Social appropriation of knowledge: possibilities and tensions

Abstract

In Colombia, at the end of the 20th century, the interest for social appropriation of knowledge –asc, according to its initials in Spanish, emerged within the National System of Science, Technology and Innovation –sncti, according to its initials in Spanish. From its mention by the Misión de Sabios (1995); without debates about notion, operative form, foundation and scope; without referents that would allow us to understand what it was about, nor what was intended for, the asc became a banal and inevitable speech to be used in the guidelines for science, technology and innovation, evident in the national policy and strategy of the ascti.

Relevant questions, about its epistemology, conception, operational form, meaning and clarity

about links with approaches that assume knowledge as a commodity and those that profess their democratization, remain unanswered. Particularly, during similar conceptions and practices such as social

circulation of knowledge –csc, according to its initials in Spanish, and social introduction of results –isr,

according to its initials in Spanish. In this context, the asc is based on research results as a strategy to strengthen social intervention by making knowledge socially useful, promoting its democratization and projecting its potential to contribute to the development of including democracy. Therefore, meeting daily social needs, faced by subjects and collectives, in specific spaces and times.