KYOTO -- The inaugural Science and Technology in Society meeting here concluded Tuesday with participants happy to exchange views with distinguished colleagues but divided on how to expand the conference to make it as important as the World Economic Forum.
The brainchild of former Science and Technology Minister Koji Omi, the STS forum brought together nearly 500 scientists, including eight Nobel Prize winners, academics from the world's leading research institutes, corporate titans in the energy and pharmaceutical industries, and politicians.
During the three-day forum, participants discussed several areas of international social and political concern, including energy, stem cell research and information technology.