Global Governance of Science: Comments on behalf of TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing...

Global Governance of Science:Global Governance of Science:Comments on behalf of TWAS, the Comments on behalf of TWAS, the academy of sciences for the academy of sciences for the developing worlddeveloping world

Peter McGrathPeter McGrathTWAS acting programme officer, Trieste, ItalyTWAS acting programme officer, Trieste, [email protected]@twas.org

Presentation of the report: ‘Global Governance of Science’

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riga, Latvia16 March 2009

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Establishment of TWAS

Founded 1983 in Trieste, Italy, by Abdus Salam and 40 other eminent scientists from the South (incl. 10 Nobel Laureates).

Inaugurated 1985 by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar.

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TWAS headquarters

Located at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy.

Administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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TWAS membership

909 Members in some 90 countries 85% “Fellows” in 73 countries in the South. 15% “Associate Fellows” in 17 countries in

the North. 16 Nobel Laureates.

“Voice of science for the South”

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TWAS objectives

Recognize, support and promote excellence in scientific research in the South.

Respond to the needs of scientists working under unfavourable conditions.

Support South-South scientific exchange and collaboration.

Promote South-North cooperation between individuals and centres of excellence.

Promote dissemination of scientific information and sharing of innovative experiences.

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North-South Disparities

Source: SCI, January 2007

Shares of publications North vs. South

Average 2005-2006

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South-South Disparities

Source: SCI, January 2007

Top 12 of the South: World publication shares

Average 2005-2006

6.6%

2.4% 2.2%

1.5% 1.4%1.2%

0.6% 0.5% 0.5% 0.4% 0.4% 0.3%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

China

South K

orea

India

Brazi

l

Taiw

an

Turk

ey

Mex

ico

Singap

ore

Iran, I

sl. R

ep.

Argen

tina

South A

frica

Egypt

Pe

rce

nt

of

Wo

rld

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Global Disparities

North

77 S&T most lagging developing countries

South

Shares of Publications

African countries contributing ≥ 0.02% of world share of ISI-listed S&E papers

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Global Governance of Science

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First impressions:• A well-written and well-argued document;• Wide-ranging and thought provoking;• Many good examples are presented;• Ambitious.

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First impressions:• A well-written and well-argued document;• Wide-ranging and thought provoking;• Many good examples are presented;• Ambitious.

But:• Any attempt at global governance of science

is starting from weak beginnings;• Difficult to see way forward (much research

needed) or even the way to unite the different initiatives cited.

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TWAS, “the voice of science for the South” has been a party to UNESCO’s Bioethics curriculum, which has been tested at several centres in the developing world and has recently been published.

Some specific points:Ethics across borders (page 30)Non-European cultures and informed consent (page 31) • “Different perspectives on medicine, personhood and

ethics are potential sources of misunderstanding” … an area tackled by the UNESCO curriculum.

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Some specific points:Science divides (page 33)“… one third of the world population is neither

able to produce its own technological innovations nor have access to the technologies developed by others. Yet science and technology themselves provide no easy answers. Only at a global level can governance structures begin to change systems of research and innovation so that they address global goals, with one potential resting on collaborative research.”• Condescending?• Ability to govern globally when S&T

infrastructure in many developing countries is so weak?• Collaborative research - a must!

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A way forward:Conclusions: From Europe to the world

(pages 37-39)“… among the important institutions on which

one might build are international professional societies such as ICSU, AAAS and UNESCO ...”• Include TWAS - our ‘constituency’• InterAcademy Panel on International Issues

(IAP): www.interacademies.netwww.interacademies.net• InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP):

www.iamp-online.orgwww.iamp-online.org

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InterAcademy Panel (IAP)

Launched in 1993, IAP is a global network of more than 100 science academies in 90 countries.

Countries with merit-based science academies

Africa 17

Asia 34

America 16

Europe 40

Total 107

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IAP promotes: • Cooperation between member academies on

science-related issues of global concern;• The role of academies as independent, credible

advisors to governments on policies and critical decisions based on S&T.

In particular, IAP:• Assists academies in developing countries

to build their capacities;• Serves as a forum for discussions on the

complex relationship between science, society and media.

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• Issues statements on topics of global concern(e.g., human cloning, biosecurity, evolution).

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InterAcademy Panel (IAP)Joint Statements by G8+5

AcademiesJune 2005 (Gleneagles)

Global response to climate changeJune 2006 (St. Petersburg)

Avian influenza and infectious diseases

Energy Sustainability and security May 2007 (Heiligendamm)

Promotion and protection of innovation

Growth and responsibility: sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection

June 2008 (Hokkaido Toyako) Global Health Climate Change Adaptation and the

Transition to a Low Carbon Society

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TWAS and IAP

TWAS and its affiliated organizations – the InterAcademy Panel (IAP) and the InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP) – have a wealth of expertise in dealing with scientific issues in the developing world.

These organizations stand ready to assist in the development of an agenda for the Global Governance of Science to ensure that the concerns of the developing world – and the two-thirds of humanity that it represents – are heard in the debate.

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

Peter McGrathPeter McGrathTWAS acting programme officerTWAS acting programme officer

[email protected]@twas.org

www.twas.orgwww.twas.org

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