About this Research Topic

Background

Social technologies fostering inclusion represent a contemporary research paradigm that has resurfaced. Broader discussions aim to expand the scope of science, technology, and innovation beyond purely economic considerations into the social domain. Hernán Thomas suggests that innovative solutions encompass a broad spectrum of approaches for conceiving, constructing, implementing, and overseeing technological interventions tailored to address pressing social and environmental challenges. These solutions strive to stimulate the emergence of socially inclusive and sustainable economic dynamics in various areas, including nutrition, housing, energy, clean water access, transportation, and communication. This multifaceted approach reflects a commitment to harnessing technology's potential for the betterment of society at large.

This Research Topic focuses on showcasing experiences, strategies, and policies in science, technology, and innovation, primarily in the context of Latin America. Such experiences, strategies, and policies aim to reduce social disparities and stimulate development. The Topic welcomes multifaceted approaches, including comparative analysis, policy evaluations, community case studies, and more. Additionally, it engages with theoretical discussions on the influence of scientific and technological paradigms on public management, examining how these paradigms shape policy design, implementation, and technology integration.

Furthermore, the Topic aims to explore recent technological advancements, particularly in the realms of digital transformation and data-driven decision-making, as tools to forge new avenues for social inclusivity. By delving into these innovations, the collection aims to facilitate knowledge on innovative solutions, improve governance practices, and foster greater citizen involvement.

Overall, this research initiative aims to contribute to the burgeoning literature on social technologies for social inclusion. It will critically assess the strengths and limitations of multilevel interventions, offering paradigmatic case studies and pinpointing unexplored opportunities within this field, thereby advancing our understanding and enhancing discourse in this critical area of study.

The scope of the Research Topic revolves around the burgeoning field of social technologies and their nascent integration with public management and community engagement, specifically focusing on Latin America. We welcome a diverse range of manuscript types, including original research articles, reviews, case studies, policy analyses, and theoretical perspectives. We aim to assemble a comprehensive collection of insights and experiences that shed light on the evolving landscape of social technology in Latin America and its implications for addressing contemporary global challenges.

We invite contributions that delve into this dynamic intersection (social technologies and public management in Latin America), exploring themes such as innovative approaches to social technology adoption, the impact of digital transformation on local communities, practical strategies for fostering inclusive development, and the role of scientific diasporas in advancing these initiatives. Subtopics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• community-developed technologies
• data production and data access
• social technologies and health solutions
• digital transformations
• social technologies and inclusive development
• the use of research metrics or analytics to understand social trends and networks in research
• social technologies and climate change
• nutrition and food security
• gender perspectives in social technologies
• Indigenous knowledge and social technologies for cultural survival
• crisis management (COVID-19)
• community resilience
• science communication
• education and digital inclusion
• youth engagement and empowerment
• urbanization and smart cities
• human mobility and social mobility, including the use of metrics/indicators to look at researcher and scholarly mobility
• social entrepreneurship
• governance and policy implementation, using actionable research metrics and analytics in policy creation and decision making.

Keywords: social technologies, social inclusion, innovation, technological intervention, sustainability, society, digital transformation, governance, Latin America

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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