CID Archive: Events Archive: Past Seminar Series
Seminar on Knowledge for Development (2003-2004)
Conveners: Prof. William Clark and Nancy Dickson, Science, Environment and Development Group
Thursdays from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
(Presentations and initial Q&A will take place from 11:45-1:00. For those
wishing to attend, an in-depth discussion will follow after a short break,
running from 1:15-2:15pm).
Audience
Graduate students, fellows, research staff, faculty
Description
It is increasingly recognized that development "is built not merely through the accumulation of physical capital and human skill, but on a foundation of information, learning and adaptation" (World Development Report, 1999). But if multiple forms of knowledge are clearly core resources for development, they are resources that are often in short supply, and unevenly accessible around the world. How to more fully and equitably exploit the potential contributions of knowledge to development is the theme for this seminar series.
During the fall semester we will focus on "knowledge systems:" organized efforts to harness science and technology in support of social goals. We will review the rich history of experience with such systems -- ranging from the international agricultural research system to systems of weapons development to systems for the control of infectious diseases -- in an attempt to understand whether there are common features to their successes and failures that can be used in improving the performance of other knowledge systems around the word. The seminar will make use of both guest speakers, and participant-lead discussions of key scholarship in the area.
The seminar will be held on most Thursdays beginning at 11:45 in the Perkins Room (415, One Eliot, KSG). Formal presentations together with brief Q&A for clarification will run from 11:45-1:00pm. After a short break, an intensive substantive discussion will follow for those who wish to participate (1:15-2:15pm). This is a "brown-bag" seminar: participants are invited to bring their own lunch. Details of individual sessions, including schedule changes and background readings, will be available via this web site or a self-subscribing email list-server. The first session of the seminar will be held on Thursday September 18.
For more information and a list of speakers, please visit http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/sed/k4dev_sem.htm
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2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Last revised 31 October 2007