Science non-Fiction and the Bottom Billion [2015-2016]

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Science non-Fiction and the Bottom Billion: Evolving Fairer Frameworks for the Future

Scientific and technological advances have had significant effects on the lives of the world’s poorest people. All too often, however, such people are excluded from the benefits and bear the brunt of negative externalities of technological change. If understanding of the political, social, economic and cultural implications of new technologies were to mature at a similar rate to that of the process of scientific innovation, might it be possible to change this? If those responsible for evolving and implementing political, regulatory and policy frameworks were to become more future-ready with regard to scientific and technological advances, could the interests of the bottom billion be better served?

Taking a case study approach this series asks:

• What are the philosophical and ethical implications of scientific advances and technological inventions presently being developed in Cambridge?
• What might be the social, economic, political and cultural consequences should these advances come into being, and for whom?
• What legal and policy frameworks could be put in place to enhance positive, and mitigate against negative, impacts, particularly for poor and marginalised people?
• What work could be going on in the arts, humanities and social sciences simultaneously with the work of scientists to ensure that future scientific and technological advances enhance, rather than undermine, the wellbeing of the world’s bottom billion?

Administrative assistance: gradfac@crassh.cam.ac.uk