I think it would be a good idea for many of the people interested in this set of topics to join and post on the icsu forum. Introduction to the ICSU/CODATA on line discussion forum: “Science and Technology in the Information Society” Background The UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is scheduled to take place in Geneva in December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. The scientific and technological community has a key role to play in the development of the Information Society for the benefit of society as a whole. In this development, there are both opportunities and threats for the future of science itself. In its aim to bring together stakeholders from all sectors (governments, business and industry, and civil society), WSIS provides a unique opportunity to define the principles and specific actions that will underpin future development of the information society. The international S&T community has a responsibility to ensure that its voice is heard in defining these discussions. This on-line forum is one small step in that direction. http://www.icsu.org/index.htm?http&&&www.icsu.org/mainNew.html Aims of the on-line Forum jeremy hunsinger jhuns@vt.edu on the ibook www.cddc.vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy/blog () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments