Editorial

Abstract

Welcome to another formidable issue of this journal, which—over the course of ten years—has enriched the scientific topics associated with the social management of Science and Technology, striving for uninterrupted debate, exemplified by these unprecedented contents that we present in this edition and that—for your convenience—we summarize below. We begin with Delgado and Fernández, who address bioethics committees, their function, and present some arguments for their performance, highlighting that—since their creation—they have been seen as bodies that “impose” decisions and “bureaucratize” Science, which—according to the findings—has slowed ethical and scientific progress. They emphasize the importance of pluralism within bioethics committees, as it enriches the debate of ideas and promotes well-founded decision-making. They also emphasize that these committees must adapt to the reality and scientific work of the institutions and regions where they operate. Throughout the scientific discussion presented in this new issue, we will be able to learn about the importance of Open Science as a proposal to advance the construction of different options within the scientific paradigm of modernity. The author, Núñez, points out the influence of Open Science in Latin America and its geopolitical impact on initiatives, scope, and accumulated learning. The contents of this author's development are complemented in the review included here of the book Open Science in Venezuela (2023), published as an initiative of the Ministry of Popular Power for Science and Technology (Mincyt). Later, Peña presents an analysis of the bibliometric research of the nutraceutical aspects of the ginger rhizome in Venezuelan homes, noting that ginger is known for its beneficial health properties, such as its antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, and analgesic effects, among others. In addition, the author points out that, at the national level, studies on this rhizome are scarce and heterogeneous in terms of the quality of the reported information. Likewise, reiterating the use of bibliometric methods, Leal analyzes advances in speckle interferometry through a review of databases, dividing the analysis into three periods and recognizing a steady increase in the number of publications and patents related to the speckle laser. Furthermore, the research conducted in Mérida, Venezuela, is highlighted, suggesting significant progress in this line of research in the coming years. Betancourt then examines the history of the concept of "innovation" and proposes a genealogical history through three concepts from different periods in history. To do so, she identifies the theories and concepts surrounding innovation, including the historical tension between imitation and invention, and how this tension was resolved with the emergence of the idea of innovation. Finally, she offers a preliminary overview and a program on the genealogy of innovation, highlighting its social construction and complex development. This work concludes with a new review, this time of the book Informando de Ciencia con Ciencia (2023) by Bienvenido and others. You will also find a useful summary of the performance of two particularly valuable tools for evaluating Research and Development activities in Venezuela: the National Registry of Researchers (ReNII) and the Online Observatory (OEL). Briefly, the reader will appreciate that the articles and essays discuss ethics in science, the modern scientific paradigm, the health benefits of ginger, the application of retrospective studies, and the importance of innovation in social construction. All emphasize the objectives associated with the need to understand these topics in depth and with singular scientific rigor from different perspectives, enrich the debate of ideas, and promote well-founded decision-making with a social value in the research results. These are the objectives that persistently remain at the center of attention of the editorial team of the Journal and that we proudly submit to the expert scrutiny of our public. Finally, we invite you to read this issue and support the effort by publishing the results of your scientific and technological research on the topics we continue to deliberate in this space.