strengthening international science for the benefit of society goverdhan mehta, icsu president

Strengthening International Science for the Benefit of

Society

Goverdhan Mehta,ICSU President

10 November, 2005 World Science Forum, Budapest 2

ICSU: a long history

• Founded in 1931, but roots back to 1899

• A membership organization with:103 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 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

““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 ….”


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 strategyGA charge to EB & CSPR

“It’s not what the vision is, it’s what the vision does….” - Peter Senge


Science- beyond discovery

Broader engagement underpins science of the future to meet new global challenges and increased societal expectations

In the 21st century, need for a more inclusive view of science

Addressing human needs and concerns


International Research

Collaboration

Science and Policy

Universality of Science

Three major inter-related themes


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



• an integrated study of the Earth System, • the changes occurring to the System, and• the implications for global sustainability.

Earth System Science Partnership


The four global change programmes provide the framework for the science on which IPCC assessments are built.

A successful, timely, science based engagement


ICSU’s role: Global Change example

100% Research

Planning andCoordination

Initialization

ICSU

US$ 2 bn

0.5%

0.005%

Seeding and catalysis

US$ 10 mn

US$ 100 k


Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Strengthening capacity to manage ecosystems sustainably for human well-being


ICSU was an institutional partner in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which besides unravelling many key scientific issues, feeds into UN conventions on:• Biodiversity, • Desertification, • Migratory Species


International Polar Year 2007 - 2008

Countries >50, research ideas >500, expected funding ~$2 bn



• International Polar Year 2007-2008• Natural and Human-Induced Hazards and

Disasters• Science for Sustainable Development• Science for Human Health • Sustainable Energy



Understanding, predicting, mitigating…ICSU focus on environment


Connecting local livelihoods and global environment

SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

POLICY

Integration of three pillars: environment, social, and economic


Sustainable development

Departure point- “Our Common Journey” and builds upon the WSSD process

Making science policy relevant; participatory approaches with other stakeholders; bridging the knowledge divide, S & T capacity building for SD

Initiative on Science and Technology for Sustainability (ISTS)-consortium approach-TWAS, UNESCO…




Hazards and Disasters• Science for Sustainable Development• Science for Human Health and Well-being • Sustainable Energy



From aging population to emerging diseases

Infectious diseases and malaria to SARS, Avian flu…..


Common features

• Complex scientific challenges• New knowledge and new approaches necessary• Trans-disciplinary: natural and social sciences

need to work together• Many stakeholders outside of science involved• Politically (and commercially) sensitive• Raise issues of equity and openness• Critical links between local and global challenges

and solutions


There is enough on this earth for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s

greed - Mahatma Gandhi

Policy, not charity, will determine whether modern science and technology become a tool for development everywhere ….and for all

Science for Policy


“There is hardly any social problem on which science cannot make some contribution”

-D. K. Price, Scientific Estate

Science is never sufficient to solve a problem completely; it is, however, always necessary.

Science for policy and

Policy for Science

Science for policy and

Policy for Science


Promoting Science for Policy

• 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


Authoritative Statements

Statement by the international science community on the Millennium Development Goals to the United Nations General Assembly, September 2005.


Universality of Science

• The Principle of Universality of Science– Freedom and Responsibility in science

• Reaching out to all countries:– Access to Data and Information

– Regional Offices

– Capacity Building


The Principle of Universality of Science

ICSU Statute 5:

• Founding principle of ICSU

• Stipulates non-discrimination and equity in the conduct of science

• Shared responsibility for all scientists in promoting and upholding the principle

• Freedoms also imply responsibilities


Equitable Access to Scientific Information

• Policies:– Full and open access to scientific data

– Universal and equitable access to scientific publications

• Mechanisms, eg International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP)

• Coordination and partnerships– develop a multi-stakeholder Scientific Data and Information Forum (SciDiF)


ICSU Regional Offices

• ICSU Regional Office for Africa inaugurated in September this year

• Further Offices to follow soon in the Arab Region, Asia/Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean

Aim:

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


The widening gap in ……human resource capacity &S & T infrastructure

are the most critical in the new knowledge based competitive world………and many of the asymmetries are directly related to it

S & T Capacity Building

Distribution of S & T capacities is even more lopsided than that of economic power


World is asymmetric, not only in socio-economic arena but more so in S & T capacities

A basic paradigm………


Strategic Partners

• The UN System, including:The UN System, including:

– UNESCOUNESCO

– UNEPUNEP and its Science Initiative

– Commission for Sustainable Development (CSDCSD)

– WMO, Climate Change, IPY, Natural Hazards

• The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWASTWAS)

• The technological community (WFEO, CAETSWFEO, CAETS)


A necessity -neither a luxury nor a political compulsion- for facing the global S & T challenges of the 21st century

Sustainable energy - new sources Climate change - global warming Health - emerging diseases- AIDS, SARS, obesity Natural hazards -tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes Environment - biodiversity conservation, extinctions Knowledge divide – ICT penetration Population stabilization – 9 bn by 2025! Sustainable development – a new way of life

Partnerships:


In Conclusion

• Strengthening science for the benefit of society

• Promote the use of cutting edge science to address global challenges, stimulate innovation and for informed decision making

• Towards 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

strengthening international science for the benefit of society goverdhan mehta, icsu president

Documents

concernsworld science

engagementworld science

eb csprworld science

science driven prioritization

scientific knowledge

scientific data

scientific community

scientific capacity