Precisely 76 years ago today marked the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document recognized globally as the most translated text in existence. Its influence is widely acknowledged as the bedrock of international human rights endeavors, extending beyond legal frameworks into broader civil society.
However, it’s a lesser-known fact that embedded within the declaration’s extensive list of social and political freedoms lies a human right pertaining to science. Article 27 of this foundational document situates this right within the cultural domain, stipulating:
Every individual is entitled to freely engage in the cultural life of the community, derive pleasure from the arts, and participate in scientific progress and its advantages.
This entitlement might appear inconsequential at a time when numerous governments worldwide have drastically reduced financial allocations for scientific pursuits and seem to disregard scientific evidence crucial for addressing global challenges like climate change.
Nevertheless, the right to science encompasses far more than its immediate implications suggest. It also possesses the capacity to ignite human creativity and inquisitiveness. It is within this aspect that its profound efficacy truly lies.
The Evolving Conception of the Right to Science
Perspectives on the right to science have undergone considerable transformation over the last decade.
Initially, this right was primarily understood as the prerogative of scientists to conduct their research and the public’s entitlement to access and benefit from these findings. However, this interpretation presented significant quandaries. For instance, what occurs when the freedom to conduct research conflicts with the human rights of communities impacted by it?
Such a conflict is prevalent across numerous disciplines, ranging from anthropology and archaeology to computer science and the life sciences.
For example, the establishment of a research facility or the collection of data can potentially expose a community to the risk of losing their cultural heritage, identity, or means of subsistence. Consequently, some academics advocate for the right to also encompass an obligation to preempt and implement measures to mitigate such discord.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the United States have also begun to acknowledge that mere access to and benefit from biomedical research do not automatically occur. In reality, research can exacerbate existing inequities if it is not conducted in accordance with principles of impartiality, justice, fairness, and the collective welfare.
Similarly, what aspects are we overlooking if we perceive the public solely as recipients of science generated by credentialed researchers?
The right to science also pertains to the entitlement to participate in scientific endeavors and in the decision-making processes that guide research.
For instance, this implies that Indigenous populations possess the right to be recognized as creators of knowledge—a notion exemplified in Australia through researchers’ acknowledgment that First Nations peoples are indeed the First Astronomers.
The International Science Council’s recently published framework adeptly encapsulates these subtleties. It posits that this right empowers individuals to participate in and reap the rewards of scientific advancements.
The Right to Science as a Catalyst for Curiosity
The majority of these discussions frame the right to science as a means of safeguarding fundamental freedoms—coupled with responsibilities—for both the scientific community and the general populace. However, a distinct interpretation emerges when we recognize that the right to science is also intrinsically linked to cultural rights.
In a keynote address delivered at an international conference in Switzerland in 2015, Farida Shaheed, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights, articulated how the right to science and the right to culture are inseparably intertwined. Both, she explained, facilitate the conditions for:
individuals to re-evaluate, generate, and contribute to cultural meanings, expressions, or manifestations, as well as ways of living.
This perspective underscores how the right to science can act as a powerful impetus for fostering a more constructive role for curiosity and imagination. As such, it can serve as the genesis for a new paradigm of curiosity-driven research focused on addressing planetary issues.
Nurturing Curiosity Amidst Crisis
The role of scientific input in policymaking and practical application stands at a critical juncture.
Governments frequently cite geopolitical competition and commercial advantage as justifications for research funding, particularly in areas such as “critical technologies” including quantum computing.
However, the planet is currently grappling with interconnected crises encompassing climate change, pollution, biodiversity degradation, and escalating disparities. The response to these challenges must therefore involve the entirety of humanity while simultaneously creating an environment conducive to researchers exploring diverse potential futures and the methodologies for shaping them.
The International Science Council’s initiative focused on Science Missions for Sustainability is founded on the premise that achieving the objectives of the United Nations 2030 agenda cannot be accomplished through siloed thinking or solely by relying on novel technologies.
The council advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration to generate practical knowledge geared towards actionable solutions for our global predicaments.
Human beings inherently thrive on curiosity, even during periods of adversity. Historical evidence from the 20th century provides numerous instances where curiosity-driven research led to a vast reservoir of ideas, from which many of today’s commonplace technologies emerged.
The present imperative lies in leveraging and fostering this curiosity in ways that are commensurate with the magnitude and complexity of the challenges we presently confront.
Historical precedent demonstrates that societal transformations and advancements are facilitated not only by technological innovation and market-driven solutions but also by cultural evolution and social ingenuity.
The entitlement to science offers a valuable impetus for more profound, creative, and inquisitive contemplation of these interdependencies when formulating research policies.
