Scandalous ‘firsts’ from the Global South? The entanglement between epistemic injustice and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

This paper examines the critical role of epistemic injustice in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), particularly through the lens of reproductive medicine scandals in the Global South. It unpacks the perception of the Global South as a hotbed for scandalous ‘firsts.’ That is, there seems to be a tendency for these regions to chase major scientific breakthroughs and global recognition, often at the cost of transgressing scientific and/or ethical norms. By analysing two kinds of scientific scandals—described as 'science out of place' and 'science out of pace'—this paper highlights both the challenges and opportunities for RRI to ‘de-link’ from hegemonic perceptions of legitimacy in science and to promote productive epistemic socialisation. This is essential to develop our ethical sensibility in the fast evolving and inherently contentious field of biotechnology.