Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies

In June 2006, seventeen scientists and educators selected by the National Academies, the Academy of Sciences of Iran, and the Académie des Sciences of France held a workshop at the estate of the Fondation des Treilles in Toutour, France, to discuss issues concerning the role of science in the development of modern societies. Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies includes the presentations made at the workshop and summarizes the discussions that followed the presentations. Topics of the workshop included science and society issues, the role of science and engineering in development; obstacles and opportunities in the application of science and technology to development; scientific thinking of decision makers; management and utilization of scientific knowledge; and science, society, and education. This book also provides useful background for the further development of interactions of Western scientists and educators with Iranian specialists.Table of ContentsFront MatterSCIENCE AND SOCIETY ISSUES, The Role of Communications and Scientific Thinking--Barbara SchaalKnowledge, Validation, and Transfer: Science, Communication, and Economic Development--John EnderbyThe Morality of Exact Sciences--Yousef SoboutiScience and Society Issues: Summary of Discussion--Norman NeureiterTHE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN DEVELOPMENT, Women in Academic Science and Engineering in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities--Geraldine RichmondTrends in Basic Sciences in Contemporary Iran: Growth and Structure of Mainstream Basic Sciences--Shapour Etemad and Yousef SoboutiThe Role of Science and Engineering in Development: Summary of Discussion--Michael FischerOBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPMENT, Technology for Health: Are There Any Limits? Economic, Ethical, and Overall Societal Implications--Kenneth ShineAddressing Water Security: The Role of Science and Technology--Henry VauxObstacles and Opportunities in the Application of Science and Technology to Development: Summary of Discussion--Geraldine RichmondSCIENTIFIC THINKING OF DECISION MAKERS, How to Promote Scientific Thinking Amongst Decision Makers--Alimohammad KardanMANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, The Role of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation in National Economic Development--Norman NeureiterThe Role of Chemistry and Biology in the Future Development of Iran--Mojtaba ShamsipurManagement and Utilization of Scientific Knowledge: Summary of Discussion--Henry VauxSCIENCE, SOCIETY, AND EDUCATION, About the Relation of School Teachers with Science--Yves QuéréPromotion of Health Education in Primary Schools--Béatrice Descamps-LatschaScience, Society, and Education: Summary of Discussion--Barbara Schaal and Henry VauxAppendix A: Workshop AgendaAppendix B: Workshop ParticipantsAppendix C: Science, Technology, and Society - The Tightening Circle--George BugliarelloAppendix D: Current Issues on the Utilization of Scientific Findings--Hassan ZohoorAppendix E: Ethics in Engineering as a Prerequisite for Technological Development of Societies--Mehdi Bahadori and Mahmood YaghoubiAppendix F: Science and Society--Reza Davari Ardakani