Thomas Mboa, Université Laval/APSOHA thomasmboa@gmail.com Global Community Bio Summit Session II: Diversity & Inclusion Biohacking in Africa: A Tool for Justice, Empowerment, and Development SOHA project evidences on: obstacles to the adoption of Open Science in Haiti and Africa MIT-MediaLab 22 – 24 september 2017 Thomas Mboa, Université Laval/APSOHA thomasmboa@gmail.com

1. Does Biohacking still meet native and core values of the hacker movement ?

Core ideas/values of the hacker ethic Subversion   DIY free culture openness anticapitalism, against establishment/domination citizen participation commons problem-solving Exploration (Bowen 2017; Nkoudou 2017) Collaboration

Critics on Biohacking in Africa Figure 1 Cardiopad (CNN 2016)

- Sustainability of biohackerspace As you can see, biohackers also exist in Africa and they are trying to follow the world stream. It's good but does it really reflect the needs of African people or it is just the vision of an individual? Which approach is better for our society?   Biohacking has many social, economical and political advantages. But in Africa particularly, it is the subject of critics on : - Sustainability of biohackerspace Lack of funding ; the import and acquisition of the required equipment makes the activity costly; - Capitalism instead of alternative economies based on commons - Inequalities & Exclusion  Biohacking is elitist, only academics are involved and most of them are men. ( Nkoudou 2017)

2. Rethinking the African approach of biohacking. Biohacking is a great chance for Africa, but done like that it is not relevant for our context. Assuming that technology is driven by humans, not the contrary. The most important thing is the community and biohacking is losing much of its potential by not actually including citizens.

Contribute to cognitive justice by merging biohackerspace with science shops Science shops are mediating structures that bring science close to society, by listening to the needs of local populations, which will then be handled in collaboration with academics. This requires academics to be trained in citizen sciences so that they can come out their ivory tower. For a great impact, these spaces should be located outside the academy.

This approach promotes inclusivity by: recognising the relevance of local knowledge and its holders, opening up to non-scientific knowledge (traditional, local, political, daily, etc.) instead of despising or ignoring them; opening up to the contribution of non-scientists to research. It is in this way that biohacking can contribute to the advent of cognitive justice(Piron Florence et Mboa Nkoudou Thomas Hervé 2016).

Do Better With Less! by Promoting Frugal Innovation The objective is to encourage biohackers to use local resources, thus limiting dependence on imports, which make access to technological resources very expensive. This Jugaad or low-cost attitude will promote DIY, self-confidence and thus lead to the empowerment of populations and biohackers.

Work for Local Sustainable Development Biohacking should be practised to meet social needs. That is why biohackers must start with the needs of local populations and propose sustainable and recyclable solutions from our immediate environment.

BibliographY Bowen, Lauren Marshall. 2017. « The Limits of Hacking Composition Pedagogy ». Computers and Composition 43 (mars): 1‑14. doi:10.1016/j.compcom.2016.11.001. CNN, Ngala Killian Chimtom, for. 2016. « Handheld tablet brings medicine to rural areas ». CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/africa/arthur-zang---cardio-pad-cameroon/index.html. Nkoudou, Thomas Hervé Mboa. 2017. « Benefits and the hidden face of the maker movement: Thoughts on its appropriation in African context| Os benefícios e a face oculta do movimento maker: Reflexões sobre sua apropriação no contexto africano ». Liinc em Revista 13 (1). Piron Florence, et Mboa Nkoudou Thomas Hervé. 2016. « Fair Open Science As A Powerful Resource In The Fight Against Cognitive Injustice In Francophone African Universities And Haiti ». doi:10.5281/zenodo.231331.