Session X. Networking: Today and TomorrowCo-chair: Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor, UC Berkeley Europe, Middle East, Africa, Motorola. (andrew.gill@motorola.com) Title: Connectivity for Education - Connecting without Boundaries Rapporteur: David O’Brien, U.S.A.I.D. (dobrien@usaid.gov) Note-Taker: Winnie Lau, AAAS Science Policy Fellow, U.S. Department of State (LauWW@State.gov ) Discussions on networking in today’s world must address two components: the physical infrastructure and the human networking that the infrastructure enables. The goal of the physical network is to provide the connectivity that brings people together and the goal of human networking is to provide connections that result in innovative solutions and answers to existing problems. These two components are inextricably linked via the internet and worldwide web which promise unprecedented opportunities to connect people globally. The need for connectivity infrastructure in developing countries is great; however, costs, or affordability, have been the biggest barrier to providing the necessary capacity. Countries seeking to expand their networks desire comparable technology to that of their developed counterparts. Public-private partnership is a solution to increasing capacity. As Dr. Andrew Gill, Director of Business Development, Education, Europe, Middle East, Africa for Motorola illustrated, industry can work with local governments to enhance local technological capabilities while at the same time still making the business case for investing in these communities. One notable example is a not-for-profit venture in Uganda where the local community and churches own the new Mountains of the Moon University. This University acts as a center for schools and local connectivity and has become the hub for regional development. Funding for this venture utilizes funding from local and multination private and public enterprises that represents a real partnership between the local people and government. Internet service providers are moving into developing countries at a faster pace; however, coverage is very uneven because many regions are not able to provide sufficient volume to create market incentives. Low bandwidth and the high cost of access to international bandwidth in underserved areas often exacerbate this problem. Partnerships with international businesses, local governments and donors such as USAID are creating combinations of commercial and non-commercial incentives to jump-start markets in places such as Macedonia, South Africa and Uganda, with universities and educator networks often serving as the major non-commercial users. Universities in developing countries can actively adopt a larger role as hubs and stable “anchor tenants” in public-private partnerships to attract affordable broadband into their communities so that local businesses can access the technology and eventually create self-sustaining markets. Governments can also serve this function as large, stable institutions. In the case of the universities, they are particularly attractive hubs as they have the knowledge base to engage with companies for such ventures. As more networking cables and infrastructure are built, the wholesale market for networks will expand. As market competition increases, cheaper bandwidth will become available, driving down costs to the people using these networks. The second component to networking is the human element. The main purpose for increasing networking capabilities in developing countries is connecting the right solution to the right problem, particularly for sustainable development. Specific needs can now be matched with people who can provide solutions. More web-based tools are becoming available and affordable in developing countries. The web is making it easier for people across the world to locate experts in very specific fields, to assemble multidisciplinary teams to provide integrated solutions to complex problems and to find out what others have done to solve similar problems. This includes fields such as translational medicine as well as academic, business and community use. Online initiatives are underway to link and mobilize institutions and people who apply science to improve lives and livelihoods in developing countries. Dr. Ellis Rubenstein from the New York Academy of Sciences discussed a new website, “Scientists Without Borders” (http://scientistswithoutborders.nyas.org/ ), launched in May 2008. This website tool will provide databases and links to expert individuals, institutions, past results and past and ongoing projects, and should be searchable by topic and geographic location. Such tools should reduce time and resources lost in “reinventing the wheel”. Many organizations have already submitted information to post. This tool depends heavily on the people – “whether it lives or dies depends on the individuals” –and illustrates the power of the human component to networking. A major barrier to increasing the use of web-based tools by poor communities in developing counties is the huge gap between the universities and the local people in knowledge and in culture. Web-based tools are often not part of the culture of the wider community even in areas where the technology is affordable. Language can also be a barrier. Universities should proactively reach out to their local communities to find out their needs and facilitate their access to networks of solution providers. Local faculties as well as the diaspora of experts who have left their countries can play critical roles in helping to overcome cultural and knowledge barriers to make full use of the new tools that are becoming available. Moreover, even institutions in the same country are sometimes reluctant to partner. Regional approaches to networking the human aspects can start to break down these barriers. One interesting model is in Scotland where a public-private partnership has resulted in the establishment of a global medical excellence cluster for translational medicine. Such a model allows for competition among regions, which would foster a more directed incentive for institutions and sectors within a region to interact and cooperate. There has never been a more important, but also opportune, time to increasing both the physical and human capacity for networking. The need of sustainable development is requiring more and more that the right solutions be found. Such solutions may require the sharing of best practices across continents, but may also require local and regional players to interact to find solutions that are suitable to the specific locale and culture. The nature of networking makes it such that it can be adapted to solution sought. The challenges and opportunities will be in increasing the physical infrastructure and human capacity for networking today and into the future. |
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