SciDev.Net - A proposed free access gateway
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to information about science and technology for developing countries
The international science journal Nature is currently drawing up
plans, with the collaboration of the Third World Academy of Sciences
and the support of the UK Department for International Development
(DFID), for a web-based information network dedicated to reporting on
and encouraging debate about the contribution of science and technol-
ogy to development.
Introduction
We live in a world in which both economic and social development are
increasingly dependent on access to knowledge in general - and the
scientific knowledge on which modern technology is based in particu-
lar. Indeed, the knowledge economy is a central facet of globaliza-
tion. Yet a significant gap exists between the levels of access to
scientific knowledge enjoyed by rich and poor countries. And this gap
appears to be growing. The result, ironically, is that those who
stand to benefit most from modern science are also those who have
least access to information about it.
To address this problem, plans are being developed to create, under
the sponsorship of NATURE and with the collaboration of the 'Third
World Academy of Sciences', a free-access internet-based information
network devoted to exploring the linkages between science, technol-
ogy, innovation and development.
The goal of this network will be to provide a key point of access to
information about science and technology for all those interested in
and concerned about such linkages. By creating an 'intelligent gate-
way' to the world's scientific achievements, publications and de-
bates, the overall aim is to provide a source of empowerment for both
individuals and communities that will increase the contribution of
science and technology to sustainable development and to the reduc-
tion of poverty.
The core of the network will be a regularly updated website, operat-
ing essentially as an electronic news magazine. This will include
news items and feature articles prepared by professional science
journalists, a dedicated search engine providing access to informa-
tion and contacts on particular scientific and technical topics,
links to other relevant sites, a listing of meetings, research grants
and job opportunities, and other features considered relevant to the
overall goals of the network. The audience for such a website will
not be limited to research scientists in developing countries, but
will include all those with either a professional or personal inter-
est in the role of science and technology in development.
Such groups are intended to include government decision-makers, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), research administrators, journal-
ists, science teachers, and officials in professional scientific and
technical organizations and multilateral and bilateral aid agencies -
indeed all those in a position to make use of the information that it
will provide.
A key role of the website, as reflected in this intended readership,
will be to work with communities already engaged in various aspects
of sustainable development, scientific and technical capacity build-
ing and poverty alleviation, in order to help meet their needs for
information and thus improve the effectiveness of their efforts.
To help achieve this, and also to provide a mechanism for transmit-
ting web-based information to the wider community, close links will
be established with journalists and their organizations, as well as
non-governmental organizations keen to promote knowledge-based activ-
ism and advocacy. With the needs of the latter in mind, as well as
those of government decision-makers, substantial efforts will be made
to develop the use of the website as a source of policy-relevant sci-
entific and technical information in a timely and accessible manner.
Principles
Underlying such a network will be a commitment to:
* Editorial independence and integrity;
* Free and open access for end-users;
* Constructive dialogue on science-related development issues;
* Efficient and effective use of available data and information;
* Fostering partnerships, networks and communities as a contribution
to enhancing their role in capacity building and transparent govern-
ance;
* Addressing the information needs of various communities, including
scientists, students, journalists, government decision-makers and
non-governmental organizations;
* Providing perspectives and information of particular relevance to
Southern countries;
* Providing a means of presenting information about scientific activ-
ity in the South to a global readership;
* Covering of a broad range of scientific and technical disciplines
relevant to development needs and related policy issues;
* Making scientific and technical information available from more
than one source.
Content
To put the above principles into practice, the website will include
at its core:
* Up-to-date coverage of important development-related scientific and
technical discoveries and science-related policy developments, in-
cluding significant announcements, events, reports and debates;
* Staff-written and contributed features and opinion articles dis-
cussing such discoveries, announcements, events and debates;
* A sophisticated search capability designed to allow end-users to
locate individuals, institutions, research publications, reports and
other resources relevant to particular science-based development
needs;
* A continually updated set of links to other organisations, projects
and communities providing potentially useful and relevant informa-
tion;
* A selection of national and regional 'gateways' tailored to the
needs of local scientific communities;
* 'Dossiers' on key issues, such as global warming, the scientific
basis of AIDS, or the role of women in science. Each dossier will in-
clude news and feature items, background scientific analysis, au-
thoritative opinion articles, links to key official and unofficial
reports, and user-feedback through discussion forums; and
* Notices of relevant meetings, conferences, job opportunities, and
research grants;
To find out more information about this project, or to be kept in
touch with its progress, please consult:
http://www.scidev.net
or contact
David Dickson
News Editor
Nature
Tel: +454-20-7843-4541
mailto:scidev.net@nature.com
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