Reflections After the World Science Forum

This week I had the chance to attend the World Science Forum in Budapest and listen to some talks from some of the best science policy experts.

I also began to wonder what would my position be if I were a science policy advisor.

Let's begin!

In high school I took part in a global essay writing competition created by the John Locke Institute.

What’s the John Locke Institute?

The John Locke Institute is an independent educational organisation that works to embolden the best and brightest students to become more academically ambitious and more intellectually adventurous.

It’s named after John Locke (1632–1704) who was an influential English philosopher and political theorist, known as the “Father of Liberalism.” Two of his most notable ideas are the concept of the tabula rasa, which posits that the human mind is a blank slate at birth, gaining knowledge through experience, and his theory of natural rights. Locke argued that all individuals are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and governments exist to protect these rights. His political philosophy, outlined in Two Treatises of Government, profoundly influenced modern democracy and constitutional thought.

Why was this essay competition influential to me?

At time I was taking part in this the question I had to write an essay about was :

“What’s the optimal amount of government debt?

There surprising answer was that really there is no upper bound to the debt a government can have.

Which brings us to the idea of why debt can be an important tool for the optimists?

One of the sponsors of the World Science Forum is the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

AND I Love the story of this institution was built because it shows how one person’s efforts and cause can be amplified by a community.

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) was established in 1825, primarily due to the efforts of István Széchenyi, a prominent Hungarian statesman and reformer. Széchenyi's vision was to promote Hungarian culture and language through scientific and literary endeavors.

He donated his entire annual income, approximately 60,000 forints, to support the foundation of the Academy, which was a significant act that inspired others to contribute as well and it catalyzed further contributions from other nobles such as Gy?rgy Károlyi, Gy?rgy Andrássy and ábrahám Vay. These individuals collectively raised an additional 58,000 forints.

Széchenyi wrote a book about the economic power of debt and he made efforts in politics for Hungary’s economic reform.

His problem was simple: He wanted what he couldn’t have and was ready to get a loan but banks at the time were not in the business of loaning money, not even to the wealthy Hungarians.

He believed the power debt can help in self-realization. He was regarded as a genius for this and I agree with him.

So I’m looking at the lens of science policy through the lens of debt and its power and namely I’m influenced by two ideas that I learned over the years that

There is no such thing as optimal government debt

And there is power and potential in using debt the right way.

So when scientific progress is the aim of one or multiple governments as an advisor I’d remind them of this belief.

Thank you for reading!