Science Must Help Set the Global Agenda

By Bruce Alberts

When the president of South Africa implied that AIDS may not be caused by a virus, his statement was met with shock by much of the world. After all, scientists established the link between human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS years ago. But unfortunately, ignorance about - or even blatant disregard of - the science behind many of the world's most controversial issues is becoming all too common. No part of the world is immune. Just look at the "Frankenfood" scare in Europe. Consumers there are refusing to eat food products that contain contributions from genetically altered plants, despite growing scientific consensus that these foods are safe. And here in the United States, many public school systems are downplaying the scientific theory of evolution in their classrooms.

This disregard for science is even more distressing in light of some of the very real problems that will affect every nation in the coming decades. The world population is expected to increase to about 10 billion or 11 billion by the end of this century. How can the Earth accommodate even the most basic needs of these people - providing enough food, water, energy, and materials - without destroying the natural resources on which we all depend? The science community is in a perfect position to help answer these questions. But the best science in the world will be of no use unless it helps to inform the critical decisions that will shape all of our lives in the coming decades.

That is why scientific societies across the globe must take a more active role in helping political leaders and the public make informed decisions. It's not enough to recognize that every nation today needs its own scientific capacity - both to address local issues and to take advantage of the vast resources of science. This scientific capacity also needs to be organized in a way that gives it a powerful voice.

In 1993, 50 of the world's academies of science met for the first time in New Delhi, India, to produce a joint statement on using science and technology to slow the increase in population growth around the globe. This meeting soon led to the formation of a global confederation of 80 science academies, known as the InterAcademy Panel (IAP). The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has long been active as an independent advisor to government, publishing more than 200 reports a year. With help from the IAP, many of the other academies are seeking a similar role in their own nation's policy making. A few weeks ago, the IAP decided to create a formal body called the InterAcademy Council. This new organization will bring together scientists, engineers, and medical experts to help advise international bodies, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on the many issues that involve science and technology.

Increasingly, nations are recognizing that the striking advances in scientific knowledge worldwide are important for their own economic development and well-being. The new InterAcademy Council could go a long way in disseminating the latest research for the benefit of many nations. For example, every country needs to educate its children, protect its water supplies and soil from degradation, and improve the health of its people. The scientific basis for the many decisions that need to be made in the United States is no different in Nigeria, Chile, or Bangladesh. So the work that the United States does in education - such as analyzing how people learn and transferring that knowledge to schools, or on teaching science as inquiry - is as relevant to the rest of the world as it is to our country. Likewise, we can learn a great deal from other nations about how to improve our educational system.

Sustaining the world's resources will be of special concern to scientists around the globe. Panels of scientists from many nations already have collaborated successfully on politically charged issues, such as protecting water supplies in the Middle East and Mexico. International working partnerships will be essential for identifying solutions to many of the world's most vexing problems, from ensuring that agricultural production is adequate for feeding growing populations to maintaining species diversity in fragile ecosystems.

In the 21st century, science and scientists will be judged not only for how well they generate new knowledge, but also for how well they help solve local and global problems. Scientists in every nation must take action to ensure that policy makers and the public make their decisions based on the best available information.

Bruce Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.

Dated : 04 August 2000