نشریه رهیافت
پیاپی 49 (پاییز و زمستان 1390)

The policy making processes in science and technology High Councils، in addition to the decision making commissions and committees comprising the top ranking officials and leading scientists and researchers in various fields of science and technology، need have a of the research and executive support bodies. Effective interaction between the high councils and the research and executive support institutions can lead to effective and efficient policies. This article investigates the patterns of policy-making systems and interactions between the main science and technology policy making institutions in the U. S، England، Japan، Sought Korea، Turkey and Pakistan. Findings of this study provide a typology of such interactive patterns and compare it with the existing situation in Iran. In the final section of the article، the policy implications for improving the interactive pattern in Iran are suggested.

Convergent sciences and technologies which are mostly identified with Nano، Bio، Info and Cogno (NBIC) S&T due to their immense causal power in comparison to traditional S&T are capable of bringing about considerable changes in all aspects of human life. Paying close attention to the possible impacts of these convergent S&Ts is of utmost importance for any long-term planning based on Future Studies considerations. The present paper is a summary report of a comprehensive Future Studies project sponsored by the Expediency Council. The project which involved a large number of experts from various fields was initiated in 2009 and was completed in early 2011.

The move towards a knowledge society and knowledge-based economy is not just a fundamental necessity for developing countries like Iran. Preventing the progress of such societies in this area can reduce their power for competitiveness. In accordance with the need of these countries'' economic situation to move from a traditional resource-based economy towards a knowledgebased economy، taking into account of the experience of different countries can help to reduce the likelihood of following the wrong direction. This paper has the aim of showing how the experience of developing countries، with an emphasis on Arab countries'' moves towards creating a knowledge society and economy، can provide a general framework for planning the progress of a Iranian society towards a knowledge society and knowledge-based economy also. The results of this paper show that working on developing an infrastructure for transportation and information، expanding short-term education courses، trying to produce knowledge goods and services، aiming redefine products on the basis of knowledge and، at the same time، the creation of social، cultural and political foundations have all played an important role in the Arab countries، move towards building a knowledge society. This way of viewing a knowledge society and knowledge-based economy could serve as a good model for Iran to follow.

This article aims to discuss the approaches، methods and challenges of research evaluation. Research evaluation can be ex-ante or ex-post. Ex-post evaluation of research could focus on output، outcome، impact، or activities. There are numerous methods for the valuation of output، outcome and impact that can be categorized under three categories of qualitative، quantitative، and qualitative-qualitative methods.

Science، technology and innovation (STI) indicators are the most important resources of information for policy makers. The design of favorite paths، without enough knowledge of the current situation or evaluation of previous actions، is impossible. In this way، Indicators are guides and assessment tools. The purpose of this paper is to study of suitability of STI indicators used by policymakers in the Iranian context. First، we investigate the development of STI indicators and standard STI measurement manuals، and then examine the suitability of them relying on theoretical arguments and Iranian policy documents. Despite of the importance of innovation in achieving economic development and the knowledge society، Iranian surveys are more focused on science and technology (ST) indicators and less on innovation ones. STI policy makers are far from firms which are at the center of a systemic approach to innovation. The long history of linear and supply-driven approaches to innovation has had great influence on this insight.

The expression of reaching perfection in the convergence of social currents and nations can be meaningful in terms of the emergence of human civilizations. Human civilizations are also based on cultures، attitudes and thought. Undoubtedly، one of the factors impacting on the formation of culture and the foundation of ideas governing society the principles and concept of human sciences which extended through the knowledge of society. Human science، is the most important element of the integration of civilization. Since، the most important mission of the human sciences is social macro policy making and، in other words، human sciences policy making means policy making of policy making. Undoubtedly، if the human sciences of a country are faced with disruption or closure، that country''s macro planning will be disrupted or even ended. As happened in Iran from the constitutional period up to the present، Western human sciences took over macro policy in Iran. The important point is that Western on non-native human sciences have been the basis of planning of Iranian macro policy making in the form of «modernization»، «development»، and a «globalization» up to now. Due to this situation an evolution in human sciences policy making is necessary. This important action can not be achieved unless road maps for change in human sciences is prepared and to be implemented from the start to the final step. In this article we have attempted to consider the importance and necessity of change in the human sciences and propose appropriate methods for achieving this evolution and the production of Islamic human sciences.