Science &Technology for a Better World:
Retuning
the role Revisited
of science
Role of Science
ICSU
Goverdhan Mehta, President
International Council for Science (ICSU)
and Indian Institute of Science, India
Structure of the presentation
• The ‘unfettered’ march of science
• Rejuvenating science – a new age
• Science and Society- plea for ‘cohabitation’
• Imperatives of ‘policy’ in an asymmetric world
• Science as a world system - Intl. dimension
• ICSU striving towards a better future for all
A panacea for everything
The Dawn of Knowledge Era
 Spectacular developments in science and technology
 Unparalleled economic growth –
globalization, competition, innovation at the vanguard
 Uncontrolled exploitation of earth’s resources
21st century will be the century of knowledge
.…the process of transition is on
The pivotal role of S & T…..
“The 20th century’s unprecedented gains in
advancing human development, industrial
growth
and eradication of poverty in
certain regions of the world came largely
from technological breakthroughs”
In the 21st century, this role needs
to be recalibrated
Why?
Progress in science has been for most
part, insular, monolithic and unitary
And
at
and at an unprecedented pace………
Science has grown exponentially at a rate
of about 7 per cent per annum, doubling
every 10 - 15 years, growing by a factor of
ten at every half-century, and by a factor of
a close to a million in the past 300 years.
cf. Societal evolution domain is ~ 10,000 years
Relentless pace of technology
Shrinking time domains
Faraday
1830
1881
Watson-Crick 1953
1973
Electricity
Genetic Engg.
Iijima (CNT)
2001
Logic circuit
1991
Computing power doubles….………..12 months
More new information has been generated in the
Networking (Band width) doubles… ..09 months
last 30 years than in the previous 5000
Storage (Hard disk) doubles…………. 06 months
Scientific revolution has outpaced
social revolution for over a century now
As a consequence of this disconnect…..
…….the burning issues confronting the world
today relating to environment, energy, health,
natural hazards, extinctions, unsustainable
consumption and most importantly of growing
inequalities and knowledge divide, did not
come into sharper focus soon enough…..
The Paradox of Our Time
Despite spectacular advances in science and
technology, unprecedented economic progress and
improvement in the quality of life…..
Growing inequalities
Knowledge Divide
A troubled world
Galloping Consumption
Depleting resources
A stressed planet
Bangalore-2006
Poverty + Deprivation
Strife + Conflict
Environmental Pollution/Degradation
Over consumption
‘Un-sustainability’
Environmental Pollution/Degradation
Effluents of the affluent
e-waste or WEEE
Where do computers go,
to die or kill?
Time is running out!
What can science do ?
In the 21st century, a more inclusive
view of science
‘..conception that science is autonomous is unsustainable.’
A “new” role for Science
Science
Innovation
Other knowledge
Streams
Sustainable
development
Science needs to shed its splendid isolation
A “new” role for Science
Science
Innovation
Societal
engagement
Policy
Linkage
Synergy between scientific & societal progress
benefits
Science
S
Society
supports
Values
Methods
Products
Acceptability
Equity
Sustenance
benefits
Science
S
Society
supports
Values
Methods
Products
Cohabitation
Acceptability
Equity
Sustenance
Science – Responsible, transparent, and understand the full
implications of new discoveries in the context of moral and
ethical values and sustainability of our planet
Society – Must shed its cynicism and skepticism about
science and recognize its centrality for human good
‘….To assume one basis for life and a different basis
for science is a priori a falsehood….Natural science
will in time incorporate into itself the science of man,
just as the science of man will incorporate into itself
natural science; there will be one science’
- Karl Marx
Scientists must ponder over their inability
to transfer the sense of objectivity and
responsibility that they so effectively
deploy in scientific experiments and
search for truth to the other side, namely
society’s evolution.
The focus in the new age science…
Beyond discovery :
addressing human needs and concerns
Great opportunities……
Connecting to UN ‘Millennium Development Goals’
eg. hunger, health, education, environment
Linkages with Global Change Research Programs
eg. climate change, energy issues
What is the way forward……?
Centrality of societal engagement, policy
interventions, and international partnerships
“Policy, not charity, will determine
whether new technologies become
a tool for human development
everywhere” …. and for all
There is enough on this earth for
everyone’s needs but not for
everyone’s greed
- Mahatma Gandhi
UNDP-HDR 2001
“There is hardly any social problem on which
science cannot make some contribution”
-D. K. Price, Scientific Estate
Science for policy
and
Policy for Science
Science is never sufficient to solve a problem
completely; it is, however, always necessary.
The challenge of poverty…….
“ The market is a powerful engine of
technological progress, but it is not powerful
enough to create and diffuse the technologies
needed to eradicate poverty”
‘Policy
backed obvious
by political
It hasinterventions
become appallingly
thatwill
ourand
commitment
can
make a vital
difference’
technology
has
exceeded
our humanity.
UNHD Report 2001
The reality……
‘political will in a globalizing world is focused
on security than on development; stronger
in finance and trade than in environment…’
The need …
…..address causes not consequences
For that……
…a political leadership that is scientifically
informed and scientific leadership that is
politically savvy is required…..
A peaceful planet
Sustainable Development
An inclusive world
Eradicate poverty
Secure environment
Science + Society + Policy
“Science is becoming a world system”
The evolving context of international science
Emergence of global
scientific challenges
Harmonizing challenges related to genetic research,
climate change, energy, environment etc. with the
imperatives of galvanizing best science that can be
adopted and adapted in vastly diverse geographic,
social, economic, political and cultural contexts.
No one discipline and no single country can
tackle complex global scientific problems
Earth systems are more intricately coupled
through complexity then has been
generally recognized…….
For example…..
 El nino in the south pacific has been
implicated to the outbreak of communicable
diseases in far away Bangladesh
 Degradation of wetlands can be connected
to spread of ‘birdflu’
 Climate conditions helps predict outbreak of
malaria epidemics in Africa (Botswana)*
 Under water volcanic eruptions near Italy
indicate lead contamination that can be
traced to mines in Australia!
*Palmer et.al. Nature, 2006
Natural Hazards
Sunami, Katrina, Kashmir…
Deforestation
Explosions
Traffic
Plane crash
Man made hazards
Mining
Oil spills
Global warming and climate change
coral
insects
‘The sixth extinction crisis’
sponge
Amanita
Muscaria
Catastrophic loss of species predicted,
100-10,000 times faster than normal
Nature, July 20, 2006
Health and human wellbeing:
From aging population to emerging epidemics
AIDS, Neurodegenerative disorders & Infectious diseases
AIDS alone is estimated to account for loss of 11,000 billion
The essentials: An inclusive world view;
the perception that “its all about us”
must be discarded; “its about all of us”
Everyone has aspirations
&
Everyone is vulnerable
In the 21st century national interests and
international partnerships have to be
viewed as complementary
Towards a world of interdependence
We are ……
“……travelers together
on this bright blue ball
in nothingness”
-Carl Sandburg
Strengthening International Science
for the Benefit of Society
75
Celebrating 75 years: 1931-2006
ICSU: a long history
ICSU
• Founded in 1931, but roots back to 1899
• A membership organization with:
107 National Members (mostly Academies)
29 International Scientific Unions
• Establishes interdisciplinary bodies; sponsors
programs in key areas of global concern
• Limited finances but unique worldwide access
to intellectual resources
ICSU mission
ICSU
ICSU mobilizes the knowledge and resources of the
international science community to:
• Identify and address major issues of importance to science
and society
• Facilitate interaction of scientists across disciplines and
among nations
• Promote participation of all scientists regardless of race,
citizenship, language, political stance or gender
• Stimulate constructive dialogue between the scientific
community, governments, civil society and the private sector
The ICSU Vision
ICSU
“….A world where science is used for the
benefit of all, excellence in science is valued
and scientific knowledge is effectively linked
to policy-making. In such a world, universal
and equitable access to scientific data and
information is a reality and all countries have
the scientific capacity to use these ….”
Three strategic themes
ICSU
International
Research
Collaboration
Science
and Policy
Universality
of Science
“It’s not what the vision is, it’s what the vision does”
- Peter Senge
www.icsu.org
A wish list for rejuvenating science
•
•
•
•
•
•
New learning system - holistic nature of knowledge
Universal S & T literacy
Reinventing science education
A ‘scientific temper’ for the world
Sustainability science for every citizen
A borderless view of science
..and a human sensitivity index (HSI) for every scientist!
Thank you
ICSU: Building on experience
ICSU
A few landmarks since 1931:
 International Geophysical Year (1957-1958)
 International Biological Programme (1964-1974)
 Freedom in the conduct of science (1963-)
 Four global change programmes (1980-)
 ASCEND 21 and input to the Rio Earth Summit (1991,1992)
 Input to World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
 Input to World Summit on the information Society (2003,05)
International Research Collaboration
• Linking research, monitoring, and assessments
with focus on global environmental change
• International Polar Year 2007-2008
• Natural and Human-Induced Environmental
Hazards and Disasters
• Science for Sustainable Development
• Science for Human Health
• Sustainable Energy
Science for Policy
ICSU
• Ensure that international research
programmes address key policy issues
• Participate in major international
assessments
• Produce authoritative statements
• Speak as the voice of international
science in policy fora
Universality of Science
ICSU
• The Founding Principle of ICSU
– Freedom and Responsibility in science
• Reaching out to all countries:
– Access to Data and Information
– Regional Offices
Scientists must ponder over their inability
to transfer the sense of objectivity and
responsibility that they so effectively
deploy in scientific experiments and
search for truth to the other side, namely
society’s evolution.
Scientists must ponder over their inability
to transfer the sense of objectivity and
responsibility that they so effectively
deploy in scientific experiments and
search for truth to the other side, namely
society’s evolution.
Freedom and responsibility in Science…..
Leonardo da Vinci, a renaissance legend wrote to
the Duke of Milan about his idea of building a
submarine: “I do not want to precisely describe
my method to stay under the water for a long
period because people are so ill-natured that they
would use it to destroy the keel of boats and to
sink the crew”; words whose relevance is not lost
in present times as concerns about bio-terrorism,
proliferation, stem cell research, human cloning
and nanotechnology stare at us.
ICSU Regional Offices
Aim:
ICSU
To ensure that the voice of developing countries
influences the international agenda setting and that
scientists from the South are fully involved in the
research
• ICSU Regional Office for Africa in Pretoria inaugurated in
September 2005
• ICSU Regional Office for Asia and Pacific to open in KL,
Malaysia in September 2006
• Office for in Latin America/Caribbean in Rio, Brazil in
December, 2006
• Arab region – negotiations underway
Strategic Partnerships
ICSU
• The UN System:
– UNESCO
– UNEP and its Science Initiative
– Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD)
– WMO, Climate Change, IPY, Natural Hazards
• The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World
(TWAS), Inter Academy Panel (IAP), Inter Academy Panel
Inter Academy Council (IAC), Regional networks
• The technological community (WFEO, CAETS)
ICSU will continue its unwavering
commitment to…..
ICSU
• Promote the use of cutting edge science to address
global challenges, stimulate innovation and for
informed decision making
• Strive for a fine balance between freedom and
responsibility in the pursuit of Science
• Explore new mechanisms to share scientific
knowledge and its understanding with stakeholders
in society
“It’s not what the vision is, it’s what the vision does….”
- Peter Senge
ICSU Strategic Plan
2006-2011
• Process: 6yrs of intense evaluation, review,
planning and dialogue with scientists across the
world
• Priority setting: Science driven prioritization of
societally important issues
• Product(s): A total of 13 separate expert
reviews, reports and statements www.icsu.org
• Implementation strategy: EB & CSPR
Strategic Themes
Three inter-related themes:
International
Research
Collaboration
Science
and Policy
Universality
of Science
ICSU
No one discipline and no single country can
tackle complex global scientific problems
Earth systems are more intricately coupled
through complexity then has been
generally recognized. For example, El nino
in the south pacific has been implicated to
the outbreak of communicable diseases in
far away Bangladesh, degradation of
wetlands can be connected to birdflu and
climate change helps predict outbreak of
malaria epidemics in Africa.
A problem can never be solved at
the level at which it was created