44 
research, to evaluate the research for the purpose of insuring safety, 
and to provide for the examination of the complex, moral, legal, and 
ethical issues for society that have been highlighted by the debates 
on this issue. 
Dr. Whelan 
As pointed out by Dr. Whelan, the DNA issue, which has been 
likened to the nuclear debates, differs significantly from them. It took 
almost 30 years for nuclear technology to reach the point where ter- 
rorist activity became a concern. In the case of DNA recombinant 
molecule research, graduate students or others could easily carry out 
such experiments. The bans established by the NIH guidelines are 
thus not limited by the need for technological development and 
expansion as was the case in nuclear issues. Because such capabilities 
are present in molecular biology, Dr. Whelan agrees with Dr. Fredrick- 
son that there is a need for substantial international cooperation in 
the development of any standards and guidelines which are to be 
applied to all areas of DNA recombinant molecule research. 
Dr. Whelan noted that ICSU perceives a number of objectives 
that are desirable. These include: (1) There should be universal 
agreement on safety guidelines without the compromises of substan- 
tial individual exceptions; (2) national and regional bodies acting in 
this field should have clear and rapid means of communicating with 
regard to new developments as well as problems; (3) there is a need 
for wide availability of good training; (4) there is a need to conduct 
risk-assessment experiments to examine the reality of some of the 
alleged hazards; and (5) there is a need for a thorough examination 
of the ways in which industry might use the DNA recombinant tech- 
nology on a large scale. He concluded his summary of international 
activities by indicating that he hopes that the United States will not 
lose sight of the need for international initiatives in examining and 
resolving the issues associated with DNA recombinant research. 
Professor Nelkin 
Dorothy Nelkin, Program on Science, Technology, and Society, 
Cornell University, was able to offer the results of some of her obser- 
vations on efforts in Europe to broaden public participation in science 
and technology policy. She discussed work in Sweden, the Netherlands 
and Austria where experiments had been initiated in several areas 
with a primary emphasis upon public concern about nuclear power 
issues. 
In Sweden, the government sponsored experiments in public educa- 
tion concerning energy policy. Within their adult education programs, 
several thousand groups of about 15 persons per group participated 
in meetings to discuss nuclear energy policies. These study groups 
provided an opportunity for about 80,000 persons to examine this 
issue. Sponsoring organizations were provided with government assist- 
ance to develop materials which reflected the social and political 
interests of their members. Although government officials had antici- 
pated that such discussions would alleviate concern by providing for 
effective dissemination of information, the surveys of the programs 
suggested that prior attitudes persisted and it is possible that there 
[Appendix B — 93] 
