El papel de la ciencia básica para el desarrollo tecnológico: Repercusiones en los aspectos sociales y humanísticos

(Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas CSIC, Vilafranca del Penedès - Barcelona - , 22 de septiembre de 2006)

The Asociación Alexander von Humboldt de España has held the 6th Humboldt Kolleg on “The Role Played by Basic Science In Technological Development: Its Social and Humanistic Repercussions" at Vilafranca del Penedes.

The purpose was to debate the role of science and how it is seen at the society and his impact on the society. This idea is to see the important of the science and how can contribute to develop the society and what kind of different models do we have to approach the society. At the end a round table will be held a round table about “Science in its Different Dimensions in Terms of Society, Education, Social Responsibility and Journalism”.

This Humboldt Kolleg is organised together with Scientific Research at the  Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Also the city of Vilafranca del Penedes and the Caixa de Penedes support this Humboldt Kolleg.

The Humboldt Kolleg has been inaugurated by Professor José Manuel Fernández de Labastida, Vice-President of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Dr. Wolf Daerr, Consul General for the German Federal Republic in Barcelona; Mr. Marcel Esteve i Robert,  Mayor of Vilafranca del Penedès,  Professor Santiago García Echevarría, President of the Spanish Alexander von Humboldt Association and Professor José Francisco Baltá, Chairman of the Organising Committee. After the Inauguration, the Kolleg proper began with a presentation by Professor José Manuel Fernández de Labastida y del Olmo, Vice-President of Scientific Research at the  Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) about “The Present and Future of R+D in Spain”. There then followed a presentation by Professor Johannes Kabatek, University of  Tübingen and representative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation  about  “National Programmes in Support of Globalised Science: A Contradiction in Terms?” and a presentation by Mr  Joan Bosch, Director of Economic planning at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Munich about “Combining Research and Innovation; the Challenges of the Frauenhofer Institutes“. Finally in the morning we have had a presentation about “Interconnection between Basic Research and Practical Applications” held by Professor Goerg H. Michler, University of  Halle.

In the afternoon we have analyse the society and education aspect of the science. Two presentations have been held:

• “The Past, Present and Future of the Relationship between Science and Society”   held by Professor Juan Arana Cañedo-Argüelles, University of Seville 
• “Science during the First Stages of Education” held by Professor Alfredo Tiemblo Ramos (CSIC), Vice-President of the Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies

Finally we concluded with the round table “Science in its Different Dimensions in Terms of Society, Education, Social Responsibility and Journalism.”

There was a profound and wide-ranging debate and we will publish the presentation and conclusion of this Humboldt Kolleg.