Marta Finiaz,Phd.: "In Argentina...nobody cares much about science..."

       One of the first things you notice about Marta are her long, slender and playful fingers. They are grasping your hand firmly now, as you enter her lofty apartment. You know Marta has a Phd. in chemistry, specialized actually in bio-chemistry, so when you cross the threshold you are pleasantly surprised to see the walls splashed with modernistic paintings-rather than test tubes. The paintings are those of her husband, an architect turned painter, who is busy in the upstairs studio. 

      The second thing the visitor observes is Marta's fine collection of teas, the hues of which almost match her flowing auburn hair. You are trying to find an explanation for such youthful looking strands on a woman who must be approaching the half century mark. You are of a polite disposition and know that it isn't nice to ask women their ages, at least before going through the previous formalities. So you just shrug your shoulders and think to yourself how captive humans are of socially determined stereotypes.

"Hello Marta," you say, "could I ask you a question right off the chest?"

"Certainly!"

"How in the Hell did you get into science?"

A wholesome laugh fills the room and rebounds off the surfaces of those colorful paintings that seem to be suspended in the air over the sofa.

"Maybe that has something to do with having had a very good science teacher in high school. She revealed science as an exciting adventure, and that completely enthralled me. As I told you before, I have a doctor's degree in chemistry but when I began to study I had only the faintest idea concerning the country and the possibilities of becoming a scientific researcher. I discovered I loved science and that was that. Then one day a teacher at the university asked me if I wanted to start working as a researcher. Well, I needed work so of course I accepted the job."

"Was there any scientific background in your family, I mean your parents, your…"

"No, not at all. In fact, they are not even from Argentina. They were born in Europe, in Hungry. To be more precise, in Rumania but they were of Hungarian culture and spoke Hungarian."

"Where did they meet?"

"My mother came here from Europe before the Second World War, but then continued on to Montevideo. My father had arrived in Buenos Aires but had a friend who knew the woman who was to become my mother. An encounter was arranged in Montevideo and, well, they got married and settled down here.

"Your father was not a scientist?"

"Not in the least. He was in the leather industry. My mother helped him in his shop, you know, making things of leather."

"What about your brothers or sisters?"

"I have a sister who is a pharmacist. That's all."

"Let's talk about the situation in Argentina with respect to science and technology."

"Unfortunately, in Argentina one has the impression that nobody cares much about science, although lately we have begun to see a slight change in attitude. There are those who say that the International Monetary Fund has a policy of non-support for science and technology in Argentina and under-developed countries because they want us to buy imported technology."

"Do you think the government has a program or a vision for scientific development?"

"I don't think so. Not at all. They do things but they lack coordination. For example, government grants are given to some-only some and not all those who need them. There is talk of trying to provide opportunities for young scientists but then there never seems to be enough money and science is very, very expensive-more and more expensive every day."

"Would you say that there are areas which are more developed than others?"

"Perhaps medicine, especially bio-medical areas. Some projects are also developing in agricultural science, in nuclear physics, mathematics. And what is positive is that people are trying to get together to share knowledge and experience."

"What about alternative energy projects?"

"There is some of that, indeed. In fact, there is a very good program on channel 7, the public TV station, which stresses alternative sources of energy. 

"Do most scientists in Argentina work for the State or for private business ventures?"

"More than 90% work for the State. You can get scholarships to get started, then get your Phd, and after you have received your degree you can get a scholarship for two years. Then, if you are good enough, you can become a career investigator. At that point you become a full time staff member of Conicet, the official organization in charge of scientific activities in Argentina."

"And those who work in private industries?"

"Very little indeed, maybe two or three places where you can carry on research. The problem is that almost all of them are from abroad and so they are not interested in doing research projects here."

"Let's change the subject a little. In your opinion how does the role of the scientist compare with that of other middle class professions in Argentina?"
"Are you talking about lawyers or teachers or…?"

"Teachers or…"

"Teachers! Ha! We scientists are almost as badly paid as teachers! The government has been talking about some wage improvements, but most of the increases are the result of somewhat questionable procedures."

"How much does a 'typical' scientific researcher earn?"

"Maybe $1,500 pesos."

"Not much compared to a politician's salary!"

"No comparison."

"What if we were to talk about social status?"

"Well, I feel that we are admired. People say we are intelligent and hard working. Chemistry! Wow! What a difficult subject!"

"So you are respected to a certain extent. But is scientific thinking reflected in society as a whole?"

"If you are talking about educated people, I would say that most are well informed nowadays. But it wasn't that way in the past. Nobody used to know what it was all about and those who did work in science were usually well-to-do persons with double last names. Around 50 years ago they didn't even need money to work and abhorred asking for it. Then along came another generation of people who began asking for money, scholarship, grants; they appeared in the newspapers, on radio and TV or even in protest marches. Nowadays scientists are more intellectual, have no difficulty in asking for money to do research. Another generation has come to occupy the scene. It's a shame, you know, because the State provides free education at the universities and so you know what happens? You get your degree and then go abroad or are ignored here."

"The brain drain."

"Exactly, the brain drain.

"What do you like to do on your spare time?"

"Dance. I studied classical dance when I was a child but I gave it up because I didn't think I had the natural talent necessary to become a dancer. I would have loved to become a ballet dancer, but one must be realistic. Anyway, I still love dance. I take classes-not classical dance. I remember when I was a young girl my mother used to take me to Harrod's. It was there that I found a book on dance that fascinated me. And even now if I have the opportunity to go, say, to New York, I go to the book stores and look for books on dance, especially biographies of dancers."

After all you think as you take leave of Marta, science and art are like twin brothers: both are intrigued about that mysterious thing called life. 

Anyone desiring to contact Marta may do so by calling 4784-8820 or writing her at her e-mail address:

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