Science and Technology within ParliamentScience and Technology within Parliament

UNESCO’s Interparliamentary Forums initiative

Diana Malpede

UNESCO

Launching of the “African Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (APF_STI)”

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2 May 2011

Outlinee

The new dimension of science policy

Increasing complexity of S&T governance

Changing nature of Science and Technology Governance

Science and Technology governance within Parliaments

Parliamentary structures and modalities for S&T

Inter-parliamentary Fora on S&T: UNESCO’s initiative

The contextThe context

Globalization

Growing complexity of science, more complex policy environment

Interrelated, systemic, complex long-term challenges

Rising critical environmental issues such as: global climate change, loss of biological diversity, weakened ecosystem services, natural disasters, energy, water stress

Near-collapse of global financial markets

New challenges for Science Policy

Mobilizing science for policy and policy for science in order to:

Build sustainable inclusive societies Contribute and participate to the global science Address national, regional and global challenges Respond to new environmental, ethical and societal demands

Understanding and managing complexity and uncertainties by integrating future, systemic, non-linear thinking in decision making

Ensuring both an adequate environment, which includes culture of science, free flow and exchange of scientific information, and infrastructure for the STI development

Increasing coordination of innovative and sectoral policies in order to ensure coherence and consistence at national level within the overall development vision and strategy

Articulation of science policy at national and global level

Finding an appropriate balance between public and private funding of R&D efforts

Coping with human resources shortage in science and strengthening the participation of women in science

Ensuring links between science and traditional knowledge systems

Involving a large number of partners by creating a multi-stakeholders participatory process to science decision making

Science: Science: a multiple enterprise….a multiple enterprise….

Institutions

Government

Society

Funding agencies

Media

Scientific community

Professional societies

IndustryCommercial firms

…….but also .but also a global enterprisea global enterprise

Over 7 million researcher around the world, drawing on a combined Over 7 million researcher around the world, drawing on a combined

international international R&D spend of over US$ 1000 billion (a international international R&D spend of over US$ 1000 billion (a 45% increase since 2002) and reading and publishing in aournd 45% increase since 2002) and reading and publishing in aournd 25.000 separate scientific journal per year25.000 separate scientific journal per year

… … and a and a co-laboratory enterpriseco-laboratory enterprise

In March 2010, Physics Letter B published the most multi-authored research paper to date, when 3.222 researchers from 32 different countries contributed to a study of “charged-particle multiplicities” measured with the ATLAS detector of the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva

Key Words:Key Words: Partnership and DialoguePartnership and Dialogue

Interface between science and policyInterface between science and policy

Communication between scientists and decision makers

Science, policy and society interfaceScience, policy and society interface

Public nature of scientific debate Demand by the public for greater participation in S&T decision-making

process (at national and global level)

New forms of STI governanceNew forms of STI governance

Participatory approach to policy making Stakeholders’ dialogue

Major Implications for ParliamentsMajor Implications for Parliaments

Parliamentary institutions have increasing difficulties in addressing and dealing with:

the growing complexity the highly scientific and technical character of issues the rapidity of change of Science and Technology

advances and developments (e.g. GMOs, genetic testing and therapy, new information technologies)

The Role of Parliaments on STIThe Role of Parliaments on STI

There are many dimensions which include, There are many dimensions which include, inter aliainter alia,, : :

The scrutiny and passage of science legislation at national level

The debate of science policies

The voting of budgetary allocations to science and technology

The oversight of expenditures allocated to science

The mobilization of resources for innovation

Mediation in controversial scientific issues of current concern to the people

S&T Parliamentary mechanisms and S&T Parliamentary mechanisms and structuresstructures

Formal structures: e.g. committees

Formal procedures: e.g. debates

Informal structures: e.g. various unofficial grouping

S&T Parliamentary support activitiesS&T Parliamentary support activities

Various forms of support services

Central research and information service, frequently within, or closely associated with, the parliamentary library

Dedicated parliamentary science and technology assessment services.

Parliamentary Technology Assessment ServicesDifferent structures for such services currently exist:

a specific office within the parliament, where the staff primarily prepare the research studies. (e.g. Flemish regional parliament, France, UK., USA)

a specific office within the parliament, that acts as a research manager for studies done by outside contractors (e.g. STOA at the European Parliament)

a specific parliamentary committee ( e.g. Finland, Italy)

a specific office external to the parliament, located within an existing larger research organization (e.g. German Bundestag)

a self-standing office, external to the parliament which receives a major component of its funding to perform technology assessment activities for the parliament (e.g. Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands)

a self-standing office, external to the parliament, which receives occasional contracts from the parliament to conduct technology assessments (e.g. Austria)

UNESCO’s ActionUNESCO’s Action

World Conference on ScienceWorld Conference on ScienceBudapest, Hungary, 1999Budapest, Hungary, 1999

A turning point towards the social responsibility of scientists and the politics of science.

Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge and Science Agenda - Framework for Action:

Parliaments and Governments should be invited to provide a legal, institutional and economic basis for enhancing scientific and technological capacities in the public and private sectors

The emergence of organized sectors of society demanding participation in democratic debates and decision-making

Democratic decision-making on scientific matters requires participation of all groups of society. the public, the media, scientists, educators, industrialists, politicians and decision-makers

Helsinki 2003Helsinki 2003It is in this context that UNESCO, in cooperation with ISESCO and the Committee for the Future of the Finnish Parliament, organized an

International Roundtable on “Science Technology and Innovation Policy: the Parliamentary Perspective”

Delegates from 31 countries from across the world participated and focused on how parliaments could develop the structures, methods and concepts through which they deal with science, technology and innovation policy.

Helsinki DeclarationHelsinki Declaration

Parliaments should further develop their own structures through which they deal with science, technology and innovation policy

The role of the media has been acknowledged as an essential element in communicating science to policy-makers, Parliamentarians and the public at large

The need for closer co-operation between journalists and scientists has been recognised

Policymakers should continue to set ambitious aims for research and development, with special emphasis on funding

Helsinki RecommendationsHelsinki Recommendations

The setting-up of an INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY FORUM of parliamentary science committees, the scientific community and representatives of civil society

Call on UNESCO and regional partners to organise regional workshops in national parliaments

Call on the Organizers, namely the Parliament of Finland, ISESCO and UNESCO, to establish such a Forum, in consultation with national, regional and international parliamentary actors

Science and Technology within Parliament:Science and Technology within Parliament:InterParliamentary Fora on STIInterParliamentary Fora on STI

INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY FORUM on STIINTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY FORUM on STI(during the World Science Forum in Budapest )(during the World Science Forum in Budapest )

Objectives

Providing the S&T Parliamentary Committees with platforms for dialogue with scientists, the media, public and private sectors and civil society

Identifying good practices and building upon lessons learned from existing mechanisms for S&T decision making;

Promoting the development of participatory mechanisms and practice for governance of Science and Technology among stakeholders;

Exchanging experiences of, and information on, science, technology and innovation policy-making process;

Strengthening the capacity of parliamentary science or related committees

World Science Forum –BudapestWorld Science Forum –Budapest

The World Science Forum, organized by the Hungarian The World Science Forum, organized by the Hungarian Academy of Science in partnership with UNESCO, ICSU Academy of Science in partnership with UNESCO, ICSU is a series of world conferences on science, knowledge is a series of world conferences on science, knowledge and society which have taken place biannually in and society which have taken place biannually in Budapest since 2003 as a follow-up to the World Budapest since 2003 as a follow-up to the World Conference on Science in Budapest in 1999. Conference on Science in Budapest in 1999.

Inter-parliamentary Fora on S&T Inter-parliamentary Fora on S&T UNESCO’s initiativeUNESCO’s initiative

Arab Forum, Cairo, Egypt, December 2004

Latin American Forum, Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 2005

South-Asian Policy Forum, India, March 2005

World Science Forum, Budapest, Hungary, November 2003, 2005,2007,2009

Central and South West Asia Forum on Science and Technology Policy for Sustainable Development, Tehran, Iran, January 2006

Nigerian Science Policy Forum, Abuja, Nigeria, June 2006

South East Europe Parliamentary Forum on STI, Bucharest, Roumania, 2007

Sub-regional science policy forum, Brazzaville (Congo) March 2008

Eastern Africa Parliamentary Forum, Mombasa, Kenya, March 2009

Parliamentary Forum Syria, September 2010

Interparliamentary Forum on STI for the Mediterranean Region, Paris, November 2010

South and South East Asian Policy Forum

Final words as conclusionsFinal words as conclusions

More than ever there is a need for:More than ever there is a need for:

Empowering Parliaments to better fulfill their democratic Empowering Parliaments to better fulfill their democratic functions in dealing with S&T issuesfunctions in dealing with S&T issues

Enhancing Parliamentarians ‘and staff members’ Enhancing Parliamentarians ‘and staff members’ understanding of Science and Technology issues understanding of Science and Technology issues

Strengthening Inter-Parliamentary cooperation and regional Strengthening Inter-Parliamentary cooperation and regional NetworkingNetworking

……. in other words….. in other words….

More than ever we need to build bridges, More than ever we need to build bridges, dialogue to strengthen our capacitiesdialogue to strengthen our capacities

Thank youThank you