Science, Health, and Environment as Social Worlds: A Framework for Studying Innovation and Inequality

Abstract

Abstract Innovation in science, health, and the environment is often celebrated as a driver of progress, yet it simultaneously reproduces inequalities across social, economic, and geographic lines. This article, “Science, Health, and Environment as Social Worlds: A Framework for Studying Innovation and Inequality”, develops a theoretical framework that integrates insights from the sociology of science, medical sociology, and political ecology. By treating these domains as overlapping social worlds, the framework emphasizes that innovation is not merely technical but socially embedded, shaped by institutions, policies, and power relations. To illustrate this approach, the article examines climate adaptation in rural Nigeria, where environmental innovations such as solar-powered irrigation, mini-grids, and drought-tolerant crops are deployed unevenly. Weak institutional frameworks, fragmented governance, financial barriers, and infrastructural disparities limit equitable access, reinforcing rural–urban divides and gendered vulnerabilities. The case study demonstrates how innovation both empowers communities and reproduces inequality, highlighting the need for inclusive governance and equitable resource distribution. The article concludes by suggesting that future research should compare adaptation strategies across African contexts to better understand how innovation can serve as a tool for social transformation rather than exclusion.