S. Grisolia. Fundación Valenciana de Estudios Avanzados. Valencia, España.
Obviously the Human Genome Project is the most important project in Biology
and will continue for many years, specially due to the recent development of
Bioinformatics. Thus more and more countries are taking part in it. U N E S C O did
play a major pioneering role in catalyzing activities, when the project was started
and was under serious criticism, by supporting in Valencia 1988 both economically
and morally the first meeting for International Cooperation for the Human Genome
initiative and as a result by convening a meeting in Paris and another in Moscow in
collaboration with the then simultaneously created (1988) H U G O . This led the
creation of the Scientific Coordinating Committee (SCC) in 1989.
The two main reasons which led to the interest of U N E S C O in the Human
Genome and to the creation of the U N E S C O Scientific Coordinating Programme
are:1) The task of sharing new insights into the mechanisms of human heredity.
2) Ensuring that adequate thought is given to the wise application of the
scientific knowledge obtained in this field.
The S C C concern has been directed mostly to the interaction of leading
scientists with scientists of the developing countries. This has been carried out by
a number of activities including workshops and especially South-North encounters
in Brazil, China, India and Mexico by the initiation of a network via a short term
fellowship program in collaboration with Third World Academy of Sciences
(TWAS). It should be pointed out that with very limited funds the S C C Committee
has accomplished a great deal, especially since it has attracted the interest and
cooperation of other entities.
The fundamental purpose of U N E S C O , as inscribed in its Constitution is that of
advancing through “the educational and scientific and cultural relations of the
peoples of the world, the objectives of international peace and of the common
welfare of mankind “. In this view, the scientist-all of us–have a duty to ensure that
science is placed in the service of the well-being of humanity.
In this regard I believe that to hear and address the public, is a civic duty of
Scientists. In his recent best-seller, “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a
Candle in the Dark”, Carl Sagan said: “We’ve arranged a global civilization in
which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. W e
have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and
technology. This is a prescription for disaster”.
Society today requires a scientifically and technologically literate population and
the Human G e n o m e Project is prominent. W e must follow Carl Sagan’s advice and
recognize that the concept of the civic scientist is not a one-way proposition. While
it is necessary to increase public understanding of science, it is equally necessary
for scientists to increase their understanding of the needs of the public.

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