170 likes | 320 Views
ICSU Foresight Analysis. http://www.icsu.org/. Orienting International Science Cooperation to meet Global Challenges. What is the International Council for Science?. Non-governmental organisation Global membership of: national scientific bodies International Scientific Unions
E N D
ICSU Foresight Analysis http://www.icsu.org/ Orienting International Science Cooperation to meet Global Challenges
What is the International Council for Science? • Non-governmental organisation • Global membership of: • national scientific bodies • International Scientific Unions • Purpose: to strengthen international global science for the benefit of society
What does ICSU do? • Co-ordinates international, interdisciplinary research programmes that address global issues • Works at the intersection of science and policy • Universality of Science - opposes any discrimination of scientists
Why a Foresight Process? • To explore how international science* might develop over the next two decades • To test the role and mission of ICSU and guide its long-term strategic choices • To demonstrate how ICSU Members could develop their own strategic activities *Science comprises all domains - natural, social, human, medical and engineering
What is the presentlandscape for international science? • Variety of actors • Science is increasingly global • Scientific world is increasingly connected • A multipolar science world is developing • The role of business in science in growing • The primary driver of most collaboration is still the scientists • Many global research programmes lack co-ordination
Scoping the design – choices and trade-offs • Purpose – priority-setting / organisational agility • Scope – future of international science / future of ICSU • Target – ICSU / member organisations • Orientation – exploratory / normative • Resources – marginal / dedicated • Activities – embedded / dedicated • Participation – depth / breadth • Time Horizon – unfolding of grand challenges / ICSU Strategic Plan • Management and Conduct – internal / external • Duration – short / long
Three phases • Phase 1 (October 2009 to April 2010): Gather perspectives on the key drivers influencing international science in the next 20 years – from individuals in ICSU’s membership, bodies, partners and other stakeholders, including young scientists, as well as from the literature. • Phase 2 (April 2010 to March 2011): Build exploratory scenarios from the key drivers and conduct a broad consultation with the same range of parties identified for the previous phase. • Phase 3 (March 2011 to February 2012): Use the key drivers and exploratory scenarios to develop and validate a visionary ‘success scenario` of where ICSU should be going. In the process, conduct a broad consultation, in particular utilizing the ICSU General Assembly in October 2011as a forum for Member opinions – including views on regional differences – on the success scenario and its implications for ICSU.
What are the drivers that will influence the future international science landscape? Two types of drivers were identified: • Those which are more or less clear in how they will evolve in the next 20 years: Megatrends • Those which are unclear: Key Drivers
What are the Megatrends? • Demography • Natural resource availability • Global environmental change • Human health and well being • Technological change
What are the Key Drivers? • Global science agendas and arenas • State sovereignty, regionalism and globalism • Science and Society • Epistemic organisation of science • Values, beliefs, ethics • Scientific integrity and self regulation • Spatial organisation • Private sector/military science • States and markets • International collaborative research infrastructures • Nature of the scientific record • Science education and careers
The Triumph of Globalism Scenario 1: Global and Engaged with society Science Supplying National Needs National and Engaged with society “ Science Supplying National Needs“ “ The Triumph of Globalism“ outlook science GLOBAL interests of states NATIONAL Ivory Towers in a Globalised World Scenario 3: Global and Detached from society Rise of Aggressive Nationalism Scenario 4: National and Detached from society
The Triumph of Globalism Scenario 1: Global and Engaged with society In the face of environmental challenges, leading nations have decided to balance their interests Global governance has been embraced Interdisciplinary emphasis at the expense of disciplinary Greater mobility of scientists Science is used to lead the way to a sustainable future Increased external regulation of science Globallyco-ordinatedstrategicresearchistaking place Less curiosity-driven research opportunities
‘Science Supplying National Needs’ National and Engaged with society After a series of major global economic crisis, nations have adopted more protectionist policies with a focus on local sustainability Science harnessed to serve national needs Govt. policy regulates organisation of science but increases funding Less curiosity driven science opportunities Local solutions to local problems e.g. health, food security, energy Exploitation of traditional knowledge
Ivory Towers in a Globalised World Scenario 3: Global and Detached from society The global free market economy reigns and intense levels of interaction occur between economic agents across borders New multinational companies drive globalisation Science informs policy but decisions not based on science Science gained independence through new breakthroughs Countries have increasingly specialised in supplying certain products to global markets so becoming more dependent on the global system Science detached from society so public trust declines
‘Rise of Aggressive Nationalism’ Scenario 4: National and Detached In an uncertain geopolitical environment barriers between countries have been raised and nations aggressively look after their own interests On-going power struggle for global leadership and resources Greatest potential for harmful use of knowledge Investment in science is for national economic advantage or prestige Governments looking to their scientists for exciting advantages in scientific knowledge and technology – especially military Decline in researcher mobility Less developed countries are isolated from scientific endeavours Curiosity-driven discipline based research in national institutes of excellence
The Success Scenario • Global science addressing significant issues • International cooperation in science is focussed • Emerging science nations playing an important role • ‘Brain circulation’ replacing ‘brain drain’ • Wider set of actors and new networks • More funding and funders for global research
The Success Scenario • Science organisations better coordinated • Public trust comes with integrity • Effective communication and involvement of public integral part of the research process • Data sharing is seen as very important • Interdisciplinary, global research is an important complement to national and regional research programmes