UNCSTD 1979: Technology for the less developed countries

The exchange of technical knowledge (otherwise known as technology transfer) among the nations of the world has created both benefits and problems for the partners involved in the process. Questions arise regarding what and how much information should be disseminated to a developing Third World nation and the effects upon the political, economic, and national position of both countries involved in the transfer. The 1979 United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) will attempt to provide a forum for the scientific and technical leaders of the world to interact with academia, government, and industry. The engineering profession will lend its support to this endeavor via its established organizations. This paper is a brief summary of the activities surrounding the Conference and the role that engineers will play.