1. Knowledge, Ethics and Responsibility: Perspectives from Developing Countries - S-S and S-N Collaboration in a Regional Perspective Anupam Varma Chair, ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific

2. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest2 Asia and the Pacific The seat of unprecedented gains in agricultural production – Green Revolution Constantly growing population – 50% of the worlds population resides in the region Hunger and poverty rampant 540 million people go to bed hungry 200 million children malnourished The knowledge divide most prominent

3. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest3 Trained human resource and Institutional Infrastructure Some countries in the region have an edge over others in having scientists practicing hard core science The region is rich in traditional knowledge In most of the countries of the region infrastructure is not adequate to harness benefit from the fast advancing frontiers of science.

4. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest4 Broad AreasSpecific AreasBan glad esh Chi na Indi a Ind one sia Mal aysi a Paki stan Phil ippi nes Sri Lan ka Tha ilan d Viet Na m HRD Research & Development Technology & Development Regulatory Framework Regulatory Management Risk Assessment Data Management Public Awareness Quarantine Personnel Infrastructure Research & Development Technology & Development Regulatory Management Risk Assessment Risk Management Data Management Biosafety Clearing House Public Awareness Quarantine System Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity Documentation Institutional Collaboration Technology Transfer Regulatory Biosafety Law Mechanisms Biosafety Guidelines Patent Laws Plant Variety Protection IPR Biodiversity and CKP Act Seed Act Food Safety Labeling of GMOs Asian Bionet Information Exchange Intra-regional Collaboration High RequirementMedium RequirementLow RequirementNo Requirement

5. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest5 ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific Chair:Anupam Varma (India) Members:M. Shamsher Ali (Bangladesh) Muhamad Awang (Malaysia) Mustafa Baghirov (Azerbaijan) Jennifer Graves (Australia) Motonori Hoshi (Japan) Mingsarn Kaosa-Ard (Thailand) Ali Moosavi Movahedi (Iran) Kan Zhang (China: CAST) Ex Officio: Thomas Rosswall (Executive Director, ICSU) N.N., Director ICSU Regional Office

6. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest6 Some of the challenges Environmental degradation Sustainable development Water – a major issue Science education Human, animal and plant health Natural and man-made hazards Lack of resources Brain drain Knowledge divide – increasing gap between S and N

7. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest7 The approach for meeting the challenges Strengthen science education to be competitive Capacity building in S&T – essential for economic growth Empowering women scientists Planning and co-ordination of research in modern science and traditional knowledge

8. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest8 The approach for meeting the challenges Encourage Academies/National Level Scientific Society to be member of ICSU Coordination of S&T Development with Asian Scientific Societies and Network of the Academies Strategic partnership and networking Develop intra- and inter-regional S-S and S- N collaboration for R&D Information dissemination

9. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest9 The approach for meeting the challenges Bridging the science-policy interface Advocate the importance of S&T to policy and decision makers Provide input to important policies Outreach Creating public awareness on the importance of S & T

10. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest10 The approach for meeting the challenges Establish partnership with the network of academies and regional scientific societies, UNESCO Regional Office, TWAS Regional Office and other international agencies operating in the region.

11. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest11 To achieve Sharing the information Better understanding of science, taking science to society Developing science-policy interface for wider use of scientific knowledge in framing national policies Sustainable development Integration of scientific and traditional knowledge

12. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest12 To achieve Active S-S and S-N collaboration for R&D in cutting edge and emerging areas Improved science education Attract young people for a career in science Transform information into knowledge Focus on basic sciences Capacity for science and technology development Build scientific temper Check brain drain Encourage participation of diaspora

13. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest13 To achieve Ensure involvement in international research efforts Bridging the North-South knowledge divide Sustainable development of knowledge based societies in a competitive globalized world

14. November 11, 2005World Science Forum, Budapest14 Ethics in science “Science has a great ethical responsibility: to provide knowledge. Ethics without knowledge is as effective as a geographical exploration without a compass. …In simple words, the role of ethics begins where science and technology have opened possibilities. …” Dr. Edward Teller (Source:Hargittai, I. 2005 The Tragedy of Edward Teller. Hungarian Academy of Sciences)