85 



Social Implications of Scientific Progress, held in 1949." At the United 

 Nations Scientific Conference for the Conservation and Utilization of 

 Resom-ces, August 17-September 6, 1949, there was an appeal for 

 "thoroughgoing surveys and analyses * * * as a basis for planning 

 resource developments * * *." ^^ The need for development of new 

 social methodologies was identified by Carleton S. Coon, who said 

 there was an understanding as to the needs of the countries for 

 specific improvements in public health, agricultural aid, and general 

 education. But — "What is not clear is how." ''^ Then he continued: 



What we need is much knowledge, much more than we now possess, and with 

 knowledge will come an increase of good will. People will deal with people, while 

 governments watch, supervising only as needed. Such a program is a hard one; 

 it takes much effort, much adjustment, and much patience; but it will pay in 

 the end. We have lost too many postwar peaces from ignorance and lack of 

 planning.'^ 



It was not until 1961, a full 10 years after the inception of U.S. 

 technical assistance programs, that the U.S. Congress recognized 

 the need for a research capability on both the transfer of technology 

 to, and the process of economic development in, the developing 

 countries. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 authorized the President: 



To carry out programs of research into, and evaluation of, the process of eco- 

 nomic development in less developed friendly countries and areas, into the factors 

 affecting the relative success and costs of development activities, and into the 

 means, techniques, and such other aspects of development assistance as he may 

 determine, in order to render such assistance of increasing value and benefit. ^^ 



The Agency for International Development, which was given 

 jurisdiction for implementing this provision, began a program of 

 research on the underdeveloped areas in 1962. The scope of AID's 

 current R. & D. ])rogram, listed below, i)oints out the side gaps in 

 present understanding and suggests how little was known in 1950. 



1. AgriciUture (to teach the scientific methods developed by agricultural 

 scientists and train people to apply these methods. Research is being done 

 on tropical soils, improving cereal crops, and tsetse fly control). 



2. Public health (to organize and train personnel for health services, 

 anah^ze effects of health measures on economic growth, and make nutritional 

 studies. The main effort has been to improve malaria eradication methods). 



.3. Human resources (to learn about design of educational sj'^stems and 

 improve curriculums and teaching methods). 



4. Material resources (to gain knowledge of the economic, technological, 

 and environmental factors and their relationship to development) . 



.5. Social systems (to study the dynamics of social and cultural change). 



6. Analytical studies (to develop analytical tools to appraise changes and 

 their interrelationships, and to evaluate programs).^'' 



Today the importance of a wide spectrum of scientific research in all 

 relevant disciplines looms as a major task of development. According 

 to Roger Revelle, director of the Center for Popidation Studies at 

 Harvard University, neglect of research in favor of quick results on 



'3 "Formula to Improve Neglected Areas." Science News Letter. (Apr. 9, 1949), p. 238. 



'* Carl N. Glbboney. "The United Nations Scientific Conference for the Conservation and Utilization 

 of Resources." Science (vol. 110, Dec. 23, 1949), p. 676. 



" Carleton S. Coon, curator of ethnology, University of Pennsylvania Museum. "Point 4 and the Middle 

 East." Annals, July 1950, op. cit., p. 83. 



« Ibid., p. 94. 



" Sec. 241(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. 22 U.S.C. par. 2201. Sec. (b) stressed the 

 authorization of research on problems of population growth. 



"s U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics. The Participation of Federal Agencies 

 in International Scientific Programs: Report of the Science Policy Research and Foreign Affairs Divisions, 

 Legislative Reference Service to the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the * * * . 

 90th Cong., 1st sess. Conmiittee print (serial A). (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1987), 

 p. 42. 



