Science and Responsability

Report of Robert SALMON, Vice-President of L'OREAL to the Chairman, Lindsay OWEN JONES, and the Board of Directors of L'OREAL concerning the recent Davos Forum 1997:

Over the last several years, a few Nobel Prize Winners came individually to Davos to deliver their messages. Now, for the first time that Mr. Klaus SCHWAB, aware of the moral authority of scientists, has established a format collaboration between the World Institute of Science and the World Economic Forum.

The World Institute of Science is composed of more than a hundred of the world's best scientists, among whom at least 40 of the world's most prestigious Nobel Prize Winners. The Institute selects the most-qualified experts in each discipline and tries to join-up those scientists who are both eminent in their field of activity and concerned about the responsibility of their discoveries.

Most of the scientists are aware that their new discoveries can potentially have positive or negative outcomes. Would people choose to threaten their own global system, ecology and even the basis of their life?

Today, Scientists are put under increasing pressure to transform their new discoveries into consumer products, the only objective being to raise companies sales. Nevertheless, two long- term consequences are often not taken into account. Even If such, often spectacular discoveries are destined for improving the destiny of mankind, the most famous scientists are worrying about having their discoveries deviated for short-term objectives.

This fear was the reason for the establishment of the World I nstitute of Science. Mr. Klaus Schwab has always been highly concerned about these questions. He shares the vision of a harmonious development with Claude Smadja. He recognizes that the debate on scientific discoveries requires the responsibility of SO scientists, businessmen and politicians.

Klaus SCHWAB in:
"International Herald Tribune" February I st, 19%, and "Le Monde", July 17th, 1996:

"TODAY, BOTH POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF PROVING THAT THE NEW GLOBAL CAPITALISM MAY FUNCTION TO THE BENEFIT OF THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND NOT ONLY AT THE BENEFIT OF MANAGERS AND INVESTORS.'