The Role of Science and Technology in the 21st Century

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cowan Coventry
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Useful Knowledge ◽  
The Public ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Poor Women ◽  
Development Goals

While our world is being transformed by rapid developments in ‘new’ technology, nearly one-third of humanity continues to be deprived of the benefits available from technologies centuries old. Northern markets rather than Southern needs increasingly determine what scientific and technological advances are developed and for whom. We urgently need to reclaim science and technology for the public good as well as private gain if we are to meet the poverty targets of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. However, rather than simply applying technologies to poverty, we need to help poor women and men access useful knowledge so that they can choose and use appropriate technologies.

scholarly journals Public-Private Partnership for achieving sustainable development goals: a case study of Khulna, Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-298
Author(s):  
Md. Nazmul Haque ◽  
Mustafa Saroar ◽  
Md. Abdul Fattah ◽  
Syed Riad Morshed
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Public Private Partnership ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Road ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
On The Road

PurposePublic-Private Partnership (PPP) is a common practice in both the public and private sectors. PPP has been an important instrument to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level. However, the role of PPP at the subnational level is often scarcely studied. Using Khulna city of Bangladesh as a case, this paper aims to assess the role of PPP projects in the attainment of SDGs.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted in the Central Business District (CBD) of Khulna, on a total of 4.6 kilometers stretches of road medians in the CBD where landscaping was done through the PPP approach. Besides the collection of secondary data from official records, primary data were collected through site visits, field surveys and interviews of PPP project partners.FindingsThe result shows that 89 percent of the respondents (road users) were pleased with the landscaping done on the road medians. Similarly, about 86 percent of the respondents felt more comfortable and safer to use the roads. Well-maintained road medians allow road-crossing at a regular interval which reduces the chance of an accident. The private parties have installed promotional billboards on the road medians and saved BDT 10.82 million a year. The public authority saves the maintenance budget amounting to BDT 23 million a year. The project achieves a triple-win situation. Despite some limitations, this PPP project has taken Khulna a step forward to achieve SDGs.Originality/valueThe findings have policy implications as the PPP project has enhanced the resilience of Khulna by addressing the relevant SDGs.

Smart technologies challenges and issues in social inclusion – case of disabled youth in a developing country

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bissane Harb ◽  
Dina Sidani
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Smart Technologies

Purpose In light of the emphasis on “inclusion” in the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the notion of social inclusion encompasses the goal of granting opportunities for disabled people, integrate them and make them participate in the new environment. Referring to the capability theory, the purpose of this study is to examine the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in the social inclusion of disabled young people in Lebanon. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a qualitative approach based on a series of focused semi-structured interviews with 11 participants occupying key positions in aid associations for disabled people. Findings The findings suggest that smart technologies can enhance social inclusion through three key factors: the nature of impairment and other personal characteristics of disabled people, the resources available to them and the environmental aspects provided by government policies and society’s cultural practices. In the contemporary society characterized by an increasing role of ICTs, the findings of this research could contribute to lead the developing countries to a sustainable and inclusive world through social inclusion of their youth. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations that should be mentioned. First, it was conducted only on a small sample size (with 11 interviewees). Further empirical research must be conducted on larger sample to build and elaborate on the findings. Second, the results are mainly based on the points of view of people working in aid associations for disabled people. In future research, semi-structured interviews can be carried out with the disabled people themselves or with members of their family to ask them about their personal experience with smart technologies and the impact of this on their social inclusion. It was also suggested that the future research should explore the challenges of inclusion for different categories of disabled people separately because they are not all facing the same issues and the same challenges. Furthermore, as this paper focuses on the role of smart technologies in the development of social inclusion of disabled people, future research could take place with other groups, for example, Palestinian and Syrian refugees, to identify whether these groups are experiencing similar challenges and barriers when trying to use smart technologies as a way to enhance their social inclusion. Practical implications Related to a larger and broader approach, social inclusion of disabled or marginalized people or refugees in developing countries could be a way to commit to a sustainable and inclusive world, in alignment with the eight goals of the Millennium Development Goals. Originality/value Related to a larger and broader approach, social inclusion of disabled or marginalized people or refugees in developing countries could be a way to commit to a sustainable and inclusive world, in alignment with the eight goals of the Millennium Development Goals.

scholarly journals Two decades of change in Dutch university art libraries

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Martien Versteeg
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Art History ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Public ◽  
Dutch Art ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Many ◽  
Library User

In 1987 Chris Smeenk wrote in this journal about the libraries of the Dutch art historical institutes. In the 22 years that have since passed many changes have occurred, perhaps most notably the merging of the many autonomous institute libraries into larger ones. Has this led to a more professional approach or was it caused by a search for more efficiency? Does this really matter? The fact is that Smeenk, or any other library user familiar with Dutch art history libraries, would hardly recognise the situation at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Maybe he would complain about the disappearance of the traditional academic institute librarian, but on the other hand he might be cheered by many other developments, such as the more central role of services for the public. Let’s take a look....

Discrepant estimates of key indicators for Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5: the public sector's experience in Rwanda

The Lancet ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 381 ◽  
pp. S16
Author(s):  
Agnes Binagwaho ◽  
Fidele Ngabo ◽  
Cathy Mugeni ◽  
Corine Karema ◽  
Maurice Gatera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
The Public ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Key Indicators

International Economic Institutions and Global Justice

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Blackmon
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Global Justice ◽  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Close Attention ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Cold War

The international financial institutions (IFIs) have adapted and changed their policies over time to focus on global justice and poverty alleviation. This evolution is explored, with close attention to the role of political economy scholars and international events that increased the pressure on the IFIs to change their policies. Events such as the failure of structural adjustment policies, and the increasing role of nongovernmental organizations after the end of the Cold War were strong forces advocating for both debt relief policies and efforts designed to alleviate poverty. Problems surrounding the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and the increased role of the IFIs during the 2008 global financial crisis are also discussed.

scholarly journals The post-2015 Global Agenda – a role for local government

2014 ◽  
pp. 173-177
Author(s):  
Lucy Slack
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Global Community ◽  
New Targets ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Global Agenda

As the period of implementation for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) draws to a close, the global community is actively debating what should replace them. Local government is working hard to ensure that the post-2015 global development agenda reflects the important role of local government in implementing the new targets. It is a unique opportunity for local government to make its voice heard, to promote the importance of localisation of the new targets, and to position local government as a key partner in the implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

scholarly journals Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World: GOLD III

2014 ◽  
pp. 178-179
Author(s):  
Claire Frost
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
The Third ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Development Goals

Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World is the third instalment in United Cities and Local Government’s (UCLG) flagship series of global reports on local democracy and decentralisation (GOLD III). In the context of rapid urbanisation, climate change and economic uncertainty the report is an impressive attempt to analyse local government’s role in the provision of basic services, the challenges they are facing, and make recommendations to improve local government’s ability to ensure access for all. Published in 2014, the report is well positioned to feed into the current debate on what will follow the UN Millennium Development Goals, and examines the role of local government in the provision of basic services across the world regions.

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