The UK and other G8 countries must earmark funding to develop the scientific and technological potential of poor nations if they are to eradicate poverty, Professor Julia Higgins, Vice-President and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society (the UK national academy of science) said today (6 January 2005) at a briefing on a key United Nations report on science and the Millennium Development Goals.

Professor Higgins said: “This UN report quite clearly shows that helping developing countries to help themselves means building up their capacity in science, engineering, technology and medicine. If developing countries are to tackle diseases such as malaria and AIDS, to ensure an adequate supply of food and clean water for everybody, and to protect themselves better from the impacts of natural disasters, they must have the scientific expertise and equipment to create their own solutions.

Details of the report, ‘Innovation: applying knowledge in development’ were given at a briefing at the Royal Society today (Thursday 6 January 2005) by Professor Calestous Juma, a lead author and co-ordinator of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation. The report is an input into the UN Millennium Project’s overall report ‘Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals’, to be presented to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on 17 January.

Professor Higgins said: “I hope that the Prime Minister, Chancellor and other Ministers will all read this important report as the UK begins its presidency of the G8. It will help them to understand just how crucial science is to tackling the problems of poor nations in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. Without investment in the scientific capacity of developing countries, rich nations such as the G8 will not be able to tackle poverty. This investment in science in developing countries should be focused on training skilled individuals and raising the scientific literacy of their populations so that everybody is able to take advantage of the advances in new knowledge and technology. Universities must play a key role in this process.”

She added: “We are seeing a huge amount of money pledged as emergency relief aid to the countries affected by the terrible tsunami disaster. Clearly such an emergency response is needed in the immediate aftermath. But it is essential that there is also investment in the long-term development of the scientific capacity of these countries. Not only will science, engineering and technology prove crucial to the sustainable reconstruction of devastated areas, they will also enable countries to reduce the potential impact of future disasters.

Lord May of Oxford, President of the Royal Society, said: “Money spent on developing the science and technology potential of countries is an investment in preventing the worst effects of diseases and natural disasters. That is much better than having to spend the money on emergency relief aid to respond to a crisis that could have been reduced or averted. Although it is easy to be wise after the event, it now seems tragically short-sighted that discussions initiated two years ago about an early warning system for tsunamis in the Indian Ocean were not given greater priority.”

“The developed countries must provide long-term investment in the scientific potential of poor nations. The UK should lead the way by earmarking funding for building the scientific capacity of developing countries and should use its presidency to persuade the other G8 nations to do the same. This report makes clear that without a greater focus on science, technology and innovation, and the investment to match, we will not be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. That would be a tragic missed opportunity missed to improve the lives of billions of people.”

ABOUT THE ROYAL SOCIETY

The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society’s objectives are to:

• strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals
• fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge
• attract and retain the best scientists
• ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world
• support science communication and education; and communicate and encourage dialogue with the public
• provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally
• promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science

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