Re-framing understandings about the role of science and technology in human development
22nd February 2007
Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development, Bourton-on-Dunsmore, Rugby, CV23 9QZ, UK
“Delivering public value from new technologies” is particularly relevant in the current environment where spending on science and technology is increasing and where society’s expectations are that technology will deliver solutions that “solve” problems such as climate change. Yet at the same time public confidence in science has been hit by controversies about a range of recent issues including GM crops.
Most of the issues facing society and the use of science are relevant to the global economy and need to be discussed in a global context. In the past there have been events that have brought together various constituencies such as science and development academics but there have not been previous occasions when the range of both academic and other stakeholders have been brought together in a systematic way. A range of disciplines will be relevant including science and technology, international development, systems thinking, information management, ethics and economics.
Seminar 1: A set of disciplinary position papers, with a focus around the key issues, presented with time for discussion and inputs from practice and developing countries.
The first of a series of seminars, supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, UK, under the general theme of Delivering Public Value from New Technologies.
Objectives
- To facilitate north-south stakeholder participation in the process of re-framing understandings about the role of science and technology in human development.
- To increase recognition of the role of technology in human development, with an emphasis on improving the choice people have about which technologies are developed and how they are diffused.
- To conceptualise new business models or processes that would support outcomes of science-led new technologies that fulfil human need rather than market demand.
- To develop a means of building an interdisciplinary approach to future research agendas.
Outline programme
| 9.30 | Registration & Coffee |
|---|---|
| 10.00 | Introduction & welcome |
| 10.05 | Science & Technology Pathways to Sustainability & Social Justice, Melissa Leach View presentation as PDF | Flash |
| 10.30 | Towards a socially responsible science: the case of nanotechnologies, Phil Macnaghten View presentation as PDF | Flash |
| 10.55 | Discussion |
| 11.10 | Coffee |
| 11.30 | Enabling New Technologies to Deliver Public Need, David J. Grimshaw View presentation as PDF | Flash |
| 11.55 | New Technologies in Human Development: ICT impact on Africa, Banji Oyeyinka View presentation as PDF | Flash |
| 12.20 | Science & Technology for Sustainability: a case in Zimbabwe, Sithabile Tirivarombo View presentation as PDF | Flash |
| 12.45 | Discussion |
| 13.15 | Lunch |
| 14.00 | Small group discussions |
| 15.30 | Plenary |
| 4.00 | Tea and depart |
Download seminar flyer to print (PDF, 176k)
Other seminars in the series
Seminar 2: Making innovation work for the poor in a globalised world.
Increase the recognition of the role of technology in human development, with an emphasis on improving the choice people have about which technologies are developed and how they are diffused. 21 May 2007
Seminar 3: Taking the research agenda forward.
Building on the interdisciplinary frameworks and taking these forward into empirically based research. 24 November 2008
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