Professor James Smith

Inaugural lecture of Professor James Smith, 14 December 2010.

Event details

Lecture title: "Can the Future Make Poverty History? The Promise of Science for International Development"

Date: 14 December 2010, 5.15pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre 183, Old College, South Bridge

Lecture abstract

How can science realise its potential and help us tackle global inequality, environmental change and enduring poverty? How can appropriate technologies be developed for those most in need?

Science has long promised much - new crops, new medicines, new sources of energy, new means of communication - but the potential of new technologies has frequently bypassed the poorest people and poorest countries.

Drawing on research from Africa, Latin America and Asia, the lecture stresses the need for us to think carefully about science and development, otherwise the perpetual promise of future technological breakthroughs may simply work to distance meaningful development from the present.

Lecture video