SCIENCE: DOES IT MATTER

1
SCIENCE DOES IT MATTER?

• Prof. Dr.Pieter J.D.Drenth, President All
  European Academies (ALLEA).
• Budapest Science Forum 2003
• 8-10 Nov. 2003.

2
Science matters

• Many present-day official statements stress the
  importance of science for our economic and social
  future, i.o.w.
• Stress the revelance of science

3
What is relevance of science?

• Relevance of science is a multidimensional
  concept, referring to diverging goals and
  concepts.
• Four types of relevance are proposed
• intrinsic relevance augmentation of body of
  knowledge, and educational function
• Instrumental relevance practical tools and
  instruments
• Innovative relevance new knowledge leading to
  innovative applications
• Contributive relevance support for
  decision-making or policy development

4
Different types of knowledge

• Scientists should not become decision-makers
  different roles and responsibilities
• Two types of knowledge should be
  distinguished
• (1) Solid knowledge which only needs
  political translation for use in policy decisions
• (2) Incomplete, probabilistic and uncertain
  knowledge, direct extrapolations of which are
  full of risks
• Precondition for usefulness of all types of
  scientific knowledge its independent nature.

5
Reasons for non-use of science

• - Research results are contra-intuitive or
  contradict stereotypes
• - Research repeatedly produces contradictory
  results
• - No or insufficient knowledge available
• - Science does not answer policy makers real
  questions
• - Lack of willingness to accept research results
• - Decision-making is more than pure application
  of facts and knowledge

6
Moral responsibility

• Scientists are led by scientific criteria
  veracity is their main touchstone freedom and
  independence are important conditions
• This does not preclude moral and social
  responsibility choice of research subjects,
  conducting of experiments, application
• Science should take concern and apprehension
  of the public seriously
• Balance between freedom and responsibility
  freedom in constraint