WORKSHOP ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT Held on August 23, 1979* Chaired by RASHMI MAYUR, Ph.D. Director, Urban Development Institute 181, Rewa, Haji Ali Bombay 400026, India The main objective of the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development held in Vienna from 19 to 29 August, 1979, was to mobilize global science and technology in order to accelerate the developmental process in the technologically less advanced countries. All major scientific and technological efforts should be generalized in this direction, according to the Conference plans. Along with many symposia, seminars and workshops, many discussions among the governmental and non-governmental organizations were held in order to explore the possibilities and limitations of various sciences and technologies for developmental purposes. A Workshop on Space Science and Technology for Development was organized in order to identify the relevance of space for the Third World countries and developmental plans. It was an exploratory meeting with scientists, technologists and policy makers on the extreme sides of the spectrum. Although a few were against space development for the Third World, the majority of them felt that the major application of space did offer many benefits to the less developed countries which are not possible through terrestial science and technology developments. The greatest emphasis was on the refinement and the economizing of space research in the following areas: weather forecasting, disaster prevention, communication, resource survey, and education. Since the settlement pattern in these countries is rural and highly isolated, space communication technology can offer the greatest benefits. Since most of these countries also depend on agriculture for their economy and survival, most of the participants felt weather forecasting technology should also be given a priority. Those who are concerned about industrialization and economic development also emphasized that since many of these countries suffer from highly scant and erroneous data concerning their resource potential the survey of various material resources in the countries should be undertaken through the space satellite immediately. There was an extensive discussion concerning the solar power satellite and its relevance to the developing countries. Many of the participants were not aware of the SPS and its potential for meeting the energy demand of these countries as well as the world as a whole. It is generally recognized that most of the developing countries are facing an energy crisis today of an unbearable nature, and it will get worse in time, bringing practically a catastrophe to these countries by the end of the century if the Arab oil prices continue to increase at the present rate and if the deforestation in these countries leaves them without energy resources. The main question was con- *U.N. Conference on Science and Technology for Development, Vienna
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