Hi Irshad,

This is a good question. I think most of the academic world today is occupied by intellectuals who are disinterested and disengaged from the reality of the people.These are the 'traditional or institutionalized intellectuals' that Antonio Gramsci talks about. They are far from the autonomous thinkers they believe they are.

My point is that intellectuals are (more often than not) ideologically indoctrinated by hegemonic powers.

To answer your question of how could research be used in the benefit of humanity, I think as scholars (particularly in the social sciences) we should focus on foregrounding and examining the problematics that affect us all as society. To work along communities, social movements and organizations and learn from them the complexities of resisting power. Our work is to educate and open the ways for new process of economic and political organization to come about.

There is a need for Researchers to move from the trend of doing research for the sake of research, to doing research that is relevant to the current needs & challenges facing humanity. This gap that at at present is very vast needs to be bridged.

Dear Irshad,

I totally agree with Alejandra! But let me add few things to what she said. First, scientists, be it in the social or natural science they have to remain socially and morally responsible and held accountable for each tax payers money, in such a way that by giving societal problem as their top priority, as opposed to their personal fame. Second, since doing research and finding a solution for a certain social problem is not the end of the history, they have to be able to sell their idea to policy makers and politicians, so as to increase societal benefits of the research output.

I agree with Dr. Alejandra, Dr. Emmanuel and Dr. Kidanemariam. Research must be driven by the needs of the society. Researchers must work closely with policy implementers and articulate clearly, how the research findings would be utilized to bring social growth and community development.