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STIR [Continued from page 4]
AT THE PLENARY SESSION in Boston, moderator A.R.C. West wood (picture at left) of Martin Marietta presided over a discussion of the question, Materials R&D In The U.S.--Are We Still Competitive? J.J. Harwood (picture at right) of Ford Motor's Materials Science Lab argued the U.S. has "exported our technology instead of our products." R&D is not the problem, he asserted, but rather the U.S.'s "weakness in the output of the innovation process -- in the end product or process." H.K. Bowen (not pictured) of MIT analyzed "The Japanese Commitment" as an example of the cooperative efforts of universities, government laboratories and corporations not due to "government edict, but rather to individualistic and entrepreneurial type recognition of the challenges, opportunities and economic pay-off." The session, provocative and timely, generated discussions among the membership that hadn't quieted when the meeting broke up several days later.
The discussion in Boston pointed out again the difficulty facing scientists who are dealing with issues in which the public must be educated and informed. It is true that sensitive ideas can be distorted to create sensational news. However, if science is to lead in the decision making process, it must not be intimidated. In areas requiring public scrutiny, scientists must be able to question and seek answers openly in order to maintain credibility. In some cases the questions will be technically excellent and in others they will be absurd. It is important to keep the discussion focussed on constructive solutions. The panel discussion in Boston disturbed some of the participants and stimulated others. Dr. G. L. McVay of Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory will chair the 1983 International Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management. Please send him your ideas and comments on how we can best achieve a healthy, open forum for open discussion of the relevant issues in 1983.
MRS BULLETIN, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1982, PAGE 7
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