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Nature
http://helix.nature.com/wcs/02-1a.html
See the part about disability
and women
Guidelines endorsed for
'new social contract' between
science and society
[BUDAPEST] The World Conference of Science closed in
Budapest last Thursday afternoon (1 July) with
delegates
from almost 150 countries agreeing on a number of
principles and guidelines for implementing what the
organizers described as a 'new social contract'
between
science and society.
Included in the specific suggestions were that
countries
provide increased support for the networking of
graduate
and postgraduate institutions, that the training of
scientific journalists and communicators be enhanced,
and that "adequate participatory mechanisms should be
instituted to facilitate democratic debate on
scientific
policy issues."
One proposal was that "ethics and social
responsibility"
should be an integral part of the education and
training of
all scientists. Existing panels in Unesco and the
International Council for Science (ICSU) the two
co-organizers of the conference, have been given
responsibility for following up on this issue.
Another proposal was that campaigns be launched at
national regional and global levels to raise awareness
of
the contributions of women to science and technology,
and that an international network of women scientists
be
set up.
Both of these latter ideas figure among a set of
recommendations intended to enhance the position of
women in science adopted after vigorous lobbying by
women's groups (see Women's group celebrate
successful campaign ').
The guidelines also encourage "special efforts" to
ensure
the full participation of disadvantaged groups -
implicitly including the disabled - in science and
technology, ensuring the representation of such groups
in
policy-making bodies and forums.
Care had been taken by the organizers to avoid
explicitly
committing participants in the conference to a calls
for
any increased funding, not only from the
industrialized to
the developing nations, but also by developing nations
themselves.
In particular, there was resistance to calls from some
nations, in particular delegates from some Muslim
states,
to suggest as a target that all countries aim to
eventually
spend one per cent of their gross national product on
research and development, a target that had been
agreed
at the last global science meeting, held 20 years ago
in
Vienna (See 'Muslim states split over call for more
research spending', 29 June 1999).
However the final documents did agree in general that
"innovative and cost-effective mechanisms" for funding
science should be examined for implementation by
"relevant institutions at the regional and
international
levels".
In particular, the delegates endorsed the idea that a
recent initiative by the major G8 creditor countries
to
embark on the process of reducing the debt of certain
developing countries "will be conducive to a joint
effort
by the developing and developed countries towards
establishing appropriate mechanisms for the funding of
science" (See 'African countries pledge to use debt
relief
for science', 29 June 1999).
The conclusions of the six-day meeting were expressed
in two documents, Declaration on Science and the Use
of
Scientific Knowledge, and Science Agenda: Framework
for Action known as the Declaration and Framework
respectively.
Both were adopted unanimously by the final plenary
session after several month of consultation with the
member states of Unesco and other organizations, and a
hectic two days of final drafting (see 'Drafting group
weathers the storm', 1 July 1999).
The first is a general statement of principle about
the
importance of science, as well as the need to respect
a
new 'contract' in which society pledges to continue to
support science, while in return scientists agree to
accept and respect the responsibilities which this
support entails.
In particular, the Declaration urges "the nations and
the
scientists of the world" to "acknowledge the urgency
of
using knowledge from all fields of science in a
responsible manner to address human needs and
aspirations without misusing this knowledge."
The sciences, it says, "should be at the service of
humanity as a whole, and should contribute to
providing
everyone with a deeper understanding of nature and
society, a better quality of life and a sustainable
and
healthy environment for present and future
generations".
While scientific knowledge has led to remarkable
innovations that have been of great benefit to
humankind,
the Declaration acknolwedges that "the applications of
scientific advances and the development and expansion
of human activity have also led to environmental
degradation and technological disasters, and have
contributed to social imbalance or exclusion".
"Today, whilst unprecedented advances in the sciences
are foreseen, there is need for a vigorous and
informed
democratic debate on the production and use of
scientific
knowledge," it says. "The scientific community and
decision-makers should seek the strengthening of
public
trust and support for science through such a debate."
The Declaration also says that helping to create a
critical mass of national research in the sciences
through
regional and international cooperation is especially
important for small states and least developed
countries.
"The presence of scientific structures, such as
universities, is an essential element for the training
of
personnel in their own country with a view to a
subsequent career in that country.
The second document is intended to provide guidelines
through which the principles in the first document can
be
implemented by national governments, international
organizations, professional scientific bodies - indeed
all
those keen to promote a responsible relationship
between science and society.
(Some countries had been keen to describe the
Framework as setting out the means for implementing
the
principles described in the Declaration - i.e. for the
document to represent the instrument for implementing
such principles - but others rejected this as implying
a
commitment that they were neither prepared, nor
legally
in a position, to make.)
The Framework argues that the political, economic,
cultural and environmental context of science has
changed profoundly in recent years, and that the role
of
the sciences - including not only the natural sciences
such as physical, earth and biological sciences but
also
the, biomedical and engineering sciences, social and
human sciences - in this changed context needs to be
collectively defined and pursued. "Hence the grounds
for
a new commitment," it claims.
Its first recommendation is that "each country should
aim
at having high-quality scientific institutions capable
of
providing research and training facilities in areas of
specific interest". Where countries are unable to
create
such institutions, it says, "the necessary support
should
be granted by the international community, through
partnership and co-operation".
Donor countries and agencies of the United Nations
system are urged to foster cooperation in order to
increase the quality and efficiency of their support
to
research in developing countries. "Their joint effort
should be focused on strengthening national research
systems, taking into account national priorities and
science policies."
Governments should identify the needs of the nation
and
give priority to support of the public research needed
to
achieve progress in the various fields, ensuring
"stable
funding" for the purpose. Parliaments should adopt
corresponding measures and levels of budget
appropriation.
Both governments and the private sector, says the
Framework, "should achieve an adequate balance
between the various mechanisms for funding of
scientific
research". In particular, "new funding possibilities
should be explored or promoted through appropriate
regulation and incentive schemes, with public-private
partnerships based on flexible schemes, and
governments warranting the accessibility of generated
knowledge".
On the issue of sharing scientific information and
knowledge, the participants in the Budapest meeting
agreed that "initiatives to facilitate access to
scientific
information sources by scientists and institutions in
the
developing countries should be especially encouraged
and supported".
Research and education institutions are urged to take
account of the new information and communication
technologies, assess their impact and promote their
use,
for example through the development of electronic
publishing and the establishment of virtual research
and
teaching environments or digital libraries.
In particular, it says, "the establishment of an
international programme on Internet-enabled science
and
vocational education and teaching, together with the
conventional system, should be considered to redress
the
limitations of educational infrastructure and to bring
high-quality science education to remote locations,".
A sustained effort by a number of developing countries
to increase the emphasis given to traditional
knowledge
systems resulted in agreement that such knowledge
should be brought closer to modern scientific
knowledge
in interdisciplinary projects in areas such as the
conservation of biological diversity, the management
of
natural resources, the understanding of natural
hazards
and the mitigation of their impact.
"Local communities and other relevant players should
be
involved in these projects," says the Framework.
"Individual scientists and the scientific community
have
the responsibility to communicate in popular language
the scientific explanations of these issues and the
ways
in which science can play a key role in addressing
them."
On the question of technology transfer and the
contribution of science to economic growth, the
guidelines emphasize that "innovation is no longer a
linear process arising from a single advance in
science,"
and that it "requires a systems approach involving
partnerships, linkages between many areas of knowledge
and constant feedback between many players."
Possible initiatives for achieving this include
co-operative research centres and research networks,
technology 'incubators' and research parks, and
transfer
and advisory bodies for small and medium enterprises.
"Specific policy instruments, including initiatives to
encourage national innovation systems to address
science-technology links, should be developed taking
into account global economic and technological
changes." it says. In particular, "it is imperative to
tackle
the issue of endogenous generation of technologies
starting from problems that pertain to developing
countries.
The 'brain-drain' - an issue of concern to many
developing countries - is referred to as an "
asymmetric
migration of trained personnel from the developing to
the
developed countries".
In order to mitigate this - and to sustain
high-quality
education and research in developing countries - the
delegates agreed that Unesco "may catalyse more
symmetric and closer interaction of science and
technology personnel across the world, and the
establishment of world-class education and research
infrastructure in the developing countries" - both the
priorities of bodies such as the Third World Academy
of
Sciences.
On the issue of science education, the participants to
the
World Conference agreed that this should be given the
"highest priority" by government, with particular
attention to the elimination of the effects of gender
bias
and bias against disadvantaged groups, raising public
awareness of science and fostering its popularization.
"Research in science and technology education needs to
be furthered nationally and internationally through
the
establishment and networking of specialized centres
around the world," it says.
Governments are urged to provide increased support to
regional and international programmes of higher
education and to networking of graduate and
postgraduate institutions, with special emphasis on
North-South and South-South cooperation.
"These are important means of helping all countries,
especially the small or least developed among them, to
strengthen their scientific and technological resource
base," says the Framework.
Although not reference is made to specific proposals -
such as the setting up of an International Centre for
Science Communication in London - the delegates
agreed that governments, international organizations
and
relevant professional institutions "should enhance or
develop programmes for the training of scientific
journalists, communicators and all those involved in
increasing public awareness of science".
In particular, an international programme on promotion
of scientific literacy and culture accessible to all
should
be considered "in order to provide appropriate
technology and scientific inputs in an easily
understandable form that are conducive to the
development of local communities".
The guidelines refrain from saying explicitly that
governments should reduce their spending on military
research in order to free up funds for more work on
the
problems directly affecting developing countries.
But the Declaration urges governments and society at
large "to be aware of the need to use natural and
social
sciences and technology as tools to address the root
causes and impacts of conflict," adding that
"investment
in scientific research which addresses them should be
increased".
And the Framework suggests that a dialogue should be
promoted between representatives of governments, civil
society and scientists "in order to reduce military
spending and the orientation of science towards
military
applications".
Reflecting comments such as those received from Sir
Robert May, the British government's chief scientific
adviser (See 'Rebuilding public trust in science and
science advice', 24 June 1999), the delegates endorsed
that statement that scientists and scientific bodies
"should consider it an important responsibility to
provide independent advice to the best of their
knowledge".
In particular, governments - in cooperation with the
agencies of the United Nations system and
international
scientific organizations - were urged to strengthen
international scientific advisory processes "as a
necessary contribution to intergovernmental policy
consensus-building at regional and global levels and
to
the implementation of regional and international
conventions".
This coincides with the views recently expressed by,
for
example, Bruce Alberts, the president of the US
National
Academy of Sciences, that there should be more
activity
at the global level focussed on providing top-level
scientific advice to those engaged in decision on
topics
requiring a strong scientific input (See 'Science and
the
World's Future', 13 May 1999).
On the question of intellectual property, the final
documents do not include any direct reference to
concerns expressed about, for example, patents issues
on
genetic material, expressing the view that "all
countries
should protect intellectual property rights and
recognize
that access to data and information is essential for
scientific progress".
Indeed the Declaration states that "measures should be
taken to enhance those relationships between the
protection of intellectual property rights and the
dissemination of scientific knowledge that are
mutually
supportive".
But the document also acknowledges the need to
"consider the scope, extent and application of
intellectual property rights in relation to the
equitable
production, distribution and use of knowledge".
And the Framework adds that in developing an
appropriate international legal framework, the World
Iintellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in
cooperation with relevant international organizations,
"should constantly address the question of knowledge
monopolies".
It also says that the World Trade Organisation, during
new negotiations of the Trade Related Intellectual
Property [TRIPS] Agreement, "should incorporate into
this Agreement tools aimed at financing the
advancement
of science in the South with the full involvement of
the
scientific community".
In making its final amendments to the conference
documents, the drafting committee had rejected demands
from some member states for explicitly endorsing the
idea proposed by Nobel laureate Sir Joseph Rotblat
that
all science graduates be required to take a form of
Hippocratic oath, promising to behave responsible (See
'
Rotblat makes a hit with call for a Hippocratic oath
', 27
June 1999; also ' Science and ethical behaviour', 10
June
1999).
However the Framework stresses that ethics and
responsibility of science "should be an integral part
of
the education and training of all scientists", on the
grounds that "it is important to instil in students a
positive attitude towards reflection, alertness and
awareness of the ethical dilemmas they may encounter
in
their professional life".
Research institutions, it suggests, should foster the
study
of ethical aspects of scientific work. Scientific
institutions are urged to respect the freedom of
scientists
to express themselves on ethical issues and to
denounce
misuse or abuse of scientific or technological
advances.
Furthermore, the Framework says, scientific
associations "should define a code of ethics for their
members", while non-governmental organizations and
scientific institutions "should promote the
establishment
of ethics committees in their field of competence".
A major stress is contained in the Framework document
on the need to ensure "the full participation of women
in
the planning, orientation, conduct and assessment of
research activities".
All countries are urged to " contribute to the
collection
of reliable data, in an internationally standardized
manner, for the generation of gender-disaggregated
statistics on science and technology". Measures aimed
at
attaining social equity in all scientific and
technological
activities, including working conditions, "should be
designed, implemented and monitored" says the
document.
On the relationship between modern science and "other
systems of knowledge" the delegates called on
governments to "formulate national policies that allow
a
wider use of the applications of traditional forms of
learning and knowledge", while at the same time
"ensuring that its commercialization is properly
rewarded.
This is a reference to recent concerns at Western
companies seeking patent protection on such forms of
knowledge, epitomized by the dispute over rights to
knowledge about the medicinal properties of the
products of the Indian 'neem' tree.
The Declaration describes the need "to further develop
appropriate national legal frameworks to accommodate
the specific requirements of developing countries and
traditional knowledge, sources and products, to ensure
their recognition and adequate protection on the basis
of
the informed consent of the customary or traditional
owners of this knowledge.
Finally in terms of follow-up activities, the
Framework
says that Unesco, in cooperation with ICSU, should act
as a clearing house such activities. In particular the
two
bodies "should develop concrete initiatives for
international scientific cooperation, together with
relevant United Nations organizations and bilateral
donors".
At the same time, the delegates acknowledged that the
follow-up to the conference "will be executed by many
partners who will retain their responsibilities for
their
own action" - a clear indication that much of the
responsibility for the successful implementation of
the
guidelines rests with national governments and
regional
organizations.
DAVID DICKSON
The full texts of the final documents can be found as
follows:
Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific
Knowledge,
Science Agenda: Framework for Action
Dr. Gregor Wolbring
Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty of Medicine
University of Calgary
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, T2N 4N1
Alberta, Canada
Phone 1403-220-5448
Fax 1-403-283-4740
eFax 1-603-761-3704
e-mail [log in to unmask]
webpage: http://www.thalidomide.ca/gwolbring
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