Draft 'Science Agenda' receives a mixed response
15 April 1999
[LONDON] Delegates attending the World Conference on Science in Budapest in June are likely to be asked to endorse the creation of a "universally acceptable legal framework" protecting access to scientific information "that takes into account the interests of all links in the scientific information chain."
They may also be asked to support closer links between modern science and other forms, systems and approaches to knowledge "for their mutual enrichment and benefit". And Unesco's committee on bioethics, which has already produced a statement on protecting the human genome, could be urged to extend its activities to other genomes "so that exclusivity in the control of life processes is avoided."
These suggestions are contained in a preliminary draft of the Science Agenda - Framework for Action which delegates will be asked to endorse at the end of the six-day meeting. The document is intended to indicate specific ways of putting into effect the conclusions of a parallel Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge, which the delegates will also be asked to adopt.
But the draft Science Agenda, which has been circulated to national delegations to the conference and others, is already proving to be controversial. Although there is widespread support for many of the principles that it expresses, some delegates claim that it lacks sufficiently concrete proposals, and are also concerned that it focusses primarily on ways of changing the relationship between science and society, rather than also improving the situation of science itself.
For example, the draft omits any reference to the need to provide support for particular disciplines, such as physics or genetics, or to encourage excellence in science. The document refer only briefly to the question of postgraduate and research training, and makes no reference to the use of technology foresight techniques to identify potential priorities for basic research - two key priorities of science policy makers in both developed and developing countries.
Unesco officials, who are seeking comments on the current draft, point out that the document is only intended to provide guidelines for action - rather than specific funding or policy priorities - and also that it is expected to be significantly revised before the final version is submitted to the conference for approval. Some of those who have seen the document suggest that the revisions will need to be relatively extensive if it is to receive the enthusiastic endorsement of all Unesco member states.
The draft Science Agenda argues that it can serve as a strategy for dealing with "the problems, challenges and opportunities confronted by scientific research and for the furthering of new partnerships, both national and international, between all actors in the scientific endeavour for the years to come".
It opens by listing a number of factors which, it argues, are transforming the relationship between science and society, ranging from the changing conditions of scientific production, the ending of the Cold War, "growing inequalities on all fronts", and environmental and ethical problems raised by science.
"A new relationship needs to be built between those who create and use scientific knowledge, those who support and finance it, and those concerned with its applications and impacts," says the draft. "This is the essence and the spirit of the new commitment."
The 'general guidelines' for this new commitment, it suggests, include the need:
A section outlining a commitment to the advancement of knowledge encourages each country "to aim at having internationally recognised scientific institution that can provide research and training facilities on a world-wide basis through networking and cooperation". It also argues for cooperation to be promoted among the agencies of the United Nations system, "to increase the efficiency of their support to research in developing countries".
The draft Science Agenda also argues that international co-operative programmes for systematic, long-term collection of data on critical parameters for the evolutionary development of our plant and its biosphere deserve increased attention. "Free access to the data thus collected must be assured," it states.
It also points out that, whilst intellectual property rights need to be appropriately protected, regular unrestricted access to data, information and the scientific literature is "essential" for science work. A universally accepted legal framework is needed that takes into account the interests of all links in the scientific information chain; such a framework should consider the requirements of developing countries with regard to the production of, and access to, scientific information, data and publications.
A section on 'science in society and science for society' argues both for scientists to acknowledge their social responsibilities, and for the recognition that "modern science does not constitute the only form of knowledge, and closer links need to be established between this and other forms, systems and approaches to knowledge, for their mutual enrichment and benefit".
Addressing, for example, specific ethical issues associated with scientific practice, the draft suggests that the Unesco Committee on Bioethics, that has been dealing with the human genome, "should extend its activities to other genomes so that exclusivity in the control of life processes is avoided", and that "an international effort should be made to establish a code of ethics for the scientific professions".
The document calls for measures to address the educational needs in science and technology of minorities and marginalized groups, and to stimulate and promote their access to science and technology education, efforts to eliminate "open or covert discriminatory practices in research activities", and an increase in women's participation in the planning, orientation and assessment of research activities, "in order to benefit from their perspective on science".
In addressing the question of traditional knowledge systems - one issue that is likely to prove a source of heated debate in Budapest - the draft says that systems of knowledge relating to such diverse domains as astronomy, meteorology, geology, ecology, botany, agriculture, physiology and health, represent "an enormous wealth".
Not only do they harbour information as yet unknown to modern science - as the pharmaceutical industry has realized - but they also express other ways of living in the world, other relationships between society and nature, and other approaches to the acquisition and construction of knowledge. "Special action must be taken to conserve and cultivate this fragile and diverse world heritage, in the face of globalization and the growing dominance of a single view of the natural world as espoused by science."
A section on 'science for peace and development' argues that "public and private support for research on the causes and consequences of wars, conflict prevention and resolution should be increased," and that "financial resources should be allocated to sectors of science and technology directly addressing problems that are at the root of potential conflicts, such as water scarcity, air pollution and competition for resources".
Addressing how science can respond to basic human needs, the document says that scientific knowledge "needs to be applied to find ways of reducing the imbalance, injustice and lack of resources that particularly affect the marginalized sectors of society and the poorer countries in the world".
As for specific guidelines for action, it argues that students should learn to apply scientific and technical knowledge to specific problems and needs of society, and that "Mechanisms for pooling the science and technolgoy efforts of neighbouring nations should be established to tackle common issues in a cost-effective way".
A relatively short section on science and technology says that "all countries should focus on the role of universities and research centres in improving the acquisition and transfer of R&D to industry", that specific policy instruments are required to promote innovation, and that "technology transfer to promote industrial, economic and social development should be encouraged through the movement of people between universities and industry and between countries".
On science education, the draft talks of "an urgent need to renew, expand and diversify basic science education for all", and suggests that the communication media and technologies can play an important role in this regard. "On a broader scale, an increasingly scientifically oriented society needs science popularization in its widest sense, to promote an improved understanding of science and adequately orient public perceptions and attitudes about science and its applications," it says.
In addition, it argues that "regional and international programmes of higher education and networking of graduate and post-graduate institutions should receive increased support, as they are important means of helping all countries, especially the smaller or least developed ones, to strengthen their scientific and technological resource base."
Finally, the document suggests that "in developing countries, the status of scientific and educational careers vis-à-vis administrative and managerial ones should be revised in favour of a fairer evaluation of the former. "Specific efforts, for example through improvement of working conditions, should be made by these countries to increase their capacity to retain their trained scientists."
As for implementation, the draft agenda acknowledges increased international support is needed to help the less developed countries prepare their plans of action and acquire the endogenous expertise necessary for setting up an autonomous and self-sustained knowledge system.
It recommends that, in reporting the conclusions of the Budapest meeting to the General conference of Unesco and the General Assembly of ICSU, "particular attention be given to the promotion of follow-up action in the short- and medium-term programmes of both organizations". Finally it suggests that Unesco, in cooperation with ICSU, "be a clearing house and focal agency for ensuring, co-ordinating and evaluating the follow-up to the conference".
The full text of the preliminary draft Science Agenda - Framework for Action can be found at helix.nature.com/wcs/m00f.html. The draft of the Declaration that will accompany it can be found at helix.nature.com/wcs/m00s.html. French versions of both documents can be found on the Unesco website.
DAVID DICKSON
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Nature © Macmillan Publishers Ltd 1999 Registered No. 785998 England.