Santiago Schnell: It is possible to do quality science despite electricity failures in Venezuela

Venezuelan scientist Santiago Schnell indicated that he does not want people in Venezuela to feel that there is no opportunity to do quality science because there is no electricity, and to lose hope.

“There are ways of doing science with few resources, which are very innovative. I have seen many kinds of science in various countries with limitations and it all depends on the quality of the individuals. Knowledge requires many people to work from different perspectives. The important thing is that Venezuela does not stop creating,” said Schnell.

This outstanding Venezuelan becomes head of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, in Indiana

This is one of the challenges that a biologist, mathematician and biophysical chemist graduated from the Simón Bolívar University (USB), with doctorates in Philosophy and Mathematical Biology from the University of Oxford; who will head the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Notre Dame, in Indiana, USA, as of September 1st.

For that day, he will be the new dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, located in Indiana, one of the first 200 most important in the world, according to a global list of 2000, from the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR ) in its 2021-22 edition.

The 50-year-old Venezuelan will lead with academic rigor six departments with more than 250 professors, 125 employees, 480 graduate students and 2,000 university students. In addition, you will have in your hands the project of creating and deepening research in synthetic biology, to fortify or strengthen the human body with methods equivalent to those used to create antigens against Covid-19.

Schnell’s admission to the University of Notre Dame du Lac was no accident. A Head Hunter corporation discovered him among the academic leaders in science and he agreed to be part of that private, Catholic house of studies affiliated with the Congregation of Santa Cruz.

There are ways to do science in Venezuela

The expert stated that “one learns with scientific work that financial resources are required, but there are always ways of doing science. I don’t want people to lose hope that because there is no electricity there is no opportunity to do quality science in the country.”

Can science survive crises?

Schnell explained that people have the thought, idea or perception that science can only be done in one way. We all want to imitate a country or a university, and that is a mistake.

In this way, he specified, that “nations have to find their own ways and strengths to make contributions. One of the advantages that one has as a scientist, when one has had the opportunity to travel to Africa or Asia, is to see that the quality of science and academic work is excellent, because that depends on the quality of the individuals.”

Source: elsumario