Professor Stella Christie, serving as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasized the crucial and strategic role of research and science in advancing the nation. This statement was made during the opening ceremony of the National Young Researchers Competition 2024 held at Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN) on Thursday, December 5, 2024. In her address, she highlighted that research is not solely dependent on the use of laboratory equipment or specific scientific methods. More than that, research is rooted in the ability to ask methodical, profound, and focused questions. This forms the basis for the development of scientific knowledge that has a broad impact on society.
There are three main aspects that are essential elements in research activities. Firstly, research questions, which she emphasized as the beginning of every research process. According to her, good research always starts with a directed sense of curiosity, resulting in relevant questions with great potential to be answered through scientific methods. Secondly, networking, which she referred to as key in building relationships among researchers. Collaboration among researchers enables sharing and understanding of research findings that have been conducted. This is crucial for creating professional connections that support the collective development of scientific knowledge. Thirdly, scholarly work, which is an essential medium for scientists to communicate. Through the publication of scholarly work, researchers can share their findings with a wide audience so that their research can be read, appreciated, and even used by others.
In addition to explaining these three elements, establishing a strong research climate is one of the primary needs to realize Indonesia’s grand vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. Competitions like the National Young Researchers Competition, according to her, serve as a concrete step in creating a deeper and sustainable research culture in Indonesia.