Mission

The university is often seen as a key player in the knowledge economy, especially when it comes to science research. Scientific research in the university setting can be a powerful force for a nation-state, especially when connected to promoting social and economic well being. However, as with many aspects of globalization, there is often a degree of stratification and inequality. WORLDMAPPER is an initiative at the University of Sheffield directed by Dr. David Dorling. The project created the map above, which shows the proportion of all scientific papers published in 2001 written by authors living in that geographic region. It demonstrates the greater amount of scientific research (measured by published results) in richer territories. The United States and Europe (and the northern hemisphere in general) are shown to have a substantially greater number of publications than regions like South American and Africa.

The UNESCO Science Report in 2005 showed that the world devoted 1.7% of the GDP to research and development. The same report showed that while 70.6% of the World's population lives in developing countries, only 22.2% of the gross expenditure on research and development is spent in those regions. Knowledge, education, science, technology, and innovation are drivers of progress, and there is a greater need for higher education to facilitate the relationship between these components in a way that benefits society. The role of the university can be crucial to promote the advancement of the society through scientific and technological means. Dr. Dorling noted on the WORLDMAPPER website that "Scientific research is as much the product of the society that enables it, as of the individuals who author it."