SIZE AND AGING OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN CHILE

The size and ageing of the Chilean scientific community was studied us ing as data the individuals actively engaged in research projects fund ed by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development ( FONDECYT). Between 1982 and 1991, 4966 individuals participated at lea st once, either as responsible for the research or as qualified associ ate in one term of the funding period. From this population, 2765 pers ons can be considered further committed with scientific research. As f or sex, about 30% of the researchers are women. Taking into account al l the disciplines, and in addition to the fact that the size of the Ch ilean scientific community seems to be subcritical, the study reveals that the workforce has been ageing dangerously through the years. The number of young scientists becoming part of the scientific work-force is decreasing. Research in mathematics, physics and chemistry, althoug h qualitatively competitive, relies only on an extremely small group o f excellent scientists, situation which is seriously affecting the sci entific capacity that the country needs. Biology, although with a high er number of individuals, exhibits a pattern of ageing which will also affects the possibilities to strengthen the scientific demands. The g lobal context in which science develops, leads to a brain drain that T hird World countries will have to overcome, implementing public polici es to offer the support that young people require to nurture the scien tific strength. Indigenous Ph. D. programs demand urgent attention of policy decision makers as well as from research universities which nee d to offer opportunities to substitute, when existing, their incompete nt faculty.