Institute of Development Studies

The Big Question for Development, IDS Podcast October 2009

Each month we speak to two people working on development issues across the world, finding out a bit about their work and asking them 'What do you think is the big question that Development Studies needs to answer?'

Forty years ago colleagues from the Institute of Development Studies and SPRU Science and Technology Policy Research co-published the controversial Sussex Manifesto - a radical document that helped to shape modern thinking on science and technology for development. The STEPS Centre, based at IDS and SPRU, is now working on the creation of a new Manifesto on Innovation, Sustainability and Development.

In this programme we speak to:

• Geoff Oldham, former Director of SPRU, an author of the original report and a former chairman of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development about why it's time for a new manifesto.
• Suman Sahai from the Gene Campaign and a member of the STEPS Centre, about whether innovation in India is contributing to social justice and poverty reduction.

 

Image: Suman Sahai by Lance Bellers