Are Science, Technology and Innovation Fulfilling the Needs of Society?

  For decades science was considered the major force for the advancement of humankind. Ironically, S&T has notoriously progressed either for the preparation or the realization of war. Likewise, the gigantic technological steps made by humanity during the race to the moon are also of paramount importance. Science was regarded as the answer to the problems of humanity. However, many times science, rather the use that man makes of science is counterproductive to the human ideals. Based on scientific discoveries man has made, and used, weaponry for massive destruction. The potential for annihilation of the human race of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons currently stored –and recently used- by a number of countries is beyond limits. However, scientists as a whole don’t pay enough attention to the development of science for the benefit of humanity. Based on this inattention to social problems, UNESCO in an effort to catch the interest of scientists organized the conference “Science for the 21^st Century”, in 1999.  The objective was the formulation of a new relationship between science and society, that is, a new social contract with science based on the assumption that science is to be subjected to public scrutiny.  The debate on the need for a democratic discussion of scientific priorities, the size of its budget, its institutional structure, and the use that is given to the results of scientific labor, was recuperated.  It was asserted that such decisions cannot be left simply in the hands of scientists and government officials. However, fifteen years later, the results of this global effort seems to be null. This paper gives some insights and examples of the way society is responding to this challenge, and how it could be more involved on the decision making of the scientific labor.