This book presents a survey of science and technology for development, documenting the ‘state of the art’, highlighting key issues while acknowledging the significant diversity among developing countries and pointing out challenges for the future.  The book aims to offer a “basis for teaching and learning and an analytical framework for reflecting upon the role of science and technology in the development process.” (Salomon et al, 1994: Preface)

Given that “there is no comprehensive economic and social theory that clearly explains the links between science, technology, and development”, as well as the challenge of associated environmental and social costs, the editors emphasise “the uncertainty of the quest.” The editors recognise that as “the developing countries themselves are quite disparate” with distinctive characteristics, constraints, and contexts, “it impossible to establish satisfactory typologies.” The book thus tries to “stress the complexity of these links” and “highlight some of the partial lessons that result from the many studies of these links.”

This book was “written for researchers, academics, research administrators, and decision makers concerned with all aspects of devising and implementing policies on science and technology”. The editors add that “if science and technology are essential components of any development strategy, the policies relating to them should be integral to all the other aspects of a thoughtful and consistent development policy, ranging from the economy to education, from agriculture and industry to the environment, from business to health, etc.” (Salomon et al, 1994: Preface)

 

Sources:

Salomon, J.J.; Sagasti, F.R.; and Sachs-Jeantet, C. (eds) The Uncertain Quest: Science, Technology, and Development, Tokyo: United Nations University Press.  Full text available online at: http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu09ue/uu09ue00.htm.  See also the Preface.