This volume represents one outcome of the initiatives, taken from time to time by the NATO Science Committee, to add to the work of supporting civil science within the Alliance by mounting open meetings or other projects dealing with some topical aspect of science and technology policy. Past examples have included the 20th anniversary meeting of the establish­ ment of the Science Committee in 1978 which made a review of the achieve­ ments of the various programmes. It proved to be a valuable opportunity to take stock of the impact of science and technology on Western societies and was a particularly useful occasion for a critical analysis of the changing nature and social role of science and technology. In contrast, the Science Committee Conferences in 1973, and 1976, on the 'Technology of Efficient Energy Utilization' and on 'Thermal Energy Storage' were responses of the Committee to specific technological problems, engendered by the then acute energy supply position. A similar technologically oriented study was made in 1975 of the 'Rational Use of Potentially Scarce Metals'. These initiatives were the counterpoint to the bulk of the continuing work of the Committee in funding scientific mobility in the Alliance, as support to civil science. This latter is done competitively in response to unsolicited applications. The Committee hopes to demon­ strate, by its special activities, its flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving activities, technologists and policy makers.

1. Education.- 1.1 The Soviet Scientific-Technical Revolution: Education of Cadres.- 1.2 Soviet Secondary School Mathematics and Science Programs.- 1.3 Commentary.- 2. Scientific Organization.- 2.1 Soviet Organization of International Scientific Contacts.- 2.2 The Academy of Sciences and the Restructuring of R&D in The Soviet Union.- 2.3 Recent Developments in the Administration of Branch Ministry Research.- 2.4 Commentary.- 3. Information and Instrumentation.- 3.1 Information Flows in Soviet Research and Development.- 3.2 Information Channels for Science and Technology.- 3.3 Computer Networks in the Soviet Scientific Community.- 3.4 Franco-Soviet Exchanges in Science and Technology: Instrumentation.- 3.5 Commentary.- 4. Scientific Experience: Case Studies.- 4.1 Cosmic Physics: A Case Study.- 4.2 Soviet Science in the Materials World.- 4.3 Research in Small Groups: The Case of Positron Annihilation.- 4.4 Low Temperature Chemistry.- 4.5 Cross Fertilisation in Medicine: The Case of Leishmaniasis.- 4.6 Soviet Science and Technology: A Crosscutting Overview.- 4.7 Commentary.- 5. Experience of Exchanges.- 5.1 The US-USSR Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Science and Technology: 1972-1982.- 5.2 Scientific Exchange with the USSR under the Agreement between the Royal Society and the USSR Academy of Sciences.- 5.3 Experience with Canadian/Soviet Scientific Collaboration.- 6. Future Trends.- 6. Future Trends.