Scientific and Technical Information Problems on the United Nations Conference on the Application of Science and Technology for the Benetit of the Less Developed Areas. Geneva, 4-20 February, 1963

Abstract

The purpose of the extensive international Conference convoked by the August 1961. decision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council was to explore recent advances in the application of science and technology which will benefit the less developed areas, and to stimulate and promote scientific and technological development in these regions.
On the agenda of the Conference, within the acction of the international economic and cultural connections (Agenda Item J. International Co-oparation and Problems of Transfer and Adaptation), the problems of dooumentation and, in a wider sence, those of the scientific and technical information have also been included. The approximately 1600 delegates present at the Conference and the more than 1800 papers presented made the Conference Secretariat face an enormous task to be solved in organizing a satisfactory documentation system. Great importance should be contributed to the General Reports prepared by the Conference Secretary-General for the proper information of the delegates.
Grouping the topics and sessions of the Conference according to the predetermined classification system proved extremely difficult with regard to more than one aspects. As a reault, several sections discussed certain problems of the scientific and technical information thus aggravating the collective and complex debate of the problems in reference.
The Conference may nevertheless be considered useful with respect to information, and the exploitation of other possibilitles to assiat less developed areas.