THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science, technology and innovation each represent a successively large r category of activities which are highly interdependent but distinct. Science contributes to technology in at least six ways: (1) new knowl edge which serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological po ssibilities; (2) source of tools and techniques for more efficient eng ineering design and a knowledge base for evaluation of feasibility of designs; (3) research instrumentation, laboratory techniques and analy tical methods used in research that eventually find their way into des ign or industrial practices, often through intermediate disciplines; ( 4) practice of research as a source for development and assimilation o f new human skills and capabilities eventually useful for technology; (5) creation of a knowledge base that becomes increasingly important i n the assessment of technology in terms of its wider social and enviro nmental impacts; (6) knowledge base that enables more efficient strate gies of applied research, development, and refinement of new technolog ies. The converse impact of technology on science is of at least equal importance: (1) through providing a fertile source of novel scientifi c questions and thereby also helping to justify the allocation of reso urces needed to address these questions in an efficient and timely man ner, extending the agenda of science; (2) as a source of otherwise una vailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and mo re difficult scientific questions more efficiently. Specific examples of each of these two-way interactions are discussed. Because of many i ndirect as well as direct connections between science and technology, the research portfolio of potential social benefit is much broader and more diverse than would be suggested by looking only at the direct co nnections between science and technology.