1 December 2011 | EN | ES Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of
Jordan Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan discusses how
global cooperation on science can benefit a knowledge-hungry
world. Science can help to fulfil people's hopes and, properly
applied, is our main defence against threats to our existence.
But in our modern and mismanaged world, so many of the benefits
of scientific achievements have been limited to a comfortable
minority of our global population — to the wealthier nations and
to the elites of the developing world. Perhaps more worryingly,
the development of scientific knowledge is also being hampered
by short-term economic interests. Developing nations — some with
more power than others — must challenge notions of the
'ownership' of science. Should our greatest innovative tool
belong to a narrow echelon of a vast global population, or
instead applied to achieving global goals that could improve the
lives of millions and bring stability and security to our
planet? The answer to that is easy.