Goverdhan Mehta, President International Council for Science (ICSU) and Indian Institute of Science, India

1. ICSU Science &Technology for a Better World: Role of Science Revisited Retuning the role of science Goverdhan Mehta, President International Council for Science (ICSU) and Indian Institute of Science, India

2. Structure of the presentation • The ‘unfettered’ march of science • Rejuvenating science – anewage • 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

3. 21st century will be the century of knowledge .…the process of transition is on 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

4. 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

5. Why? Progress in science has been for most part, insular, monolithic and unitary

6. 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

7. Relentless pace of technology Shrinking time domains Faraday 1830 1881 Electricity Genetic Engg. Watson-Crick 1953 1973 Iijima (CNT) 1991 2001 Logic circuit More new information has been generated in the last 30 years than in the previous 5000 Computing power doubles….………..12 months Networking (Band width) doubles… ..09 months Storage (Hard disk) doubles…………. 06 months

8. Scientific revolution has outpaced social revolution for over a century now

9. 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…..

10. The Paradox of Our Time Despite spectacular advances in science and technology, unprecedented economic progress and improvement in the quality of life…..

11. Growing inequalities Knowledge Divide A troubled world

12. A stressed planet Galloping Consumption Depleting resources

13. Bangalore-2006 Poverty + DeprivationStrife + Conflict

14. Environmental Pollution/Degradation Over consumption ‘Un-sustainability’

15. Environmental Pollution/Degradation Effluents of the affluent

16. e-waste or WEEE Where do computers go, to die or kill? Time is running out!

17. What can science do ? In the 21st century, a more inclusive view of science ‘..conception that science is autonomous is unsustainable.’

18. Other knowledge Sustainable Streams development Science needs to shed its splendid isolation A “new” role for Science Science Innovation

19. Societal Policy engagement Linkage Synergy between scientific & societal progress A “new” role for Science Science Innovation

20. benefits ScienceSociety S supports Values Acceptability Methods Equity Products Sustenance

21. benefits ScienceSociety S supports 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 Values Acceptability Methods Equity Products Sustenance Cohabitation

22. ‘….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 beone science’ - Karl Marx

23. 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.

24. Great opportunities…… Connecting to UN ‘Millennium Development Goals’ eg. hunger, health, education, environment Linkages with Global Change Research Programs eg. climate change, energy issues The focus in the new age science… Beyond discovery : addressing human needs and concerns

25. What is the way forward……? Centrality of societal engagement,policy interventions, and international partnerships

26. “Policy, not charity, will determine whether new technologies become a tool for human development everywhere” ….andfor all UNDP-HDR 2001 There is enoughon this earth for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s greed - Mahatma Gandhi

27. Science for policy and Policy for Science “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.

28. 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 interventions backed by political will and commitment can make a vital difference’ It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. UNHD Report 2001

29. The reality…… ‘political will in a globalizing world is focused on security than on development; stronger in finance and trade than in environment…’ For that…… …a political leadership that is scientifically informed and scientific leadership that is politically savvy is required….. The need … …..address causes not consequences

30. A peaceful planet Sustainable Development An inclusive world Eradicate poverty Secure environment Science + Society + Policy

31. “Science is becoming a world system”

32. Emergence of global scientific challenges The evolving context of international science 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.

33. 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…….

34. 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

35. Natural Hazards Sunami, Katrina, Kashmir…

36. Explosions Deforestation Traffic Plane crash Man made hazards Mining Oil spills

37. Global warming and climate change

38. insects coral ‘The sixth extinction crisis’ Amanita Muscaria sponge Catastrophic loss of species predicted, 100-10,000 times faster than normal Nature, July 20, 2006

39. 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

40. 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

41. We are …… “……travelers together on this bright blue ball in nothingness” -Carl Sandburg

42. Strengthening International Science for the Benefit of Society 75 Celebrating 75 years: 1931-2006

43. ICSU ICSU: a long history • Founded in1931, but roots back to 1899 • A membership organization with:107National Members (mostly Academies)29International Scientific Unions • Establishes interdisciplinary bodies; sponsors programs in key areas of global concern • Limited finances butunique worldwide access to intellectual resources

44. ICSU ICSU mission ICSU mobilizes the knowledge and resources of the international science community to: • Identify and addressmajor issuesof importance toscience and society • Facilitateinteractionof scientists across disciplines and among nations • Promoteparticipation of all scientistsregardless of race, citizenship, language, political stance or gender • Stimulate constructive dialogue between the scientific community, governments, civil society and the private sector

45. ICSU The ICSU Vision “….A world where science is used for thebenefit of all,excellence in scienceis valued and scientific knowledge is effectively linked to policy-making. In such a world, universaland equitable access to scientific data and information is a reality and all countries have the scientific capacity to use these ….”

46. ICSU International Research Collaboration Science and Policy Universality of Science Three strategic themes “It’s not what the vision is, it’s what the vision does” - Peter Senge

47. www.icsu.org

48. 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!

49. Thank you

50. ICSU ICSU:Building on experience A few landmarks since1931: • 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)