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ADEQUACY OF SCIENCE TO MEET 



THE CHALLENGES: 

 TWO ILLUSTRATIVE TESTS 



In this chapter some of the major challenges discussed earlier are 

 translated into the derived challenges posed for science. The adequacy 

 of the existing base of scientific knowledge to meet these challenges is 

 assessed, and gaps in this base, which must be filled in the future, are 

 identified. 



Science can provide objective understanding of the nature and 

 dimensions of each such problem, and offer alternate approaches to its 

 possible solution. The scientific knowledge base and the capacity to use 

 it are necessary, but not sufficient, prerequisites for alleviating the 

 large and complex problems noted in this report. To these must be 

 added a viable and sustained level of societal commitment to solving 

 the problems, expressed in appropriate fiscal, institutional, political, 

 and social terms. 



Each of these elements must be present in sufficient strength if 

 challenges of the magnitude discussed herein are to be met 

 successfully. Subsequent attention in this chapter, however, will focus 

 on the essential scientific aspects. 



For the purpose of assessing the adequacy of science to meet these 

 challenges, two problems are selected as illustrations: "energy" and 

 "cancer." These problems were selected as examples only; similar 

 analyses could be made of each of the other challenges, and similar 

 general findings probably would be obtained. The two examples, 

 however, have certain desirable characteristics for the present 

 purpose: "energy" and "cancer" represent quite different kinds of 

 problems; the core scientific disciplines involved differ in the two 

 cases, although some overlap exists among supporting disciplines; 

 each problem satisfies, to some extent, the two societal criteria cited 

 above for successfully meeting complex challenges; and both are the 

 subject of recently initiated national programs aimed at responding to 

 the challenges they represent. 



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