What will it take for science to move forward in a way that is inclusive and collaborative for all, from scientists to politicians to members of communities? Cure convened a panel at the United Nations Science Summit, in conjunction with the General Assembly 2023 opening, to address that topic. Here are five takeaways from the discussion.
1. Collaborate Globally in a Way That is Impactful for All
International collaboration across disciplines is essential for progress. "It's clear that science is at the heart of sustainable development goals. It is the only path through which those goals, and anything that comes after them, can be achieved," said Magdalena Skipper, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Nature Springer. "That not only means collaboration across disciplines but across sectors, including academia and industry. We also need to include individuals who do not have any formal research training. How can they contribute?" Collaboration with people in different communities is based on trust. "That trust is not a given. It has to be earned," Skipper noted.
Bernardo Mariano Junior, Chief Information Technology Officer at the United Nations, added that science in one part of the world should have a meaningful impact on the other side of the world. "How is science being done in New York impacting someone like my mother, who lives in Mozambique? How do you bring innovation from one ecosystem to another?" he questioned. "The different dimensions of technology, politics, economics, society and culture, trust and ethics — as well as the regulatory environment and environmental impact — are all dimensions we need to keep in mind as we evolve and develop science, be it science that started from the south or in the north."
2. Sustain Development Through Research Funding
Research funding differs between countries and among echelons within the research community. "How do we get resources to the researchers, specifically to students of the next generation, to the postdocs and early career researchers, so they can continue doing the fantastic work we want them to do?" asked Alejandro Adem, PhD, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. "What's important is that we frame the value of science to society. We live in a world where everyone should be able to benefit from science as an integral part of sustainability."
He addressed the dichotomy between basic curiosity-driven science and mission-oriented applied science. The panelists agreed that the two need to blend to achieve forward movement. "Interweaving basic science and mission-oriented science is absolutely the direction we need to go," said Adem. "They have to coexist. New ideas are being developed all the time and are mobilized and integrated to create solutions." He encouraged the private sector to contribute to research funding "because governments cannot fund everything."
3. Safeguard Against Misinformation
The spread of scientific misinformation has been a significant challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic and still keeps Skipper up at night. "There is a lack of appropriate understanding of the role of science and what scientists are trying to achieve," she explained. "The potential misuse of research outcomes is a real concern — not just for scientists, but for all of us. Safeguarding against misinformation is absolutely pivotal."
4. Regulate Artificial Intelligence
Digital technology is transforming science. However, if AI uses erroneous and biased information, it can thwart inclusion efforts. "How do we make sure that the digital ecosystem we are building ensures equality?" asked Junior. "How can we avoid repeating the mistakes of the past — mistakes which can divide those who can from those who cannot, those who have from those who do not have, those who are wealthy and those who may profit from data?"
He noted that the United Nations wants to ensure that AI is used ethically and has a basis in human rights. Junior compared AI to the early days of atomic energy. "It can be used for good, but can also have a devastating effect," he asserted. "A regulatory framework is needed. We are in a transformational moment when AI is presenting an opportunity to use and accelerate it, but we have to make sure that we humans remain in charge."
Digital technology is proving especially useful for drug design, small molecule screening, and materials science. But Skipper insisted it not be used for communicating research. Human bias can also creep into machine-learning algorithms. "Unfortunately, we continue to be biased, and human biases are perpetuated in many AI systems," she said. "We have to guard against this and try to eliminate or compensate for any biases that have crept in."
There are other reasons to be wary of AI. "I'm a card-carrying mathematician," added Adem, "so I'm very excited about AI, particularly in the natural sciences. It's a new way of doing science, and there will be huge progress. But its applications will depend on the self-restraint of humanity. It's an exciting era, but also one with a lot of risks."
5. Support Citizen Science
For scientific research to be truly inclusive, community members need to be involved — from people counting birds in their neighborhoods to individuals in clinical trials and Indigenous populations sharing traditional knowledge. Adem described a program with Indigenous communities in Canada — part of the country's reconciliation process — to co-create research and incorporate and validate their knowledge as equals. Junior described UNESCO's efforts to promote and incorporate local Indigenous knowledge into science and policy.
Skipper suggested avoiding the term “citizen science” and instead using the phrase "co-creation." She concluded, "We need to involve all the different stakeholders in science. This dovetails back to the issue of trust in science and understanding how it works. Co-creation would be truly inclusive science."