The Book
There are multiple development problems in India that demand S&T solutions. Sound science is crucial for development policy formulation. Though many debates on technologies and development outcomes assume they are value-neutral, the S&T and development policy realms and the dynamic historically-conditioned interface between them are value-laden and normative. This book argues that to ensure ethical development outcomes, it is important to acknowledge these values and enable public engagement and dialogues to get them right. The essays in this volume—organised into four sections based on the values that inform the relationship between S&T and development policy—discuss and analyse how these values and norms govern India’s S&T and development choices
The Author(s)
Rajeswari S. Raina is Principal Scientist, National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies, New Delhi.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Values Matter
Rajeswari S. Raina
Section I
1. From Retrogression to Rescue: Policy Gaps in Rural and Agricultural Development
A. R. Vasavi
2. Academic Ethics, Indian Scientific Academic and the Bt-Brinjal Controversy
Gautam I. Menon and Rahul Siddharthan
3. Regulation, Legislation and Moral Contestations: Case of Indian Microfinance
Tara S. Nair
Section II
4. Water Policy and Science: Disciplines, Perspectives, Values
Ramaswamy R. Iyer
5. Transformations in the World of Higher Learning: Changing Norms and Values of Universities and Research Institutes in India
Dhruv Raina
6. Science, Technology in Agricultural Development: Need for a New Paradigm
P. S. Vijay Shankar
Section III
7. Technoscientific Practices and Ethics
Prajit Basu
8. A Unique Identity and Technology
Usha Ramanathan
9. Between Life-creation and Policy Formulation: Assisted Reproductive Technologies in India
Tista Bagchi
Section IV
10. The Ethical Implications of Sea-level Rise due to Climate Change
Sujatha Byravan and Sudhir Chella Rajan
11. Ethics and Science in Climate Change
D. Raghunandan
12. Climate Science, Agriculture and the Policy Jukebox
Rajeswari S. Raina
Conclusion: Engaging with the Value Problem
Rajeswari S. Raina