A call for women engineers and scientists.

A call for more women in the engineering profession and for special incentives to encourage more women to enter the teaching professions in the fields of science and technology was made by the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development at its recent session. The Advisory Committee stressed the need for all women to be informed broadly bout science and technology and urged Governments to adopt appropriate measures to achieve that.

Recommendations on the important roles which non-governmental organization (NGOs) and women, among others, should play in promoting science and technology for development were adopted by the Advisory Committee in its report to the Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for Development, its parent body. The 28-member Committee met in New York from 14 to 21 February.

The Committee had before it the recommendations of five ad hoc panels of specialists which examined topics relating to the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for Development. The Programme was adopted in 1979 by the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development.

Of the two panels organized in 1982, the first, held in Los Banos, Philippines, examined possible ways of achieving a beneficial blend of emerging and traditional technologies and suggested pioneer projects in areas such as food processing, biomass, wood processing and fabrication, medicinal plants, aquaculture, water harvesting, conservation and utilization, remote sensing, rural housing, textiles, small-scale cottage and home industries and renewable energy for cities.

The second of the 1982 panels, held in Shuwaikh, Kuwit, focused on human resources development for the planning, management and implementation of science and technology programmes in developing countries. The panel made recommendations concerning training schemes for potential managers, institutional arrangements for the training of trainers and development of modules for management of science and technology programmes.

The first 1983 panel, held in Tunis, examined the role of regional associations and organizations in strengthening research and development and in the popularization of science and technology in developing countries. The panel concluded that NGO efforts to popularize science and technology should aim at issues concerning the daily lives of the people and at removing the mystique surrounding modern science.

Emphasizing...