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About the Speaker:
Dr Krishna is a Professor in Science Policy, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He has a PhD in Sociology of Science from the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. He has published over 30 research papers and five books which include: Science, Technology and Diffusion of Knowledge: Innovation Systems in Asia-Pacific (Edward Elgar, UK, 2007); Scientific Communities in the Developing Countries, (Sage Publications, New Delhi 1997); Science and Technology in a Developing World (Kluwer Academic Press, The Netherlands); and S.S. Bhatnagar on Science Technology and Development, 1938–54 (1994, Wiley Eastern Ltd, New Delhi). He is the founder-editor of Science, Technology and Society (Sage publications - Thousand Oaks, New Delhi, London and Singapore), an international journal devoted to Science and Technology studies. Prof Krishna was a consultant to UNESCO, Paris, for its programmes on electronic publishing in developing countries and the publication of the World Science Report 1998 and UNESCO Science Report 2005, and to the ILO in 2001 for its programme on the informal sector. He was a Council Member of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), USA and a member of the International Council for Science Policy Studies, ICSU, UNESCO, Paris. Since 2005-06, he is the correspondent for European Union network programmes on innovation policies and research policies for India.

 

 

 

 

Globalisation and the Changing Social Contract between Science and Society

by

Venni V. Krishna
Professor in Science Policy School of Social Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
& Editor: Science, Technology & Society (Sage)

Co-organized by the Department of Sociology

Date:

3pm, 13th November 2008

Location:

AS1 02-12
(Dept. of Sociology Seminar Room)

Abstract:

Globalisation (and economic liberalization) is not just confined to the economic, political and financial institutional spheres of society. Its influence has already penetrated into the practice of science and technology and the functioning of science as a social institution. Some fundamental values of open, academic science, geared to advance knowledge frontiers and of science as a public good have been replaced by secrecy, the creation of wealth from knowledge and the idea of science as a market good. British Philosopher and Physicist, John Ziman, characterizes science ‘as undergoing a cultural revolution’. Moreover, the current transformation of universities is drawing our attention to what has come to be known as a ‘Second Academic Revolution’. This has been central to policy discourses and national efforts towards creating knowledge-based economies, competitive sectors and business firms at the local, national and global levels and developing institutional or other processes to transform knowledge into some form of economic or social capital. 

Adapting to this new social contract is not going to be a smooth process. Large and complex technological systems, increasing degrees of risk, regulation of new science-based technologies, are all likely to pose different sets of challenges.  What are the implications for science and society relationships? Should we allow market forces to take over the governance of scientific enterprise? How can we maintain both ‘public good’ and ‘market good’ in science institutions and universities? What are the implications for poor, developing countries? These are some of the issues addressed in this presentation.

 
 
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