From 21st to 23rd September 2005 the “First World Conference on the Future of Science” will be held in Venice.

The idea of this conference springs from an awareness that the problems and dilemmas generated by unrelenting scientific and technological progress are not being adequately discussed in society as a whole.

As science exerts an ever more pervasive influence on our lives, society seems ill-informed about the short and long term implications of scientific advance, little interested in strategic decisions regarding investment in research, and unaware of the social, economic and cultural consequences of the continuing technological revolution.

Experts of international renown from various spheres and disciplines will be invited to give their points of view on these issues, which are crucial to the destiny of our society.

Umberto Veronesi