トピック

Should the government provide more funding for scientific research? (英検、2012 1_2 政治・国際関係)

政府は科学研究にもっと資金を提供すべきか？

意図や意味、具体例(政策、データ、時事ネタ事例、自分の経験持論)

日本の場合の課題

引用回数が多い論文数の世界ランキング、といった指標をみると、日本の科学研究の質と量が低下しつつあることが分かる。

原因と考えられるもの

日本の科学研究の予算は、他の国と比較すると横ばい。

科学研究の予算を増やすことが解決策となる可能性がある。

科学研究の予算を増やすメリット

• 経済の発展: 例えば過去にインターネットやPCの技術が登場した際は、新しい商品やサービスの登場により、雇用が創出され、経済が発展した。
• 安全保障: サイバー攻撃を含めた防衛のために、自国の技術を発展させる必要がある。

科学研究の予算を増やすデメリット

日本が抱える他の課題の予算が確保できなくなること。

語彙

budget for scientific research

科学研究の予算

economic growth

経済の発展

social security

社会保障

national debt

Japan has a large national debt.

population decline

人口減少

microwave (oven)

電子レンジ

the number of highly cited papers

引用回数が多い論文数

the budget remains flat

予算が横ばい

the quality and quantity of scientific research is declining

科学研究の質と量が低下

スピーチ例

I think that Japanese government should provide more funding for scientific research.
I have two reasons to support my opinion.

Firstly, the quality and quantity of scientific research is declining in Japan.
Indicators such as the number of highly cited papers show this.
There was a time when Japan was ranked third, but now it is below 10th.
Japan's budget for scientific research is growing at a lower rate than in other countries.
Increasing the budget for scientific research would be a solution to the decline in the quality and quantity of research.

Secondly, increasing the budget for scientific research has side benefits.

For example, it leads to economic growth.
In the past, when Internet and PC technology emerged, new products and services created jobs and developed the economy.

Increasing the budget also leads to national security. There are a variety of threats around Japan.
North Korea, for example, has been repeatedly testing missile launches.
As for Russia, the invasion of Ukraine is a concern, and as for China, the Taiwan contingency is a concern.
Japan needs to develop its technology for defense.

In conclusion, although budgets for other issues such as population decline are also needed, the Japanese government should provide more funding for scientific research.

(208words)