RIGHT TO SCIENCE: UN Declares Foundation of Human Right to Discovery and Innovation
Today marks the 76th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which has become the world's most translated document. While many are familiar with its provisions on social and political freedoms, few know about the lesser-known right to science enshrined in Article 27.
Envisioned as a cultural right, this fundamental freedom allows individuals to participate in scientific advancement and enjoy its benefits. But what does this mean in practice? And why is it essential now more than ever?
As governments slash funding for science and appear to ignore scientific evidence on pressing global issues like climate change, the UDHR's right to science takes on increased significance. While often reduced to mere rights of scientists to conduct research, this freedom has a broader impact.
"It can also serve as a spark for human imagination and curiosity," argues Dr. Sujatha Raman of Australian National University. "This is where its true power resides." By expanding our understanding of the right to science as a force that fosters creativity and inspires curiosity, we can tap into its potential to address global challenges.
Over the past decade, interpretations of this human right have evolved significantly. Initially viewed primarily as scientists' right-to-research and public access to benefits, it has come to encompass a broader duty to anticipate and mitigate tensions between research and affected communities.
The International Science Council's framework on the right to science acknowledges these complexities, emphasizing both responsibilities (of researchers) and participatory rights of various groups. For instance, Indigenous peoples are increasingly recognized as rightful knowledge producers in their own lands.
Moreover, the right to science transcends the scientific community. As noted by former UN Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights Farida Shaheed, it is about conditions that allow people to create, imagine, and contribute meaningfully.
In a perilous world facing climate change and deepening inequalities, there's never been greater need to harness curiosity-driven research towards practical solutions. We require "giant pools of ideas" that arise from interdisciplinarity to tackle our daunting challenges.
As the International Science Council's initiative on Science Missions for Sustainability demonstrates, the answer lies not in isolating specific problems to individual researchers or technologies but in recognizing our interconnected crises and cultivating cross-disciplinary knowledge production.
It is at such times of crisis that curiosity shines brighter – igniting a new ethos of collaborative research committed to imagining alternative futures. We must embrace this right to science as an invitation to rethink the boundaries between human existence, innovation, and cultural understanding.
Read the original article on The Conversation here: [link]