KNOWLEDGE - COMMON HERITAGE, NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY

Web version of a press release issued on 4th November 2002 by SGR

There will be a DISCUSSION MEETING on Sunday 10 November 2002 from 2pm - 5.30pm at the University of London Union, Malet St, London WC1, organised by Scientists for Global Responsibility and supported by the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

INTRODUCTION:

Is it right that gene sequences evolved in nature over billions of years can become the private property of whoever wins the race to the patent office? Is it right that public domain software can be privatised by someone who makes a trivial change and slaps on a patent? Who 'owns' and who has access to the vast collections of data now held about everyone? Is it fair that traditional knowledge can be patented by corporations, or is this a form of piracy?

SGR - together with the Institute of Science in Society, the International Network of Engineers and Scientists, the Tebtebba Foundation (International Centre for Research, Education and Capacity Building for Indigenous Peoples) and the Third World Network - is developing a Convention on Knowledge that addresses these and related problems. The most recent version of a series of discussion drafts may be seen on SGR's website at here. As well as summarising the problems, the draft Convention suggests ideas for an alternative way forward, encouraging an attitude to knowledge that will help us all to live more equitably and sustainably with nature and with each other. Dr Alan Cottey, organiser of the meeting says "The tendency to commodify has reached an alarming pitch, and no areas of knowledge are immune. This meeting is for all who are concerned about the enclosure of the knowledge commons."

THE PROGRAMME:

Science, Knowledge and the Public Good, by Dr Nicholas Maxwell, philosopher and author of the book 'From Knowledge to Wisdom' and numerous articles relating to knowledge, wisdom, science and the public good

An Introduction to the Convention on Knowledge, by Dr Mae Wan Ho, Director of the Institute of Science in Society, and initiator of the draft convention

A Report on the Feedback that SGR has Received to Date on the Draft Convention, by Dr Philip Webber, Vice-chair of SGR

A Progress Report on Ongoing Research by SGR on the Influence of Vested Interests on Science, by Dr Jonathan Goulding, SGR

Submitted Brief Presentations

~ Why Should (Appropriate) IP Not Be Commercialised? by Dr Mike Barnes, Watford
~ The Future of Science, and Indeed Academia, by Prof Norman Sheppard, University of East Anglia
~ The Human Genome: a Major Challenge for Trust, Equity and Governance in Health Care, by Dr Gilles de Wildt, Jiggins Lane Medical Centre, Birmingham.

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM UNESCO-UK: "The UK National Commission for UNESCO welcomes the initiative of Scientists for Global Responsibility in calling this conference as a contribution to the first UNESCO World Science Day for Peace and Development. Science has a central role in global efforts to secure the resolution of conflict and sustainable development. The World Science Day for Peace and Development provides an important opportunity for scientists and development specialists to communicate their concerns and engage with wider audiences. Scientists for Global Responsibility's conference is the ideal forum for such dialogue in the UK."

Notes:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING contact Dr Stuart Parkinson (SGR Chair and Chair of the meeting: Tel 07941 953640) or Dr Alan Cottey (Organiser of the meeting: Tel 01508 492464).

For comment relating to particular presentations, contact:

-- Dr Nicholas Maxwell, tel 020 7263 0279, email nicholas.maxwell@ucl.ac.uk, on 'Science, Knowledge and the Public Good'
-- Dr Mae Wan Ho, email m.w.ho@i-sis.org.uk, on 'An Introduction to the Convention on Knowledge'
-- Dr Philip Webber , tel 07929 827322, email pwebber@gn.apc.org, on 'A Report on the Feedback ...'