The Fading Horizon : Science and Technology in Bangladesh

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Science and our time. 3. Science in socio-economic development. 4. Shadows of the past. 5. Our uniqueness: the density factor. 6. Biological realism: the context neglected. 7. Science and technology policy. 8. Scientific publications. 9. Professionalism in science. 10. Science and industry interface. 11. S&T in the new world order. 12. Exploiting advantages: biomedical research. 13. University: sliding pivot of learning. 14. Premises of new vision. 15. Beyond the fading horizon. 16. Concluding words. Index.

From the Preface: "This book is an academic discussion on the nation\'s science and technology issue. The discussion does not dwell much upon why our S&T has been of little productivity, but rather on how to infuse some level of productivity. Why things happen the way they do, belongs to philosophy. How things happen the way they do, is admittedly more relevant to us. This is the central theme around which the issues discussed here have revolved, contexts analysed, and course for action hinted.

The core issue is the science and technology vision of the nation--not the science and technology policy, or action of the government. It is necessary to emphasize here that mention of the government that has been made in the book is done strictly in general terms. Both the custodians of science and the bona fide managers of the society must share the overall lapses in the nation\'s scientific panorama. But this evaluation is certainly not an issue in this book. An appreciation of the contexts that have been highlighted in this book are more important than the laurels and lapses of one or the other.

The aim of the book is to bring into focus some of these omissions in the hope of stimulating dispassionate debate on the important matter of the nation\'s science and technology planning."