Science, technology and innovation. Universities and the social appropriation of science – the example of Mexico

In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, this issue - IAU Horizons, 21, 1 - offers reports on IAU priority areas, new projects and initiatives, especially LGEU, and upcoming events and conferences.
By Roberto Esca. Science, technology and innovation. Universities and the social appropriation of science – the example of Mexico
The echo of citizens’ participation goes beyond politics and its actors. It is not only interested in choosing candidates, to define the items to be taken up in the legislative agenda or to give an opinion about the urban priorities. There are other things in which citizens are interested.
Despite the fact that on many occasions they are never consulted, citizens are also interested in science and technology. Despite the fact that public universities and the Mexican Academy of Science share scientific research outcomes with the public, on specific topics related to Research, Development and Innovation, this results in low impact on the public. The Mexican national poll on public perception of science 2009, showed a bias related to what participants understand by science. It said: “It helps to live artificially and in an inhuman way”. Download IAU Horizons, 21, 1.