Debates about the “Social Contract” for Science in London, Oxford and Cambridge

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Last 4th February, the roundtable “Science Policy in the 20^th Century in Spain, Italy and Argentina” was held in London to celebrate the launch of the book entitled “Science Policies and Twentieth Century Dictatorships”, published by Ashgate, that has been recently acquired by the Taylor & Francis Group.

This book is the result of an international collaboration between social scientists from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Argentina. The book covers the different relationships between science and politics in three countries that suffered a considerable political upheaval, with different democracies and dictatorships, during the first half of the 20^th Century.

The event was opened by the Head of the Instituto Cervantes, Julio Crespo McLennan, who expressed his gratitude to more than 75 attendees for their presence in this first scientific event hosted by the Instituto Cervantes in 2016.

This debate marked indeed the beginning of the programme of scientific activities for 2016, which is jointly organised by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the Embassy of Spain in London. So it was noted by the FECYT International Scientific Coordinator in London, Dr Lorenzo Melchor, who not only introduced all speakers, but also stressed the importance of the contemporary interpretation of this historical book. The different concepts established for the first time in the historical period that the book refers to, are still today valid: differences between the worlds of science and politics, the social contract for science and its different versions in countries such as the United Kingdom with the Haldane Principle, the meeting points between politics and science, as well as the integrity and productivity of scientists.

The Head of the Department of Science and Technology Studies of University College London (UCL), Prof Joe Cain, participated in the opening ceremony extending his gratitude for the organisation of this event. Prof Cain also stated that this international collaboration between the authors had produced a book of the highest academic standards.

Prof Brian Balmer was the first speaker of the roundtable. Balmer is Professor of Science Policy Studies at University College London and described the most relevant aspects of the relationship between science and politics. It is often assumed that science and technology thrive better in times of democracy rather than dictatorship, but Prof Balmer gave some examples of dictatorships such as Italy or Germany, bringing that assumption into question. He also emphasized that democratic governments in Spain, Italy and Argentina all agreed during the first half of the 20^th Century that science and technology were important for social and economic development; although their dictatorships would have a different perspective about science.

Then, Amparo Gómez-Rodríguez, Professor in Logic and Phylosophy in Universidad de La Laguna, explained the importance of the “social contract” for science during the first third of the 20^th Century. Prof Gómez-Rodríguez also underlined the fact that Spain was one of the first countries in applying this model with success. The “social contract” for science was established under two principles: on the one hand, politicians commit to support and fund science without any strong intervention; on the other hand, scientists commit to have integrity, to be productive, and to develop good science of worldwide standards. The successful application of this model in Spain led to the creation of the Spanish Board for Advanced Studies and Scientific Research (Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios e Investigaciones Científicas, JAE) as well as to the production of science with the highest standards. Spanish Science thus converged with Europe during the first half of the 20^th Century, but Prof Gómez-Rodríguez also noted some dark aspects of the application of this social contract.

Dr Francisco A González-Redondo, Lecturer of History of Science in Universidad Complutense de Madrid, delved into the Spanish process of internal regeneration and external convergence with Europe. Four different generations of scientists led and promoted this process—the Generations of Mentors (1876 and 1898) and the Generation of Mentees (1914, 1927)—during the different political regimes occurring in those decades such as Alfonso XIII’s parliamentarian monarchy, Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, and the Second Spanish Republic. However, this convergence was suddenly stopped with the Spanish Civil War, which led to the purge and exile of part of the Spanish scientific community.

Dr Antonio F Canales-Serrano, Lecturer of History of Education in Universidad de La Laguna, followed with the reconstruction of the Science and Technology System in Spain after the Civil War and during Franco’s dictatorship, via the establishment of the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC). Canales-Serrano described the increase in the number of new research centres and scientific publications during the first decade of Franco’s dictatorship, even though the dictatorship had a strong and direct intervention and that the new institution was reinterpreted under the national-catholic ideology.

Debate and participation

The talks were followed by a very interesting debate with active participation from the public. Most of the comments addressed the current interpretation of the “social contract” for science with the borders between science and politics in the management of science and the integrity and productivity of the scientific community.

This roundtable was organised by the Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs of the Embassy of Spain in London and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), with the support of Instituto Cervantes, the Department of Science and Technology Studies of University College London, the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) and the University College London Union Spanish & Latin American Society.

The Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) also replicated this event in two of its constituencies: Oxford (Magdalen College, Friday 5^th February, with the support of the Madariaga Series) and Cambridge (Stem Cell Institute, Saturday 6^th February). Both events had the support of FECYT and the International Scientific Coordinator Dr Lorenzo Melchor introduced everything about the science diplomacy actions performed by the Embassy of Spain in London.