Current C*mmen&s”

Despite many problems, researchers in the developing nations manage to produce a significant portion of the world’s scientific output. Imagine what these scientists could contribute to the global community if their difficulties could be reduced. The introduction of advanced technologies (such as CDROM) will likely improve scientific communication and education in the developing nations. But just introducing new technology to these nations is insufficient; there must also be a corresponding effort by the industrialized nations in other areas as well-including government-to-government cooperation, personnel and logistical support for basic and applied research, and so on. Above all, however, there will have to be a wncerted commitmentby the developed countries to do these things. The well-being of science in the Third World is vital to us all. We are one intellectual community. The following two editorials originally appeared in THE SCIENZ7SF. 1,2 The first offers a suggestion on how to ensure timely journal dissemination in the Third World. The second discusses a successful joint venture of the World Bank and the Brazilian government to promote science development. Why should scientists of the industrialized nations be concerned with the plight of their colleagues in the develop ing world? Because science is nothing short of what I would call a global enteqon”se, an encompassing marketplace for the exchange of ideas that, ideally, knows no boundaries-whether geographical or otherwise. Due to this intrinsic quality of science, its health abroad will affect its health in our own backyards. I will be returning to this theme in future essays.