Ethics and innovation essay

Week 8 – Welcome video transcript

Welcome to week number 8 of ethics and responsible innovation. This week our focus is on development and innovation. Technology for development is a 'live' political issue and as Leach and Scoones explain 'behind the breathless enthusiasm for linking science, technology and development lie some contrasting views of what this might involve.' By the end of this week's session you will be able to understand competing theories surrounding technology and development; develop your own critical stance on what constitutes 'responsible' innovation in a low and middle income country context and recognise the factors shaping the release of GM mosquitoes in Brazil.

I strongly encourage you to work through this week’s compulsory readings before continuing with the asynchronous materials. The first reading is 'The slow race: making science and technology work for the poor' by Leach and Scoones and the second is 'Responsible Innovation in Developing Countries: An Enlarged Agenda' by Vasen.  I’ve also linked in the asynchronous materials to a blog written by Patrick Backhouse - a student on this module last year who turned his essay into a guest post on the website 'Making Science Public.' Patrick was addressing essay question 4 - 'How can technology be developed responsibly in a Low or Middle Income Country?'

If you have any questions please do post these on the discussion forum on ELE. A reminder as well that the final 30 minutes of the whole cohort session will now be formatted as essay surgeries – this an opportunity for you to receive formative feedback on your essay ideas so please do make the most of this opportunity to speak to me and receive some feedback.