Apllied Science in Cuba

Abstract

Cuba, a lush Caribbean island cut off from its close neighbor and one-time patron, the U.S., is energetically expanding its scientific base. Modest by U.S. standards, the new Cuban research program is ambitious by most others—and especially so for a small Latin American country of only 12 million people. The research effort, promoted by top officials in the Cuban government, represents a strong commitment to marshal the country's scarce resources and to pursue a broad but practical technical agenda—one with a decided emphasis now on biotechnology. Although in general not so sophisticated as research in the U.S., Japan, and Western Europe, the Cuban biotechnology effort is wellhoned, particularly considering how short a period it has had to develop. And in research efforts involving sugarcane, the country's chief crop and main source of hard currency, the Cuban program rivals its counterparts elsewhere. Thus, despite being handicapped by the small size of the country's scientific corps—to say ...