Calestous Juma (9 June 1953 – 15 December 2017) was a Kenyan scientist and academic, specializing in sustainable development. He was named one of the most influential 100 Africans in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the New African magazine. He was Professor of the Practice of International Development and Faculty Chair of the Innovation for Economic Development Executive Program at Harvard Kennedy School. Juma was Director of the School's Science, Technology and Globalization Project at Harvard Kennedy School as well as the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
For his work in the application of science, technology and innovation to policy and sustainable development, BMGF in 2021 launched a fellowship in his honour, the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship to fund exemplary African scientific leaders. ''For this Fellowship, "leadership" is demonstrated by scientists who have the expertise to do transformative science on the ground and the experience, networks, and skills to anchor health and development R&D in their communities, design or co-design projects with local and global partners, and mobilize key institutions in their countries. His last book, Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies, was published by Oxford University Press in 2016.
Juma was elected to the Royal Society of London, the US National Academy of Sciences, Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, the African Academy of Sciences and the New York Academy of Sciences.
Early life and education Juma grew up on the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria, where he obtained early education as one of the pioneer students of the Port Victoria Secondary School (now John Osogo SS) from 1968 to 1971. He first worked as an elementary school teacher before becoming Africa's first science and environment journalist at Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper. Juma later joined the Nairobi-based Environment Liaison Centre International as a founder and editor of trilingual quarterly magazine, Ecoforum. He later received an MSc in Science, Technology and Industrialization and a DPhil in Science and Technology Policy from the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex.
Leadership In 1988, Juma founded the African Centre for Technology Studies, Africa's first independent policy research institution designed to advance research on technology in development. In 1989 ACTS released a groundbreaking study called "Innovation and Sovereignty" that led to the adoption of the Industrial Property Act in Kenya and the creation of the Kenya Industrial Property Office.
Policy research His original work focused on analysing the dynamics of evolutionary technological change and applying the results in advancing science and technology policy research, providing high-level science and technology advice, and promoting biodiversity conservation.
Technological innovation Juma made significant contributions to understanding the dynamic role of technological innovation in economic transformation in developing countries. He developed the concept of "evolutionary technological change" to explain how socio-economic environments shape the adoption and diffusion of new technologies. This approach was elaborated in his early works such as Long-Run Economics: An Evolutionary Approach to Economic Growth (Pinter, 1987) and The Gene Hunters: Biotechnology and the Scramble for Seeds (Princeton University Press and Zed Books, 1989) and remains central to theoretical and practical work. Juma's contributions to science and technology policy focused on the role of technological innovation in sustainable development.
Biotechnology He directed the International Diffusion of Biotechnology Programme of the International Federation of Institutes of Advanced Studies. He further provided international leadership in research, training and outreach through Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and also advanced scholarship in this field as editor of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Technology and Globalisation.
Biological diversity Juma contributed to biodiversity conservation in two ways. First, he helped to shape global conservation programmes during his tenure as the first permanent Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Geneva and Montreal. Second, his research inspired the field of biodiplomacy that focuses on interactions between biosciences and international relations.
Property rights Juma's research helped to improve understanding on the role of property rights in conservation under the rubric of "ecological jurisprudence" as outlined in the volume, In Land We Trust (Zed, 1996). His work guided international negotiations on the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as documented in Biodiplomacy (ACTS, 1994). He later became Executive Secretary of the CBD where he advanced the use of scientific knowledge in conservation policy and practice.
Teaching Juma taught graduate courses on the role of science, technology, and innovation in development policy. The first course focused on the role of technological innovation in economic growth with emphasis on emerging regions of the world. The second course examined the policy implications of the introduction of new biotechnology products in the global economy (covering health, agriculture, industry and environment). He also taught an executive course for senior policy makers and practitioners. The Innovation executive program ran annually for high-level leaders from government, academia, industry, and civil society on how to integrate science and technology into a national development policy.
Policy advice Juma chaired the Global Challenges and Biotechnology of the US National Academy of Sciences and served as co-chair of the African High-Level Panel on Modern Biotechnology of the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Juma led international experts in outlining ways to apply science and technology to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals arising from the 2000 UN Millennium Summit. Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development (Earthscan, 2005), the report of the Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation of the UN Millennium Project, was released in early 2005 and its recommendations have been adopted by development agencies and governments around the world. The report has become a standard reference against which governments assess their policies and programmes on the role of technological innovation in development.
In a successor study called Going for Growth, Juma proposes that international development policy should be directed at building technical competence in developing countries rather than conventional relief activities. He argues that institutions of higher learning, especially universities, should have a direct role in helping to solve development challenges.
In 2012 Juma was appointed by the African Union to chair its High-Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation. The report of the panel will be submitted to the AU in early 2014.
Controversy In August 2013 Monsanto approached Juma with a proposal to write a series of seven papers in support of genetically modified organisms, according to e-mails obtained through a public records request, per the Boston Globe. Monsanto suggested a headline "Consequences of Rejecting GM crops". In December 2014, Juma published "Global Risks of Rejecting Agricultural Biotechnology" on a website called "Genetic Literacy Project, Science trumps ideology"Calestous Juma Global Risks of Rejecting Agricultural Biotechnology 9 December 2014 with the help of a Monsanto marketing firm and failed to disclose his communication with them.Laura Krantz mI5WKS6RAgQbnrN/story.html Harvard professor failed to disclose Monsanto connection in paper touting GMOs. Boston Globe, 1 October 2015.
Scientific and engineering academies Fellow, Royal Society of London Foreign Associate, US National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences, Trieste, Italy Honorary Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering, London Fellow, African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya Fellow, World Academy of Art and Science, USA Fellow, New York Academy of Sciences
Honors and awards
2013 Doctor of Science (Honorary), McGill University, Montreal, Canada 2012 50th Anniversary Fellow, University of Sussex, UK 2012 Doctor of Science (Honorary), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya (for work on agricultural biotechnology). 2007 Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering 2007 Doctor of Science (Honorary), University of Education, Winneba, Ghana ("illustrious and inspiring role as an internationally-recognized authority and leader in the application of science and technology to sustainable development in both developing and developed countries"). 2006 Doctor of Science (Honorary), University of Sussex, UK (for his work on the applications of science and technology in developing and developed countries). 2006 Order of the Elder of the Burning Spear, President of the Republic of Kenya (for being a respected international diplomat who has assisted governments to solve diplomatic problems). 2001 Henry Shaw Medal, Missouri Botanical Garden (for significant contribution to botanical research, horticulture, conservation or the museum community). 1993 Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement, United Nations Environment Programme (for important contributions made to Africa's quest for solutions to the complex issues of biotechnology, biodiversity and the transfer of technology). 1992 Justinian Rweyemamu Prize, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) (for broadening Africa's knowledge base for development). 1991 Pew Scholars Award in Conservation and the Environment, Pew Charitable Trusts (for dedication in preserving global biodiversity).
Editorial boards of refereed journals
Editor, International Journal of Technology and Globalization (2003– ) Editor, International Journal of Biotechnology (1999– ) Member, Research Policy (2006– ) Member, Technovation (2006– ) Associate editor, International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (1999– ) Member, International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development (2002– ) Member, International Journal of Global Environmental Issues (2000– ) Member, International Environmental Agreements (2001–2003) Member, Science and Public Policy (1989– ) Member, Africa (1987–1998)
Special assignments
African Union (2012– ) Co-chair, High-Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation. United Nations Development Programme (2011–2012) Member of the advisory group of the Africa Human Development Report, 2012: Towards a Food-Secure Future. World Bank (2008–2009) Served as advisor and made substantial contributions on technological innovation to the preparation of the World Bank's World Development Report, 2010: Development and Climate Change. Africa Schools of Kenya (2009) Narrated Maasai: At the Crossroads, a documentary about enriching the lives of Maasai children through education while respecting their customs, traditions, and way of life. International Whaling Commission (2007–2008) Served as Special Advisor to the International Whaling Commission by helping to find solutions to the whaling controversy and inspiring the international community to solve other major global environmental challenges. African Union and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) (2005–2008) Co-chair, High-Level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology, created to provide high-level strategic advice on the role of biotechnology in economic development to African presidents. Office of the President, Kenya (2004–2006)