Basic Issues in Setting Priorities for Science and Technology Policy

Abstract

Government management or control of science and technology has increased and governments have become more concerned about their formulation of science and technology policy. The reasons for this are complex and no doubt subject to dispute. Nevertheless, a number of observations appear in order. While the community at large still looks to advances in science and technology as a means of improving the lot of mankind, it questions the social benefits of unbridled scientific and technological change. Indeed many members of the community have become fearful of the possible unwanted effects of technological change, for instance nuclear risks, unemployment, global pollution. To gain the maximum benefits from scientific and technological change and to avoid unwanted environmental and social consequences, there has been a growing community demand for science and technological effort to be more closely supervised through the government to meet social goals. The belief has gained ground that the direction of scientific effort should not be left to scientists, technocrats or even business managers acting alone but that government reflecting community-wide interests should play a greater role in directing technological change. Specific concerns such as defence, then environmental damage and the depletion of non-renewable resources and, more recently, increased international economic competition accompanied by economic recession, have brought demands for improvements in the science and technology policies of governments.