U.S., Soviets Explore New Basic Science Pact

New YORK - The Soviet Union is considering proposals for a new science agreement with the United States that would replace a 1972 agreement that was allowed to lapse. The new agreement could he the highlight of this summer's superpower summit, if the two sides are unable to complete work by that time on a treaty to cut in half the number of strategic nuclear weapons. Negotiations on a basic sciences agreement could begin within several weeks, according to Rd Mcsweegan a microbiologist at the Na

| 5 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
5:00
Share

American negotiators have proposed two significant changes in any future agreement with the Soviets. "We want it to be 'the basics,' said McSweegan "It's going to be in geology earth sciences, chemistry, life sciences, to take advantage of same of the fields where the Soviets are world-class,"

US. officials also envision a streamlined process that will allow individual scientists, no matter where they work, to initiate proposals for joint projects.

The emphasis on pure science was controversial during exploratory talks last year, McSweegan said. The Soviet Site Committee for Science and Technology at first argued for restoration of the 1972 Umbrella Science and Technology Agreement, with access to applied science and technology.

But another faction. represented by the Soviet Academy of Sciences, recognized the benefits of conducting basic research with American scientists. "I suppose on another level," McSweegan added, "The Soviet Academy members looked on it as a way of ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Greg Stec

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio
Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio