The pandemic for the past two years has brought the roles of science, scientists, and scientific research institutions into public debate. It has created a context where connections between science and society are needed to be anchored on a new framework of openness and mutuality.

As the policy brief of Open Science Beyond Open Access observes “There are three main dimensions of scientific openness: openness to publications and data, openness to society, and openness to excluded knowledge and epistemologies.” The final draft of the UNESCO Open Science Recommendation, which also incorporates these expanded meanings of ‘open science’, has now been adopted by the Member States this month in Paris. Similar ideas are adopted in the final draft of the 5th National Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy of the Government of India. The Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) policy of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, already makes mention of the need for engaging with diverse stakeholders to improve the impacts of science on society.

Likewise, the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers adopted in 2017 has particular value today, especially in the Global South, in recognising the role of science in promoting “common good” and in emphasising the use of results of scientific research and development with a spirit of responsibility towards humankind and the environment.

Such testimonials create a space for science and technology systems and institutions to change and become more “open”. New conversations among scientists, science communicators, scientific researchers and civil society have begun to emerge as the need for a robust ecosystem to make science work with and for society is becoming more apparent. The experiences of the pandemic have also generated more significant public discourse about the accountability of science to society. In many regions of the world, new ways of promoting public engagement with and for science have been practised through an enabling policy framework. The European Union’s focus on Responsible Research & Innovations (RRI) has integrated several such features. There is now a growing recognition to synergise knowledge production and dissemination on such critical issues as the environment, health and food systems. A large portion of which is being carried out on the ground by a host of civil society actors in the country through community-based participatory research  with the partnerships of academics with local communities.

Prof. Sundar Sarukkai

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore our dependence on scientific research and technological innovation to develop quick and effective solutions. The timely need for vaccines is reflected in other global issues which have ticking clocks. The call for climate action is another such example that this month’s COP26 shone a light on. While each global issue requires unique scientific and technological developments they are undoubtedly aided by a structured plan of action. This is where the need for a well-oiled evidence-driven science-policy mechanism backed by robust scientific advice steps in. 

A sustainable recovery path requires scientists to play a significant role in educating policymakers and the public. Only through evidence-based research and its communication can comprehensive and effective policies be formulated. Therefore, bridging the gap that exists between these two parties is essential.

1. The policymakers who make key decisions on funding patterns and allocation of resources.

2. The researchers and academicians who work at the grassroots of the STI ecosystem.

We know the first one well. The second is what this workshop aims to empower.

Through open conversations on science policy and the tools of advocacy, workshop attendees will be equipped to contribute to the larger government science advice mechanism.  

The workshop will focus on how it was grassroots science advice that played an integral role in formulating two chapters of the STIP, ‘Open Science’ and ‘Science Communication and Public Engagement’. Through lectures, open conversations with experts and practical activities, attendees will understand the value of Science Advice for STEM stakeholders (scientists, researchers and academicians) in promoting effective policy change. Attendees will also be equipped with the various tools required to develop the skills needed to create evidence-based policy changes. Attendees would test their newfound knowledge through a concluding policy memo contest where the most effective memo would be awarded. Finally, the workshop would create a network of empowered young scientists and academicians to drive the science advice mechanism from the grassroots up. 

Dr. Arabinda Mitra

Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to    Government of India

Arabinda Mitra holds a PhD in Marine Geology from University of Cambridge, U.K. As an Earth Scientist by training, he has held various scientific positions in the Departments of Atomic Energy; Ocean Development (now Ministry of Earth Sciences); and Science & Technology of the Government of India.  At the National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research, Goa, he played a seminal role in formulating and implementing the long-term science strategy of the Indian Antarctic expedition and establishing the low temperature ice-core laboratory. In 2004, Dr. Mitra was appointed as the first Executive Director of the bi-national Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum.  He proficiently enriched the scope and contents of Indo-American cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation by linking academia, research laboratories and industry. Dr. Mitra assumed the position of Adviser & Head International (Bilateral) Cooperation at the Department of Science & Technology in 2011, where he oversaw India’s bilateral STI engagements with 44 countries across the globe including collaboration with Africa. In 2018, he was appointed as the Scientific Secretary in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India with the mandate to assess the national status in emerging scientific and technological domains, formulate policy interventions, develop national missions in S&T and render periodic advice to the Government.

He has won several academic awards including Cambridge-Nehru Fellowship, ORS Award of UK; Bursary Award of St. Edmund’s College UK; JSPS Award of Japan and was elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society, London. He has been a member of the Indian expedition to Antarctica and has undertaken several scientific cruises to the Indian, Atlantic and Southern Oceans.

Click here to join the lecture on 15th September, 4:30PM

 Prof. Pankaj Jalote

Distinguished Professor (CSE), IIIT- Delhi

Pankaj Jalote is Distinguished Professor at IIIT-Delhi, of which he is also the founding Director. Prior to this, he has been a Chair Professor at IIT Delhi, Head of the  Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the IIT Kanpur, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park. 

On leave from academia, he was Vice President at Infosys Technologies Ltd. for 2 years, and a Visiting Researcher at Microsoft Corporation, Redmond for a year. He has a B.Tech. from IIT Kanpur, MS from Pennsylvania State University, and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

He is the author of five books including the highly acclaimed CMM in Practice, which has been translated in Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc, and the best selling textbook An Integrated Approach to Software Engineering. He has recently authored Building Research Universities in India (SAGE, Nov 2020). 

He writes a blog on Higher Education in India (jalote.wordpress.com ) and has written many opinion articles in leading newspapers. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and INAE.

Click here to join the lecture on 11th August, 4:00PM

Ms. Janaka Pushpanathan

Director British Council, South India