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INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE

International Programs of Federal Agencies

On December 22, 1966, the subcommittee issued a report 47 entitled "The Participation of Federal Agencies in International Scientific Programs." It was the first comprehensive survey of the cooperation and international activities of Federal agencies and departments that has been presented to Congress. The report presents highlights of several Federal agencies' programs with scientists in other nations. It also treats the role of the National Academy of Sciences, the Federal Council of Science and Technology and the State Department in these activities. Its primary purpose was to provide useful information to the subcommittee in reference to its studies of international science policy. Also it has been used as background information by the subcommittee in preparing the committee's eighth meeting with its Panel on Science and Technology, a conference devoted to problems of science and international policy.

Government, Science, and International Policy

The subcommittee chose the theme of the conference-"Government, Science, and International Policy"-because it was of unusual and timely importance. The meeting was eighth in a series of annual seminars and was held on January 24-26, 1967.

The Secretary of State, Mr. Rusk, gave the keynote address, emphasizing the growing importance of science in international relations with developed and underdeveloped countries.

Six papers were presented during the meeting: "Science and Technology as Employed in the Development of a National Economy," by Robert Major, Director, Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; "World Comity Through Science and Technology," Donald F. Hornig, Director, Office of Science and Technology; "Government-Industry Partnership in Scientific Applications, With Special Reference to the Netherlands," H. W. Julius, Chairman, Central Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO); "Modern Evolution of Science and Technology in Japan," Kankuro Kaneshige, Council for Science and Technology; "Meeting National Needs Through Science and Technology," S. Husain Zaheer, Chairman, National Research Development Corporation of India; and "Science and Technology in Latin America," C. Chagas, Ambassador, Brazilian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, and President, Brazilian Academy of Sciences. Andre de Blonay, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Frank J. Malina of the International Academy of Astronautics summed up the seminar proceedings and moderated discussion with committee members. A compilation of the papers 48 and proceedings 49 49 of the meeting have been published.

47"The Participation of Federal Agencies in International Scientific Programs," report of the Science Policy Research and Foreign Affairs Division, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress, for the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., first sess. (committee print, 1967).

48" Government, Science, and International Policy," a compilation of papers prepared for the eighth meeting of the Panel on Science and Technology for the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., first sess. (1967).

49"Panel on Science and Technology-Eighth Meeting," Proceedings before the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., first sess. (1967).

International Biological Program

Chairman Miller introduced House Concurrent Resolution 273 on March 9, 1967, expressing the support of Congress and urged the support of persons and organizations, both public and private, for the international biological program. The IBP has administration backing and is being sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences. Five days of hearings were held on May 9, June 6, July 12, August 3 and 9, 1967, with more than a dozen witnesses needed to present the total picture. Hearings 50 were printed on November 1, 1967.

On March 10, 1968, the subcommittee issued its first report on the IBP.51 This report was a critical evaluation of the program, its functions and operations. It represented a concensus of the subcommittee that even though the IBP and its U.S. segment hope to be able to contribute new information that will be useful in enabling man to understand the ecosystems in which he lives, U.S. participation in and contribution of the IBP appeared to stand on shaky ground-organizationally and financially.

Chairman Miller introduced House Joint Resolution 1240, which supersedes House Concurrent Resolution 273, on April 24, 1968. This resolution would have authorized provision of funds for U.S. support of the IBP, and further hearings were held on it, May 1 and 2, 1968.

Biosphere Conference

In September 1968, an intergovernmental conference of experts was held in Paris, France, on the Scientific Bases for Rational Use and Conservation of the Resources of the Biosphere.

Because of its immediate relevancy to the environment and the IBP, staff members were sent to observe this conference and report on its findings.

The conference was convened and organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), with the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Health Organization participating, and with the cooperation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the International Biological Program.

The object of the conference was to ascertain how modern science could help in defining methods for the rational use of the resources of the biosphere so that man can take advantage of these resources while at the same time conserving them. Within the context of the conference, the biosphere is taken to mean that part of the world in which life can exist. However, oceanic resources were specifically excluded from the conference since this subject was being given attention within the framework of other international conferences.

Representatives of 62 countries participated in the conference, indicating a new awareness is occurring throughout the world concerning the loss of environmental quality. It was recognized that the traditional ways of developing and using natural resources with little regard for attendant consequences must give way to the recognition that the biosphere is a complex system which can be widely affected by

50International Biological Program" hearings before the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., first sess. (1967).

31" The International Biological Program, Its Meaning and Needs," report of the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., second sess. (committee print, 1968).

action taken on any part of it. Consequently, one of the recurring themes of the conference was that planned use of natural resources must be based on a broad interdisciplinary approach, including not only the natural sciences, but also politics and public administration, economics, law, and sociology.

For the purposes of the conference, needs were considered in three areas-research, education, and scientific policies and structures. The actions recommended in each of these areas are summarized below.

RESEARCH

The conference indicated that until recently man has exploited the environment to meet his immediate needs without giving sufficient consideration to the long-term environmental consequences of his actions and to its implications to human health and well-being. Furthermore, the conference found that while there is much scientific information which can be immediately applied to many of the problems of the biosphere, there is an urgent need for an expansion of relevant research on a global scale. Without such research and adequate corrective action the situation is likely to become increasingly perilous, and if allowed to continue could seriously endanger the future welfare of mankind. In particular, the conference recommended that there should be:

1. Increased research on ecosystems in all regions of the earth aimed at understanding the basic laws by which the system operates. 2. Increased research aimed at man's basic ecology and to his social and physical adaptability to environmental changes.

3. An effort made to standardize inventory and monitoring systems of resources such as timber, food products, or natural preserves as to their quality and availability.

4. Increased programs of pollution research and monitoring on a worldwide basis, including a determination of the level of contaminants or pollutants dangerous to human health.

5. A strenuous effort made to protect the remnant populations of rare and endangered species of plants and animals and to provide the care and conditions necessary to increase their numbers.

EDUCATION

The conference made a number of recommendations aimed at introducing ecological thinking in terms of the general population and training of more ecologists. Included were such things as the introduction of environmental education in primary and secondary schools, the training of environmental scientists at universities, the establishment of regional research and training centers, and the use of mass media and other means to help the community understand the broad ecological principles involved in man's use of his natural resources and the interaction between man and his environment.

SCIENTIFIC POLICIES AND STRUCTURES

The conference recommended that the governments of all countries, with the assistance of the United Nations agencies, and other international, regional, or national organizations give immediate consideration to ways and means for applying more effort to increase basic

and applied knowledge of the resources of the biosphere in order to found a plan of rational use and conservation based upon sound scientific principles. The conference recognized, however, that in addition to the scientific problems, much wider economic, social and political matters would have to be resolved in order to arrive at a plan for rational use and conservation of the environment, and these matters were generally outside the scope of the conference.

To this end, the conference supported the idea of an international meeting such as the one proposed by the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC adopted in July, 1968, a resolution proposing the convening of an international conference on the problems of the human environment in 1971-72. This resolution will be considered by the United Nations General Assembly during its 23d session in September-December 1968.

VALUE OF THE CONFERENCE

In an intergovernmental conference such as this, the chief value appears to lie in the exchange of views and other information concerning the programs and policies of the participating governments. It can also focus attention on some of the problems involved, recommend areas for future discussion or programs, and point towards general goals to be sought. It cannot, however, bind its participants, and each country is left to do, or not to do, that which it believes to be in its own best interest.

It was clear that all of the participating countries favored a "rational use of the environment," and would prefer to maintain the quality of the environment at the highest point possible for the health and welfare of its people. However, health and welfare means more than maintaining or improving the natural environment; it means also better housing, more food, better health care, and more jobs.

The question facing each country, therefore, is that with limited capital, how can it best allocate its resources among competing needs to achieve the greatest benefit. This allocation will vary between the different countries depending upon a variety of factors, including the country's stage of development, the needs of the people, and national tastes. During the conference it was asserted that the so-called developing countries had special needs and would require financial and technical assistance from the more developed countries. However, it became apparent that none of the countries, developed or developing, was prepared at this time to substantially increase its programs aimed at improving the quality of the environment.

The conference represents an important first step forward, and marks the first time the problem of environmental quality has been approached on a global scale. If the United Nations Conference is approved as expected, it is hoped that in the interim the course of research and education suggested during the Biosphere Conference will reach the stage where more definitive action may then be taken on an international basis.

Applied Science and World Economy

The ninth meeting of the committee with its Panel on Science and Technology was again organized by the subcommittee and took place January 23-25, 1968. George D. Woods, President of the Inter

national Bank for Reconstruction and Development, gave the keynote address. Five scientists, educators, and economists from other countries as well as two members of the Panel presented the following papers:

Technological Change and the World Market, Barbara Ward,
foreign affairs editor of the Economist, London.

Development and Transfer of Marketable Technology in the
International Corporation: A New Situation, Antonie T.
Knoppers, senior vice president of Merck & Co., Inc., United
States.

The Utilization of Scientific and Technical Resources in Canada,
O. M. Solandt, chairman of the Science Council of Canada.
Some Comments on the Problems of the Best Utilization of
Scientific and Technical Resources, Jorge A. Sabato, tech-
nology manager of National Commission for Atomic Energy
of Argentina.

Science and Education at O.E.C.D., An Experiment in Inter-
national Cooperation, Alexander King, director for scientific
affairs of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development.

Applied Science and World Economy: Some Small Equations
Tell a Big Story, Walter J. Hesse, vice president of Ling-
Temco-Vought Aerospace Corp., United States.

What Makes Technology Run? Martin Goland, president of the Southwest Research Institute, United States of America. Four major themes of discussion were: (a) geographical distribution of technical resources, (b) the strength and limitations of the market mechanism, (c) coupling of science, technology to society and (d) deployment of resources for human welfare. Vice President Humphrey closed the conference with suggestions for more positive efforts to promote international cooperation in science and education. A compilation of the papers 52 prepared for this meeting was published on February 20, 1968. The proceedings 53 were issued on April 8, 1968.

TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

On March 7, 1967, Mr. Daddario introduced H.R. 6698 "to provide a method for identifying, assessing, publicizing, and dealing with the implications and effects of applied research and technology" by establishing a Technology Assessment Board. The bill recognized both the need for "identifying the potentials of applied research and technology and promoting ways and means to accomplish their transfer into practical use, and identifying the undesirable byproducts and side effects of such applied research and technology in advance of their crystallization and informing the public of their potential in order that appropriate steps may be taken to eliminate or minimize them." It was partly a result of the revelations of the report 55 of the subcommittee which emphasized the impact of science and technology on modern society and the necessity for Congress to meet its

52"Applied Science and World Economy," compilation of papers prepared for the ninth meeting of the Panel on Science and Technology for the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., second sess. (committee print, 1968).

53"Panel on Science and Technology-Ninth Meeting-Applied Science and World Economy," proceedings before the Committee on Science and Astronautics, 90th Cong., second sess. (1968).

H.R. 6698, 90th Cong., first sess., Mar. 7, 1967, Mr. Daddario.

$ Op. cit. 22.

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