847 



Fnt Want of a Nail'-' 8') 



The first UN meeting on this subject was held in 196^. That spra\vlin>^ tornni 

 produced little practical action. It is remembered as a "science fair"— a pejorative 

 term meanin>^ that it was too academic, too technical, too wordy, and too passive. 

 Inevitably, as rising expectations in the LDCs were frustrated towards the end of the 

 196()s. the first nuism^s were heard about another UN conference on applying 

 .science and technology for the benefit of the developing; world. Near the end ot 

 1970, the General Assembly went on record with a request to the Secretary General 

 for his evaluation of science and technology in the international scene and of the 

 results that had been achieved after the 1963 conference. The chronolo>;v of events 

 is summarized in Fiuure 1 . 



The principal oryaniz.ational vehicle for planning UNCSTD has been the 

 Committee on Science and Technology for Development within the UN's Economic 

 and Social Council. I'ormed in 1972, this group ot 52 national delegations has had 

 the difficult assignment of trying to coordinate policies for all UN wide scientific and 

 technological activities. In the process, it became the Preparatory Committee tor 

 UNCSTD. 



FIGURH 1. Key Hvents Related to UNCS ID. 



1963— UN holds Conference on the Application ot Science and Technology lor the Bcnetit 

 of the Less Developed Areas 



1970— As first UN Development Decade (196()s) ends and Second Development Decade 

 (1970s) begins. General A.ssemhly asks Secretary General to evaluate science and 

 technolo>jy and to apprai.se results achieved alter 196^ UN Conference. 



1972— First meetings of the Committee on Science and Technology for Development (a 

 major group within the Econcjmic and Social Council) are held, providln^ a central 

 forum for discussion of UN wide matters inxolviny science and technology. 



1974— Economic and -Scx-ial Council emphasizes necessity tor another international < outer 

 encc on scic-nce and technology. 



1975— Intergovernmental Working Group (of Committee on .Science and leclmoli.qy for 

 DeveloiMnent) examines possihic objectives ,ind ayenda for n UN Cjiiiterencc 



1975— General Assembly pa.s.ses major resolutions on "New International Eonomic 

 Order"" with substantial references to scienie and tcchiiolo^v. 



1976— Committee on Science and Technology fc^ Development approves resolution which is 

 adopted by Economic and Social Council (August) and bv General As.sembly 

 (December), confirming official agenda for UNCSTD in 1979. 



1977— Formal preparations for UNCSTD begin vith appointment of Secretarv General tor 

 UNCSTD in January. 



1978— Governments submit National Papers and attend meetings of Preparatory Committee. 



1979— Many nongovernmental meetings held between January and June (see Figure 3). 



1979— UNCSTD convenes in Vienna (August) as Second Development Decade ends and 

 I'.miiinu ior "Hut, I \\- ,■]n^'■,^^ •m Decide 1-hlmiis 



