What is unique about science What is unique about science advice from an Academy?advice from an Academy?

LondonLondonNovember 4, 2008November 4, 2008

Bruce AlbertsBruce AlbertsProfessor of Biochemistry and BiophysicsProfessor of Biochemistry and Biophysics

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)Co-chair InterAcademy Council, AmsterdamCo-chair InterAcademy Council, Amsterdam

Editor-in-chief, Editor-in-chief, Science Science magazinemagazine

My Bottom Lines:My Bottom Lines:

1). It is critically important that science, and scientists, 1). It is critically important that science, and scientists, achieve a much higher degree of influence throughout achieve a much higher degree of influence throughout both their nations and the world.both their nations and the world.

2). Academies of Science will be instrumental for this 2). Academies of Science will be instrumental for this spreading of science and its values. spreading of science and its values.

• Your efforts are important for your nation’s Your efforts are important for your nation’s success.success.

• They are also important for building a better world.They are also important for building a better world.

Why scientific judgments are crucial Why scientific judgments are crucial for policymakersfor policymakers

• Science has allowed humans to gain a deep understanding of the natural world.

• In many cases, we can therefore predict the effects of current actions on the future.

My life from 1993-2005My life from 1993-2005

A 12-year education in WashingtonA 12-year education in Washington

Policy advice from the US National Academies

• More than 200 reports a year, 85 percent requested by the US government

• Full text released to the press, and to the public on our Website, when report is delivered to government

• Two types of reports: most “science for policy”, but many are “policy for science”

The critical take-home lesson from The critical take-home lesson from my 12 years in Washingtonmy 12 years in Washington

Science is much more important than most scientists think!

In particular, we need:In particular, we need:

1). Governments that base their policies on what 1). Governments that base their policies on what scientists predict about the effect of current actions scientists predict about the effect of current actions on the future (global warming is just one of many on the future (global warming is just one of many examples)examples)

2). Much more of the creativity, rationality, openness, 2). Much more of the creativity, rationality, openness, and tolerance that are inherent to science --- what and tolerance that are inherent to science --- what Indian Prime Minister Nehru called a “Indian Prime Minister Nehru called a “scientific scientific tempertemper” -- for both the US and all other nations” -- for both the US and all other nations..

““The society of scientists is simple because it has a The society of scientists is simple because it has a directing purpose: to explore the truth. Nevertheless, directing purpose: to explore the truth. Nevertheless, it has to solve the problem of every society, which is it has to solve the problem of every society, which is to find a compromise between the individual and the to find a compromise between the individual and the group. It must encourage the single scientist to be group. It must encourage the single scientist to be independent, and the body of scientists to be tolerant. independent, and the body of scientists to be tolerant. From these basic conditions, which form the prime From these basic conditions, which form the prime values, there follows step by step a range of values: values, there follows step by step a range of values: dissent, freedom of thought and speech, justice, dissent, freedom of thought and speech, justice, honor, human dignity and self respect. honor, human dignity and self respect.   

Science has humanized our values. Men have Science has humanized our values. Men have asked for freedom, justice and respect precisely as asked for freedom, justice and respect precisely as the scientific spirit has spread among them.”the scientific spirit has spread among them.”

Jacob Bronowski, Science and Human Values, 1956Jacob Bronowski, Science and Human Values, 1956

My favorite quote

The potential advantages of “academy-type” institutions

• Merit-based selection of members based on peer evaluations. Therefore represent the best of science and engineering

• Governed by members with a self-renewing membership, stable and insulated from political interference

A critical mission for science academies: telling truth to power

• Politicians often tend to cater to those with special interests, focusing on short term gains.

• Only a strong, respected voice for local scientists is likely to provide the countervailing power needed for a nation to make wise long-run decisions on many issues.

Often, only local scientists will have the Often, only local scientists will have the credibility required to rescue a nation credibility required to rescue a nation

from misguided local policies and beliefsfrom misguided local policies and beliefs

Some recent examples: • Fear of polio vaccination in Nigeria

• Fear of GM crops in many nations

• Myths about HIV in South Africa

Important recent report from the South African Academy of Sciences

The problems facing some The problems facing some science academiesscience academies

• Membership fails to recognize the Membership fails to recognize the organization’s potential for influencing organization’s potential for influencing society and government.society and government.

• Failure to adequately respect engineers, Failure to adequately respect engineers, economists, and social scientists. economists, and social scientists.

• Lack of the financial resources required to Lack of the financial resources required to support the type of academy staff needed to support the type of academy staff needed to produce high-quality policy advice.produce high-quality policy advice.

IAP WorldwideLaunched in 1993, IAP is a global network of 98 science academies

91 countries

IAP members

The support of “sustainability science” The support of “sustainability science” by the InterAcademy Panelby the InterAcademy Panel

• Helping the science academies in each Helping the science academies in each nation nation develop a larger role in their own develop a larger role in their own societiessocieties, including becoming a respected , including becoming a respected advisor to their own governmentsadvisor to their own governments

• Sharing information and resources as Sharing information and resources as “public goods” to strengthen world science “public goods” to strengthen world science (e.g., electronic journals and other Web (e.g., electronic journals and other Web publications, programs and resources for publications, programs and resources for science education, ages 5 to 25)science education, ages 5 to 25)

www.NationalAcademies.orgwww.NationalAcademies.orgFull text of more than Full text of more than 3000 books3000 books now on-line, now on-line,

accessible through powerful search engineaccessible through powerful search engine

For 146 nations, these are available as free PDFsFor 146 nations, these are available as free PDFs

Through the IAP, the academy Through the IAP, the academy presidents recognized that scientists presidents recognized that scientists need to have a much larger presence in need to have a much larger presence in world affairs.world affairs.

In particular, how can the world’s In particular, how can the world’s scientists more effectively communicate scientists more effectively communicate their agreement on central issues?their agreement on central issues? ord a more rational and a more prosperous place.

The answer:The answer:

The IAC was The IAC was established by established by the IAP in 2000, the IAP in 2000, with a secretariat with a secretariat at KNAW in at KNAW in AmsterdamAmsterdam

The 15 Academy presidents who initially The 15 Academy presidents who initially governed the InterAcademy Council (IAC)governed the InterAcademy Council (IAC)

Academy Population ChinaChina 1,240,000,0001,240,000,000IndiaIndia 1,000,000,0001,000,000,000United States United States 272,000,000 272,000,000BrazilBrazil 171,000,000 171,000,000Russia*Russia*** 146,000,000 146,000,000JapanJapan 126,000,000 126,000,000Mexico*Mexico*** 100,000,000 100,000,000GermanyGermany 82,000,000 82,000,000United Kingdom United Kingdom 59,100,000 59,100,000France France 58,900,000 58,900,000South Africa*South Africa*** 43,400,000 43,400,000MalaysiaMalaysia 21,300,000 21,300,000Sweden*Sweden** * 8,910,000 8,910,000Israel*Israel*** 5,740,000 5,740,000

Third World Academy of SciencesThird World Academy of Sciences

* Replaced by * Replaced by Chile, Iran, Chile, Iran, Hungary, Turkey, Hungary, Turkey, and the African and the African Academy in 2005Academy in 2005

Next turnover of Next turnover of five academies five academies in March 2009in March 2009

The promise of world science collaborationThe promise of world science collaboration

The first report of the InterAcademy The first report of the InterAcademy Council was released at the UN General Council was released at the UN General

Assembly in February, 2004Assembly in February, 2004

Inventing a Better Future: A Strategy for Inventing a Better Future: A Strategy for Building Worldwide Capacities in Science Building Worldwide Capacities in Science and Technology.and Technology.

• A guide for building high quality institutions A guide for building high quality institutions for science and technology in every nation.for science and technology in every nation.

• Committee co-chairs from Brazil and Egypt, Committee co-chairs from Brazil and Egypt, plus scientists from 10 other nations.plus scientists from 10 other nations.

capacity building

agriculturewomen

The first three IAC reports, 2004 to 2006The first three IAC reports, 2004 to 2006

IAC Panel on African AgricultureIAC Panel on African Agriculture

Speciosa Wandira KAZIBWESpeciosa Wandira KAZIBWE, Uganda Peter MATLON, USA

Rudy RABBINGERudy RABBINGE, Netherlands Ahmadou Lamine NDIAYE, Senegal

M.S. SWAMINATHANM.S. SWAMINATHAN, India Bongiwe NJOBE, South Africa

Mohamed BESRI, Morocco Emmanuel Uche ODIGBOH, Nigeria

Maria Manuela CHAVES, Portugal Gideon ORON, Israel

Avílio Antonio FRANCO, Brazil Per PINSTRUP-ANDERSEN, Denmark

Jikun HUANG, China Elly N. SABIITI, Uganda

Ryuichi ISHII, Japan José SARUKHAN, MexicoRenald LAFOND, Canada Jennifer THOMSON, South Africa

Entebbe, Uganda

4th IAC report released October 20074th IAC report released October 2007

Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy FutureEnergy Future

Co-chairs:Co-chairs: Steve Chu (USA) and Jose Goldemberg (Brazil)Steve Chu (USA) and Jose Goldemberg (Brazil)

““Hundreds of well-intentioned international aid Hundreds of well-intentioned international aid agencies, with their own priorities and idiosyncrasies, agencies, with their own priorities and idiosyncrasies, seldom cooperate or even communicate with each seldom cooperate or even communicate with each other. Instead, they compete for publicity, funding, and other. Instead, they compete for publicity, funding, and access to potential recipients. Overburdened leaders access to potential recipients. Overburdened leaders in developing countries, whose governments are often in developing countries, whose governments are often relatively disorganized, relatively disorganized, confront a cacophony of offers confront a cacophony of offers and demands from donors.and demands from donors.””

Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter

A problem with international attempts A problem with international attempts to help Africa: to help Africa: little coordinationlittle coordination

Could strongCould strong academies, working closely with land-academies, working closely with land-grant type universities, grant type universities, help to organize and help to organize and coordinate the work of aid agencies, with university coordinate the work of aid agencies, with university institutes and departments replacing many of the institutes and departments replacing many of the uncoordinated and competing NGOs?uncoordinated and competing NGOs?

Can strong national academies of science Can strong national academies of science help provide the missing coordination?help provide the missing coordination?

The urgent need for capacity buildingThe urgent need for capacity building

• Those of us in more scientifically Those of us in more scientifically advanced nations must help less advanced nations must help less advanced nations develop a greater advanced nations develop a greater capacity in science and technology, as capacity in science and technology, as appropriate to their national needs.appropriate to their national needs.

• This in our own interest, as well as being This in our own interest, as well as being critical for the rest of the world.critical for the rest of the world.