‘Science for social justice’ may only be achieved when politicians, decision-makers and science-policymakers set a considered and thoughtful agenda to utilize science, in reasoned and innovative ways, as a driving force for positive societal change to promote equity through innovation. However, to date, tangible results in many contexts have been mixed at best, especially in delivering a reliable mechanism for, or a path to, sustainable social equity and justice for all. As global inequality increases and much political decision-making remains myopic and contingent, the emotive and essential power of ‘science for social justice’ can be lost as scientists and decision-makers struggle to actualize meaningful change. We, as scientists, in collaboration with our decision-making peers, have a golden opportunity to correct this through clear and novel proposals for meaningful projects based on advanced research opportunities. In this regard, we contend that ‘science for social justice’ can only be fully realized if it is symbiotically connected to providing scientific opportunity, where no such opportunity previously existed. This inevitably foments and sustains prosperity, an essential factor for social justice to grow. Therefore, the goal must be to establish opportunity that serves as the bridge to prosperity. How can we accomplish this when most of the world relies on relatively few countries for new scientific advances and technologies?

1. Global Scientific
Research as a Tool to
Unlock and Engage
Talent and Expand
the Geographical
Confines of
Knowledge Creation
Dr Tyrone Grandison
@tyrgr Dec 7, 2022

2. 2
SACRED TRUTHS

3. 1
Science operates within specific
contexts and with specific
constraints

5. 2
Extractive
Predatory

6. French Colonial Pact

7. ……..
……..

8. Thus, we have a predatory system where the Global North
1. Extracts resources on the front-end from the Global South.
a. Creates the internal conditions for instability and
unsustainability.
2. Extracts local insight and knowledge, rebrands it, and
trademarks/copyrights it, and resells it to them.
3. Questions the lack of research infrastructure and output in the
Global South.

9. Today, Emerging Scientists
1. Go to where the resources and opportunities are - “brain drain”.
2. Get treated inequitably based on their country of origin (and their
perceived proximity to whiteness).
3. Yearn to give back to their home countries.
4. Often become guardians and implements of the status quo on
their own path to success.

10. Removing The Barriers - Global North
1. Learn about the (trade and other) agreements your country of
residence has in place with Global South countries.
a. Publicize those agreements and share info with your
communities.
2. Petition for those agreements to be more equitable and for them
to have zero burden on the Global South countries.
3. Proactively seek out collaborators from the Global South and lend
them your privilege and increase their access.

11. Removing The Barriers - Global South
1. Learn about the (trade and other) agreements that your country
has in place with Global North countries.
a. Never miss the opportunity to tell your fellow country mates
about the root cause of the current situation.
2. Petition your government to be brave enough to do something
about these agreements.
3. Seek out others in your country, region, global community and
form a collective.

12. Removing The Barriers - Everyone
1. Form country or region specific Global South support groups.
a. Draft a strategy to ignite local research.
b. Facilitate local research infrastructure
development/augmentation using Global North resources in
build-with motions (avoid build-for motions).
c. Be an advocate - open doors.
2. Re-evaluate research impact.
3. Move away from maximizing shareholder value.

13. “In its more corrosive application — the one that is inculcated in business
schools, enforced by corporate lawyers and demanded by activist
investors and Wall Street analysts — maximizing shareholder value has
meant doing whatever is necessary to boost the share price this quarter
and the next. Over the years, it has been used to justify bamboozling
customers, squeezing workers and suppliers, avoiding taxes and lavishing
stock options on executives. Most of what people find so distasteful about
American capitalism — the ruthlessness, the greed, the inequality — has
its roots in this misguided notion about what business is all about.”
On the shareholder value doctrine:
- Steven Pearlstein, Washington Post & Fortune magazine
Over the years, it has been used to justify bamboozling
customers, squeezing workers and suppliers, avoiding taxes and lavishing
stock options on executives.

14. Thank you.