World Conference on Science, June 26 to July 1, 1999: Outcome Page: 1 of 6
View a full description of this report.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Order Code RS20291
August 3, 1999
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
World Conference on Science,
June 26 to July 1, 1999: Outcome
Genevieve J. Knezo
Specialist, Science and Technology
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
The World Conference on Science, held June 26 to July 1, 1999 in Budapest, was
cosponsored by the International Council for Science, an international group that
includes the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Almost 150 national delegations endorsed a
nonbinding declaration and a framework for action. Many of the controversial goals in
preconference documents (described in CRS Report RS20205), were moderated during
the meeting. For instance, no funding pledges for science aid or minimum national
budget commitments for science were adopted. The action guidelines focused on such
issues as improving science infrastructure; using science for development; gender and
ethnic equality in science; conducting "ethical" and "relevant" science; ownership of
intellectual property rights, including indigenous biological resources; and suggesting
that developing countries apply some of the debt relief offered by the G8 industrial
nations to spending on science and education. This report addresses issues relevant to
formulating science policy and development assistance. It will not be updated.
Background. The World Conference on Science (WCS), Science for the 21St
Century-A New Commitment, was held from June 26 to July 1, 1999, in Budapest, co-
sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU), a nongovernmental
organization composed of 95 national science councils or academies, including the U.S.
National Academy of Sciences. ICSU was formerly called the International Council of
Scientific Unions. The official goal of WCS was to "analyze where the natural sciences
stand today and where they are heading, what their social impact has been and what
society expects from them."' It sought to establish guidelines to make science responsive
to developmental challenges and to write a "new social contract for science." An
unofficial and probably more realistic goal was to foster better networking and exchangeCongressional Research Service + The Library of Congress
'"First Announcement World Conference on Science. Science for the Twenty-First Century: A
New Commitment" [www.unesco.org/general/eng/programmes/science/wcs/eng/confen.htm].
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This report can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Report.
Knezo, Genevieve J. World Conference on Science, June 26 to July 1, 1999: Outcome, report, August 3, 1999; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818819/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.