物理在发展中具有关键作用

RomainMurenzi, Rwanda'sscience minister, highlights the contributions that physics can make to economic development.

The importance of physics for the economic development of all countries is clear. Physics is the most basic of sciences, and its concepts and techniques underpin the progress of all other branches of science.

它也是一门跨训练学科，在许多经济发展领域都有应用，包括健康，农业，水，能源和信息技术。beplay下载官网西西软件而且，通过技术应用科学对于提供所有现代国家需要的基础设施至关重要。

The role of science in sustainable development was recognised at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. A careful analysis of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that came out of the summit shows the importance of science and technology in meeting those goals and as a tool for economic growth.

In October 2005, politicians, educators and physicists from all over the globe met in Durban, South Africa, to consider the role of physics in creating a sustainable future for developing countries. The perspective from my own country, Rwanda, may offer some insights into the difference that physics can make.

Rwanda has no appreciable natural resources and is therefore focusing on the development of its people to lead the development of the country, in particular in the areas of science and technology. The government of Rwanda believes strongly in the potential of science and technology for fostering sustainable development. In 2001 the Ministry of Education was expanded to form the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research, with the mandate to carry out the development of science and technology in education and beyond.

More recently the country also adopted a national policy on science, technology and innovation with four major objectives: knowledge acquisition, creation and transfer, and the building of a culture of innovation.

Three of the eight MDGs relate to health, and clearly the health of the population in developing countries is crucial for their sustainable development. This means access to the right equipment for the diagnosis of diseases and the efficient communication of medical data.

借助医学物理和信息技术，卢旺达在这一领域取得了一些进展。我们最近获得了CT（计算机断层扫描）扫描仪，而基加利的Faisal King Hospital正在成为远程医疗开发的枢纽，这带来了外币的回报。卫生部还正在建立国家营养和流行病监视信息系统，并计划向所有农村荒地中心提供基本的医疗设备。这应该对疟疾等疾病的诊断和治疗产生重大影响。

安全的饮用水和卫生卫生也是健康的核心，以及与贫困，饥饿，儿童死亡和性别不平等的斗争。尤其是妇女和儿童，可以改善获得安全水的机会，从而为更加生产力的工作提供了大量时间。改进的卫生设施还为公共卫生和环境带来了利益。beplay足球体育的微博物理和工程通过使用简单的重量法​​技术（将山谷的水从山谷带到更高海拔）和雨水收集和灌溉技术，从而有所作为。

卢旺达正面临着能源危机，因为其发电厂的能力无法满足该国的需求，因为它继续前进。我们的目标是以环保和可持续的方式满足这些需求，并且如果要实现这一目标，对能量产生，beplay足球体育的微博剥削和分配涉及的物理学的透彻理解将是必不可少的。

One consequence of Rwanda's energy crisis is that every year thousands of trees are cut down and the firewood used for cooking, and this has resulted in severe soil erosion. Following the example of the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, we plan to equip all schools with biodigesters. This should save thousands of trees, help to solve the schools' sanitation problems and develop technical and scientific skills among the students and teachers involved, demonstrating to them the importance of science, technology and innovation in solving real-life problems.

Of course, information and communications technologies will also be crucial. As we develop our infrastructure, including fixed-line and optical-fibre networks, a knowledge and understanding of the physics that underpin these technologies will be essential.

We have been working with several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden, to further these goals, and we are receiving support from the UN, the African Development Bank and the World Bank. In 2005, the Institute of Physics invested in the future of Rwanda, sponsoring a team of physics teachers from the United Kingdom to come and train our teachers in the use of physics apparatus. Such partnerships will be vital if countries like Rwanda are to build a sustainable future.

罗曼·穆伦齐（Romain Murenzi）是卢旺达的教育，科学，技术和科学研究部长，也是美国克拉克亚特兰大大学物理学系主任。世界物理与可持续发展大会于2005年10月31日至11月2日在南非德班举行。

This article first appeared in the November 2005 issue of互动，由物理研究所。