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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology 1999 > Part1 Chapter3 Section3 2

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Part 1: New Developments in Science and Technology Policy: Responding to National and Societal Needs
Chapter 3: Future Science and Technology Policy in Japan
Section 3: Striving for Harmony Between Science and Technology and People and Society
2. Responses That Take into Account the Positive and Negative Aspects of Science and Technology


Responses must take into account both the positive and negative aspects of science and technology.

Public opinion surveys also indicate that the public is averse to the negative effects of science and technology, and so negative impacts on the environment or safety would be interpreted to mean that the big amount of negative aspects of science and technology should be consisted.

What is important is to predict the possibilities of negative effects; to disclose the results of those predictions, make careful preparations to prevent such negative effects from occurring, and, when such negative effects do occur or show signs of occurring, to respond rapidly to minimize and prevent those negative effects.

In the case of government R&D, it is important that the parameters of preliminary and interim evaluation include those that address the potential for the occurrence of negative effects and preparations against occurrence.

What is vital for a response that addresses both the negative and positive aspects is to maintain a comprehensive viewpoint that includes the cultural, social and natural sciences, and to think about the interrelation of science and technology to people and society.


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