human welfare and well-being.
Consequently, science is of crucial importance to the future of any
modern society. It is thus, of particular concern the recent increase in migration
of young and educated people from Croatia to other countries in search of
better educational, professional and economic opportunities than those their
homeland can offer them at present. In my presentation I will focus on
possibilitiesand opportunities that may help to slow down such a trend in the
future for the benefit of the Croatian people.
Australian scientists have for many years collaborated at the individual
level with their peers worldwide. Over more than a decade now National Health
& Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council, two major
research funding bodies in Australia, have started introducing new initiatives towards
a greater scientific collaboration with scientists around the world. In
addition, Australian Universities have extended their teaching programs overseas
and provide scholarships and fellowships for international students and junior
scientists.
These examples may serve as a model towards promoting an intensified
scientific cooperation between Australia and Croatia.
The recent membership of Croatia in the European Union opens additional
possibilities for such cooperation. The Croatian scientific diaspora in
Australia could significantly contribute to such an initiative by serving as
its actor, promotor and facilitator.
Paper presented at the First Croatian Emigration Congress, Zagreb 23 -
26 June 2014.
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