Outlined is the status of science-technology-society (STS) education as an academic field of study in the United States. Its success as an academic field and unresolved questions regarding the future of STS are discussed. (KR)

Argues that universities are failing to prepare students for responsible citizenship in a world being rapidly changed by biotechnology. Calls for bringing together biology and the social sciences in more core courses. (TW)

Discussed is the development of studies based on the ethical and value aspects of the interactions between science, technology, and society. Described are the characteristics of these studies and the proposals funded by the Ethics and Values Studies at the National Science Foundation. (KR)

Discussed is the linkage between science, technology, and religious ideas. Tillich's continuum of existentialism, philosophy, and theology and his concepts of the multidimensional unity of life have been used to develop a technology and religion course. Included are the core ethic and basic tenets for STS education. (KR)

Presented is a survey of five institutional mechanisms for allowing the lay public to influence environmental risk decisions. Discussed are public hearings, initiatives, public surveys, negotiated rule making, and citizens review panels. Defined is the democratic process criteria for assessing these and other participatory mechanisms. (KR)

The Nordic countries have worked together over the last decade to enhance the efforts of environmental educators. This document details: (1) the history and activities of the group responsible for the coordination of efforts at the university level; (2) the types of environmental education occurring in Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and…

Multidisciplinary programs have a venerable history, but most of the early history was either at big university equipment projects or at first-rate industrial laboratories. There has always been a small amount of interdisciplinarity, such as the physicist's or chemist's cadging crystal specimens from the geologist. But only in the post World War…

Reported are some data on both knowledge and perception of science and technology from a sample of adults in Perth, Western Australia. The results are compared to those of the United Kingdom. Included are the sampling and survey procedure, sample questions, results, and the discussion. (KR)

Discussed is the narrowness of engineering education in the recent past. A more liberal education for engineers is proposed. The benefits of such an approach, personally, professionally, and to society are described. (CW)

This is a summary of a seminar for changing the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum in India. Identifies and describes biotechnology, materials for structural and microelectronic catalysis, and new separation processes as emerging areas. Evaluates the current curriculum, including basic science, engineering lore, chemical engineering,…

Discussed are the differences between the natural and social science disciplines and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach by the two groups on the subject of science-technology-society (STS). Included is a list of topics that all educated people should know about STS. (KR)

The last decade has seen a significant increase in industrial funding of university research and in the number and variety of arrangements that involve collaboration between universities and industry. The Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable is specially interested in this development. Working toward some answers, the Roundtable has…

Since the beginning of the decade, a significant number of states have initiated science and technology programs to encourage economic growth. Although these programs share some structural similarity, many of the specific details are unique. Among the unique aspects of these state programs are their objectives, organizational elements,…

Discusses the recent influx of highly talented immigrant engineers and engineering students into the United States. Identifies some of the opportunities available and benefits to the U.S. economy, along with some of the perceived and real problems posed by this trend. (TW)

Discusses a project approach to teaching students how to discover, evaluate, and employ some of the avenues available to them for raising concerns about ethical issues in engineering. (TW)