The Status of Soviet Civil Science : Proceedings of the Symposium on Soviet Scientific Research, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, September 24–26, 1986

This volume represents one outcome of the initiatives, taken from time to time by the NATO Science Committee, to add to the work of supporting civil science within the Alliance by mounting open meetings or other projects dealing with some topical aspect of science and technology policy. Past examples have included the 20th anniversary meeting of the establish­ ment of the Science Committee in 1978 which made a review of the achieve­ ments of the various programmes. It proved to be a valuable opportunity to take stock of the impact of science and technology on Western societies and was a particularly useful occasion for a critical analysis of the changing nature and social role of science and technology. In contrast, the Science Committee Conferences in 1973, and 1976, on the 'Technology of Efficient Energy Utilization' and on 'Thermal Energy Storage' were responses of the Committee to specific technological problems, engendered by the then acute energy supply position. A similar technologically oriented study was made in 1975 of the 'Rational Use of Potentially Scarce Metals'. These initiatives were the counterpoint to the bulk of the continuing work of the Committee in funding scientific mobility in the Alliance, as support to civil science. This latter is done competitively in response to unsolicited applications. The Committee hopes to demon­ strate, by its special activities, its flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving activities, technologists and policy makers. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Soviet Scientific-Technical Revolution: Education of Cadres....Pages 3-18 Soviet Secondary School Mathematics and Science Programs....Pages 19-47 Commentary....Pages 49-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 Soviet Organization of International Scientific Contacts....Pages 57-82 The Academy of Sciences and the Restructuring of R&D in the Soviet Union....Pages 83-96 Recent Developments in the Administration of Branch Ministry Research....Pages 97-117 Commentary....Pages 119-123 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 Information Flows in Soviet Research and Development....Pages 127-142 Information Channels for Science and Technology....Pages 143-149 Computer Networks in the Soviet Scientific Community....Pages 151-175 Franco-Soviet Exchanges in Science and Technology: Instrumentation....Pages 177-181 Commentary....Pages 183-186 Front Matter....Pages 187-187 Cosmic Physics: A Case Study....Pages 189-195 Soviet Science in the Materials World....Pages 197-204 Research in Small Groups: The Case of Positron Annihilation....Pages 205-209 Low Temperature Chemistry....Pages 211-224 Cross Fertilisation in Medicine: The Case of Leishmaniasis....Pages 225-229 Soviet Science and Technology: A Crosscutting Overview....Pages 231-238 Commentary....Pages 239-241 Front Matter....Pages 243-243 The US-USSR Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology: 1972–82....Pages 245-253 Front Matter....Pages 243-243 Scientific Exchange with the USSR under the Agreement between the Royal Society and the USSR Academy of Sciences....Pages 255-277 Experience with Canadian/Soviet Scientific Collaboration....Pages 279-283 Front Matter....Pages 285-285 Future Trends....Pages 287-289 Proceedings of the Symposium on Soviet Scientific Research, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, Semptember 24-26,1986.