Abstract
A MEMORANDUM by Mr. Guy B. Gresford, Australian scientific research liaison officer in London, entitled "The Scientist and the Economic and Social Council", after referring to the major part played by the man of science in the Second World War and to some of the achievements which have been among its most striking features, points out that, particularly among the United Nations, scientific workers were called in at the highest level in the prosecution of the War, to help in formulating as well as in the execution of plans. Mr. Gresford's memorandum argues that it is just as important that the man of science should play his part in the international organizations designed to ensure economic and social progress for mankind as a whole. His place in the functional organizations is obvious; but Mr. Gresford points out that it is equally necessary for him to be included within the scope of the Economic and Social Council, which, in securing expanding economic and social progress, must rely largely on scientific and technical knowledge. In planning for the future, the Council must refer to scientific experts, not only to ascertain the present state of knowledge as it affects a particular project, but also to attempt to forecast the progress likely to be made in the future before effect can be given to the plans. Mr. Gresford illustrates his argument by reference to the interaction of rubber production in tropical areas to the manufacture of synthetic rubber, and the relation of long-term hydroelectric schemes to the development of atomic energy.
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Science in the United Nations Organisation. Nature 156, 625 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/156625a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/156625a0