Awards for Dedicated Scholars in 2019

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Ramlan Surbakti, a professor of political science at Airlangga University

On its 54th anniversary today, Kompas daily again presented its Dedicated Scholar awards as part of the tradition initiated by the publisher of Kompas daily, Jakob Oetama, in 2008.

This time, the award was given to Prof. Ramlan Surbakti, MA, PhD, a lecturer in political science at Airlangga University, and Prof. Dr. Herawati Supolo Sudoyo, PhD, a human geneticist at the Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute and chairman of the medical science commission at the Indonesian Academy of Sciences.

The awards were given as a form of appreciation for the people who have contributed to Kompas since June 28, 1965 through their writings and works on various issues so that Indonesia can become better and stronger as a nation.

Awards were also given to researchers who work not only for the sake of knowledge but also for society, not for popularity or to become pragmatic in political and economic temptations.

The first half of this year was marked by major events, namely the 2019 simultaneous elections. The event was an important experience in Indonesian democracy because the presidential election was held simultaneously with the election of House of Representatives, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and regional legislative council (DPRD) members.

Kompas

Herawati Supolo Sudoyo, M.S., Ph.D., a DNA researcher

The most noticeable thing from this year\'s election was the polarization in society as there were two candidates competing for the position of president. When there is polarization in society, the presence of scholars who are not caught up in political pragmatism is urgently needed.

Scientific scholars are needed to provide enlightenment in the midst of change.

The rapid change can also cause confusion among people. It should also be borne in mind, at this time and sometime in the future, a wave of false news or information will continue to hit communities everywhere, including Indonesia.

Scholars are expected to open up the horizons of knowledge, provide direction, find new ways to break the deadlock, and even serve as the glue in society because they do not isolate themselves.

The Voice of the People

The community needs scholars who are dedicated to their knowledge and voice the public interest. Borrowing the views of Edward Said (Palestinian-American professor of literature who actively carries out discourse on political and social thought) in “Representations of the Intellectual, The 1993 Reith Lectures” (Vintage Books, 1994), intellectuals are individuals endowed with skills to represent, voice messages, views, attitudes, philosophies, or opinions to and for the community.

Scholars have a special role in society that cannot be reduced.

The role, according to Said, was carried out with the awareness that an intellectual asks unpleasant questions, questions orthodoxy and dogma (not to produce it) and become someone who is not easily co-opted by power, whatever its form, and corporations because of its existence to represent citizens and issues that are often forgotten or avoided.

This is also the spirit contained in Kompas’ vision, the Mandate of the People\'s Conscience, entertaining the poor and reminding the established