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Is it opened or closed? Colombian science on the move

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Abstract

Using recent original data from three different sources, the article exhibits some strengths and weaknesses of science in Colombia. It shows that research in this country is in a process of growth although recent results of this positive trend are still to be confirmed. Comparing the evolution of science in Colombia with that of Latin America as a whole, describing and explaining its geographical and institutional concentration as well as its thematic distribution, it also reveals the interdependance between science production dynamics and international cooperation programmes. A basic argument is that the development of science in this country, even though it is fragile and erratic, does not lack sound bases. The indicators used suggest indeed an autonomous scientific motion and inspiration which does not contradict the internationalization process of Colombian science but rectifies the picture of an excessively isolated or dependent community that used to be portrayed.

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Notes and references

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  11. The general decrease for the year 1989 is explained by a change in the forms of collecting data for PASCAL for every country.

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  17. This would be 63.6% according toM. Leclerc, (1993),op. cit..

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programme Science, Technologie et Développement Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM), 72-74 Rte d'Aulnay, 93143, Bondy Cedex, France

    J. -B. Meyer & Y. Chatelin

  2. Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia

    J. Charum & J. Granés

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  1. J. -B. Meyer
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  2. J. Charum
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  3. J. Granés
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  4. Y. Chatelin
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Meyer, J.B., Charum, J., Granés, J. et al. Is it opened or closed? Colombian science on the move. Scientometrics 34, 73–86 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02019174

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