Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings

143 Pages·2008·1.02 MB·English

by  National Research Council

Science and Technology and the Future

Development of Societies: International Workshop

Proceedings

Glen Schweitzer, Editor, Committee on the U.S.-Iran

Workshop on Science and Technology and the Future
Development of Societies, Office for Central Europe and
Eurasia Development, Security, and Cooperation,
National Research Council

ISBN: 0-309-11928-6, 142 pages, 6 x 9, (2008)

This free PDF was downloaded from:

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html

Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books from the
National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of
Medicine, and the National Research Council:
• Download hundreds of free books in PDF
• Read thousands of books online, free
• Sign up to be notified when new books are published
• Purchase printed books
• Purchase PDFs
• Explore with our innovative research tools

Thank you for downloading this free PDF. If you have comments, questions or just want
more information about the books published by the National Academies Press, you may
contact our customer service department toll-free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or
send an email to [email protected].

This free book plus thousands more books are available at http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. Permission is granted for this material to be
shared for noncommercial, educational purposes, provided that this notice appears on the
reproduced materials, the Web address of the online, full authoritative version is retained,
and copies are not altered. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written
permission from the National Academies Press.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
Glenn Schweitzer, Editor
Committee on the U.S.-Iran Workshop on Science and Technology and the
Future Development of Societies
Office for Central Europe and Eurasia
Development, Security, and Cooperation
Policy and Global Affairs
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing
Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of
the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute
of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for
their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or
agencies that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-11927-6
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-11927-8
A limited number of copies are available from the Office for Central Europe and Eur-
asia, National Research Council, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001; (202)
334-2376.
Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth
Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; [phone] or [phone]
(in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright 2008 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of
distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a man-
date that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of
the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers.
It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with
the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government.
The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at
meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior
achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of
Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences
to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examina-
tion of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the
responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to
be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of
medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute
of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in
1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s
purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in
accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the
principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both
Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest
are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
www.national-academies.org
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE
U.S.-IRAN WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETIES
George Bugliarello, Chair, President Emeritus and University Professor,
Polytechnic University
David R. Challoner, Vice President for Health Affairs, Emeritus, University of
Florida
Michael T. Clegg, Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences, University of
California, Irvine
Staff
Glenn E. Schweitzer, Program Director, The National Academies
A. Chelsea Sharber, Senior Program Associate, The National Academies
Elizabeth D. Keller, Mirzayan Science Policy Graduate Fellow, The National
Academies
Merc Fox, Senior Program Assistant, The National Academies

Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
Preface
I
n 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 develop-
ment of modern societies. This location was an idyllic setting for relaxed conver-
sations, while simplifying travel and visa arrangements for the participants. The
three academies had organized a related workshop on food safety and security,
global energy transitions, and education issues at the estate in 2003; the success
of that workshop was a strong incentive to return to Toutour.
This report includes the presentations made at the workshop and summa-
rizes the discussions that followed the presentations. The statements made in
the enclosed papers are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily
represent positions of the National Academies. Unfortunately, three of the Iranian
specialists and one American specialist who were scheduled to participate were
unable to travel to France. However, they provided the papers that they intended
to present. These papers are included in the appendixes of the report.
An important observation of the participants was that the topics that were
addressed, particularly the inclusion of science-oriented themes throughout the
K-12 education curriculum, warranted more detailed discussions between Iranian
and Western colleagues. The National Academies are currently exploring oppor-
tunities to continue such discussions in Iran, and this report provides useful
background for the further development of interactions of Western scientists and
educators with Iranian specialists.
ii
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
iii PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This volume has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their
technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National
Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of such an indepen-
dent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the insti-
tution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the
report meets institutional standards for quality. The review comments and draft
manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process.
We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of selected papers:
R. Stephen Berry, University of Chicago; James Childress, University of Virginia;
Denis Gray, North Carolina State University; Janet Hustler, Synopsys, Inc.;
Richard McCray, University of Colorado at Boulder; Wilhelmine Miller, George
Washington University; and Andrew Schrank, University of New Mexico.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided constructive comments
and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the content of the individual
papers. Responsibility for the final content of the papers rests with the individual
authors and the institution.
George Bugliarello
Chair, National Research Council Committee on
the U.S.-Iran Workshop on Science and Technology
and the Future Development of Societies
Glenn E. Schweitzer
Director, Office for Central Europe and Eurasia,
National Research Council
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedings
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12185.html
Contents
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY ISSUES
The Role of Communications and Scientific Thinking 3
Barbara Schaal
Knowledge, Validation, and Transfer: Science, Communication, and
Economic Development 5
John Enderby
The Morality of Exact Sciences 10
Yousef Sobouti
Science and Society Issues: Summary of Discussion 14
Norman Neureiter
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN DEVELOPMENT
Women in Academic Science and Engineering in the United States:
Challenges and Opportunities 19
Geraldine Richmond
Trends in Basic Sciences in Contemporary Iran: Growth and
Structure of Mainstream Basic Sciences 24
Shapour Etemad and Yousef Sobouti
ix
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.