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

143 Pages·2008·1.02 MB·English

by  National Research Council, Security, Committee on the U.S.-Iran Workshop on Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies, Office for Central Europe and Eurasia, and Cooperation Development

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)

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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
Offce 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
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their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
Any opinions, fndings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily refect the views of the organizations or
agencies that provided support for the project.
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International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-11927-8
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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, nonproft, self-perpetuating society of
distinguished scholars engaged in scientifc and engineering research, dedicated to the
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date that requires it to advise the federal government on scientifc and technical matters.
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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.
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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
n June 2006, seventeen scientists and educators selected by the National
Academies, the Academy of Sciences of Iran, and the Académie des Sciences
Iof France held a workshop at the estate of the Fondation des Treilles in
T outour, 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 confdential 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 fnal 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, Offce 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 Scientifc 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.