By Heidi Kingstone
My first response when I hear people talking about saving the world, eradicating poverty and finding peace is to throw up my hands in despair at the very futility.
Then I think, well, maybe things do change after all. While I don't believe the outpouring of grief and money in the wake of the terrible tsunami disaster will unite the world, although the difference between north and south almost doesn't exist anymore, somewhere a glimmer of hope may shine.
In this vein, if you believe things can get better, listening to Harvard's Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development at the Kennedy School of Government, and co-ordinator of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation, science and technology may be the key.
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He is the lead author of the report Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development, which will be submitted to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on January 17.
Juma makes the point that "efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of people in developing countries will fail if national governments and international organisations continue to ignore the importance of science and technology."
At London's Royal Society, the United Kingdom's national academy of science,this week, he said that universities and businesses needed to play a bigger role in promoting science and technology to this end.
The report will highlight a lack of scientific advice to governments and international organisations as a major obstacle to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things that Juma also pointed out was South Africa's role. It offers the global community a template for figuring out how to use science and technology as a way of bridging inequalities in society because it uses all major efforts to build up science and technology.
Juma summed it up like this: "South Africa, by virtue of hosting Nepad, emphasises the role of technology in Africa, and so offers leadership. Used like this, science can be viewed as the equivalent of affirmative action."
Another conclusion of Juma's that was fascinating was his take that science and technology could ultimately change the way we conduct diplomacy.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have always been reluctant to engage with the developing world on these issues. In contrast, countries like China, Brazil and India are forming alliances to help the Third World.
The OECD countries accept that innovation is essential for economic development in the First World but, when it comes to developing countries, "we have not accepted the importance of technological innovation.
"Developing countries will not improve their human welfare or alter their economic circumstances unless they improve their use of new technology," said Juma.
So, aid agencies, concentrating on crisis management, not long-term strategy, need some reinvention. Aid agencies from emerging countries are already an influence, organising around science and technology.
According to Juma, countries like China, Brazil, Malaysia and India will play a much more significant role as they work with developing countries.
IBSA, the alliance between India, Brazil and South Africa, is a case in point. Countries are coming together with a pharmaceutical remit to work on areas like vaccines for tropical diseases like malaria in which the West has limited interest.
He sees these technological alliances, which start out as diplomatic issues, coming to redefine strategic alliances.
While Europe looks to its eastern frontier, while the US is involved more and more with South America and the Middle East, China is beginning to flex its muscles in Africa, which looks east.
China is the contemporary model of a country that has used science and technology as an engine for development.
Already China is helping African countries build infrastructure. And as it produces so many scientists, it's not difficult to forge partnerships. That is perhaps the most exciting new paradigm.
And an opportunity for hope?
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