The world's communications networks have begun to give each individual scientist or technologist the means to help close the knowledge gap between industrialized and developing nations. Through the global system that the S&T community is creating on the Internet, local investigators can stay up to date on, and participate in, cutting-edge research. And because these indigenous professionals generally understand their nation's culture and can easily communicate with its people, they are uniquely placed to be disseminators of advanced knowledge and know-how to other critical local actors - greatly increasing the likelihood that the new technologies will be well adapted to that society's needs and cultures. Any nation without such a core of scientists and technologists can expect to fall farther and farther behind the rest of the world.

Countries at different stages of development will of course need different types of S&T expertise, and they may be expected to invest in science and technology at different rates. But even in the poorest nations, a substantial enrollment in higher education is essential, particularly in science and engineering courses. For that to happen, S&T practitioners should become sufficiently involved in education at all levels to help generate the human capital on which so much of development depends.

Beyond communicating among themselves, with policymakers and their students, the S&T community should regularly interact with the public. Many issues require public debate, and scientists and engineers should help inform this debate by engaging with the media. For its part, the media should consistently seek out the most reliable sources in order to present the issues accurately and effectively.