nastratin OP t1_itd1glk wrote on October 22, 2022 at 6:34 PM

Global science research serves the needs of the Global North, and is driven by the values and interests of a small number of companies, governments and funding bodies, finds a major new international study published today.

As such, the authors find, science, technology and innovation research is not focused on the world’s most pressing problems including taking climate action, addressing complex underlying social issues, tackling hunger and promoting good health and wellbeing.

Changing directions: Steering science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development found that research and innovation around the world is not focused on meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which are a framework set up to address and drive change across all areas of social justice and environmental issues.

Prelsidio t1_itdiyqk wrote on October 22, 2022 at 8:36 PM

We have enough tech and science to solve the world's problems. We just don't have politicians to implement it. Remove the fossil fuel lobby and bribes and you will see how fast it gets done.

Ok_Ad816 t1_itefprx wrote on October 23, 2022 at 12:43 AM

There are so many more parameters and interest groups all throughout the world though which would make it maybe fast, but inevitably violent

resumethrowaway222 t1_ited43l wrote on October 23, 2022 at 12:23 AM

>taking climate action

Tons of research is focused on this

>promoting good health and wellbeing

Not a science issue

>addressing complex underlying social issues

Not a science issue

>tackling hunger

Mostly not a science issue

CthuluTheGrand t1_itdn1l5 wrote on October 22, 2022 at 9:04 PM

Who would have thunk? Big money invest in innovation and research that can make them bigger money.

-The_Blazer- t1_itgmnyb wrote on October 23, 2022 at 2:38 PM

The issue is that the world's major problems are not scientific, they're political. A few western examples (since I'm from the west, but feel free to add your own):

Lack of housing? We know how to build housing perfectly well, but cities keep not building public housing for the people and investors keep snapping up all housing for speculation.

Impossible to build a family? We already have dishwashers, washing machines, roombas and whatnot to make family life much easier than during the 1950s baby boom. The reason people aren't building families are oppressive jobs, impossible economic conditions and garbage urbanism that makes cities a hellscape for children.

Bad broadband Internet? Running fiber optics is well-understood, the issue is telecoms forming cartels and/or pocketing grant money instead of actually using it to build the network.

Lack of food in Africa? We already produce enough food for 10 billion people and we already know how to conserve it long term to ship it elsewhere. The issue is that it's impossible to get it to communities in need due to wars and instability.

Tech is not going to save us this time around.

pauljs75 t1_itgto9t wrote on October 23, 2022 at 3:29 PM

Homelessness and things like health care are used as the stick to threaten labor into working under less than desirable conditions. If it were purely left into being a technical and resource pursuit, it would have been solved yesterday. Yes some would need to be institutionalized, others would need to be minded enough just to keep their lives in order, and some just need to be saved from addiction or untenable financial problems. But politically handling any of those seems to be a hot potato problem.

It's not an issue of available housing. There's more than enough. A segment of the population is purposely stigmatized and societally stranded to fend for themselves out in the elements. If they even do something as simple as making shelter for themselves, it's torn down by law enforcement. Somehow that is "for their safety" even though nobody seems to care if they die from disease or exposure.

vorpal_potato t1_ithdpvy wrote on October 23, 2022 at 5:44 PM

> tackling hunger

Hold on a second! Agricultural productivity has risen many times over in the past century thanks to advances in science and technology. We have enough food to actually feed everyone now, which was not the case for most of human history. Where the hell do these guys get off, libeling science and technology like that? Not tackling hunger, my ass.