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For reasons that are altruistic as well as self-serving, members of the U.S. scientific community must explore every avenue of communication with colleagues in other countries. The evolving new world order makes it imperative that U.S. scientists particularly help colleagues in less developed countries. The flow of information into many of these countries has been inadequate for their citizens to enjoy the beneficial effects of science and technology on human existence. These countries remain unable to meet the demands of their people for improved education, goods, and services, or to update their teaching and their practice of science and technology. There are many possible avenues of assistance for these countries, but none is better prepared or suited for the purpose than UNESCO--the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO has been network-building for many years, and, more than any other U.N. organization, currently is working on a global level in many areas consistent with U.S. interests, such as universal literacy, special education for women, environmental quality, and copyright protection. However, the United States is not currently a member of UNESCO. The United States withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, expressing concern that trends in policy, ideological emphasis, lack of budgetary constraints, and poor management diminished the organization's effectiveness and caused UNESCO to stray from the principles on which it was originally constituted. The United States' withdrawal in 1984 was followed in 1985 by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Singapore.
In an effort to reinterest lost members and to address its shortcomings, UNESCO elected a new Director-General in 1987, Dr. Federico Mayor. Mayor, a Spanish biochemist, has demonstrated leadership in reforming UNESCO. He has made major progress in solving problems of excessive politicalization and poor management. Furthermore, he has maintained an open, constructive, and frank dialogue with representatives of the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and the U.S. nongovernmental intellectual community. Since...