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THE KNOWLEDGE DIVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE DIVIDE AS A CHALLENGE TO AS A CHALLENGE TO

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Marian Ewurama AddyMarian Ewurama Addy

Chair, ICSU-PCDCChair, ICSU-PCDC

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COVERAGECOVERAGE

How scientific knowledge is created.How scientific knowledge is created. Where it is created.Where it is created. Exclusion of some communities, and Exclusion of some communities, and

therefore, some sources of empirical therefore, some sources of empirical knowledge.knowledge.

Results of the divide.Results of the divide. Consequences of the divide.Consequences of the divide. Overcoming the challenges.Overcoming the challenges.

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Knowledge divide exists; no arguments.Knowledge divide exists; no arguments. Every community has knowledge. Therefore, Every community has knowledge. Therefore,

why the knowledge divide?why the knowledge divide? The kind of knowledge in this knowledge The kind of knowledge in this knowledge

divide.divide. Knowledge which is:Knowledge which is:

Universal;Universal; Usable;Usable; Capable of predicting the future; and,Capable of predicting the future; and, Gives rise to products for improved quality of life.Gives rise to products for improved quality of life.

Scientific knowledge.Scientific knowledge.

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SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGESCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE How is it created or acquired?How is it created or acquired? By the scientific method, starting with By the scientific method, starting with

empirical knowledge which every community empirical knowledge which every community has.has.

One definition of empirical is “capable of One definition of empirical is “capable of being verified or disproved by observation or being verified or disproved by observation or experiment, especially in the natural experiment, especially in the natural sciences”.sciences”.

Conversion of empirical knowledge into Conversion of empirical knowledge into scientific knowledge requires verification.scientific knowledge requires verification.

Scientific knowledge can be created from any Scientific knowledge can be created from any knowledge system through verification.knowledge system through verification.

If so, why the knowledge divide?If so, why the knowledge divide?

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SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGESCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE Where it was created from the beginning.Where it was created from the beginning. In the parts of the world referred to as In the parts of the world referred to as

developed or The North, with a smaller number developed or The North, with a smaller number of the world’s people.of the world’s people.

Comparatively little of such creativity Comparatively little of such creativity happening in the developing world which has a happening in the developing world which has a larger number of the world’s people – Majority larger number of the world’s people – Majority World.World.

Mobility of high level manpower towards the Mobility of high level manpower towards the areas of high concentration of scientific areas of high concentration of scientific knowledge creation.knowledge creation.

Less or no creation of scientific knowledge from Less or no creation of scientific knowledge from the empirical knowledge of the majority world.the empirical knowledge of the majority world.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Constant improvement in the quality Constant improvement in the quality of life for the current generation; same of life for the current generation; same or better quality of life for subsequent or better quality of life for subsequent generations, all from the same sources generations, all from the same sources of the earth.of the earth.

Knowledge needed for this sustainable Knowledge needed for this sustainable development must come from all development must come from all regions and all knowledge systems.regions and all knowledge systems.

But assumed to come from scientific But assumed to come from scientific knowledge and from The North.knowledge and from The North.

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NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SCIENCESCIENCE

A lot of good things about scientific A lot of good things about scientific knowledge and therefore tendency to knowledge and therefore tendency to ignore possible negative aspects:ignore possible negative aspects: Limitations of scientific knowledge;Limitations of scientific knowledge; Uncertainties associated with it;Uncertainties associated with it; Products of science not always beneficial;Products of science not always beneficial; Products of science not always leading to Products of science not always leading to

development or improved quality of life.development or improved quality of life.

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NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SCIENCESCIENCE

““The traditional values of science are meant to The traditional values of science are meant to safeguard objectivity, neutrality, safeguard objectivity, neutrality, disinterestedness and rationality. These and disinterestedness and rationality. These and other values described by the sociologist Merton other values described by the sociologist Merton have come to be seen as the core ethos of have come to be seen as the core ethos of science. Taken to the extreme, however, they science. Taken to the extreme, however, they may seem to justify absence of ethics, empathy may seem to justify absence of ethics, empathy and concern for social implications. The search and concern for social implications. The search for universal laws and theories with no attempt to for universal laws and theories with no attempt to relate them to human values and concerns can relate them to human values and concerns can present science as abstract and insensitive to present science as abstract and insensitive to human needs, with the result that many people human needs, with the result that many people perceive science as cold and lacking a human perceive science as cold and lacking a human face.” face.”

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In spite of these, tendency from those in In spite of these, tendency from those in The South to depend on the North for the The South to depend on the North for the knowledge for sustainable development.knowledge for sustainable development.

Therefore they do not create scientific Therefore they do not create scientific knowledge from their own knowledge knowledge from their own knowledge systems to add to world knowledge systems to add to world knowledge required for sustainable development.required for sustainable development.

Development must be global for it to be Development must be global for it to be sustainable.sustainable.

Therefore, all of us lose.Therefore, all of us lose.

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THE CHALLENGE OF THE THE CHALLENGE OF THE DIVIDEDIVIDE

““Accordingly, science is less pluralistic in Accordingly, science is less pluralistic in practice than it could be in principle. The practice than it could be in principle. The lack of equitable representation has serious lack of equitable representation has serious negative implications not only for society negative implications not only for society but also, through systematic under-inclusion but also, through systematic under-inclusion of some perspectives, for the range and of some perspectives, for the range and quality of the research that is produced. quality of the research that is produced. Many brilliant minds currently have no Many brilliant minds currently have no opportunity to contribute to scienceopportunity to contribute to science. “ . “ ICSU ICSU Strategic Review. Science and Society: Rights and Strategic Review. Science and Society: Rights and Responsibilities.Responsibilities.

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THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE

Indigenous knowledge which can contribute to Indigenous knowledge which can contribute to sustainable development will lie unexploited sustainable development will lie unexploited and both The North and The South lose.and both The North and The South lose.

The divide leads to The North “selling” the The divide leads to The North “selling” the knowledge to The South on terms which may knowledge to The South on terms which may compromise sustainable development, compromise sustainable development, whereas “scientifying” the local knowledge whereas “scientifying” the local knowledge may not.may not.

Leaders in The South not even being aware of Leaders in The South not even being aware of implications of buying the knowledge from implications of buying the knowledge from The North and no local scientists to help them.The North and no local scientists to help them.

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THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE

Politicians making use of products of science.Politicians making use of products of science. From areas where the knowledge and the products From areas where the knowledge and the products

are made;are made; From areas receiving instead, of creating the From areas receiving instead, of creating the

knowledge and making suitable products.knowledge and making suitable products. Industrial giants doing business with the Industrial giants doing business with the

products of science.products of science. To get change in human attitudes and values.To get change in human attitudes and values. Change needed for sustainable development Change needed for sustainable development

derives from indigenous knowledge systems of derives from indigenous knowledge systems of culture etc. culture etc.

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OVERCOMING THE OVERCOMING THE CHANLLENGESCHANLLENGES

Pursue an agenda of true universality of Pursue an agenda of true universality of science:science:

In doing so:In doing so: Use all but varied social knowledge systems.Use all but varied social knowledge systems. Exploit systems that contribute to, and are Exploit systems that contribute to, and are

influenced by scientific knowledge.influenced by scientific knowledge. Build capacity in science all over and aim at all Build capacity in science all over and aim at all

forms of knowledge being systematized and forms of knowledge being systematized and shared by all.shared by all.

What should be the nature of capacity building What should be the nature of capacity building in science, especially for future generations?in science, especially for future generations?

ICSU’s definition of Capacity Building in science.ICSU’s definition of Capacity Building in science.

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CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity building in science consists of Capacity building in science consists of activities that lead to the establishment activities that lead to the establishment or strengthening of a corps of qualified or strengthening of a corps of qualified scientists with supporting infrastructure scientists with supporting infrastructure - including facilities and working - including facilities and working conditions - that enable them to conditions - that enable them to conduct research, education, training conduct research, education, training and advisory work, particularly in areas and advisory work, particularly in areas of direct social significance.of direct social significance.