Science is the art of answering new questions, but more and more often is facing problems which are the product of its own success. First among these is the problem posed by the relationship between scientific research and economic growth, generated by the changing equilibrium among the developed countries and the growing gap between the North and South of the planet, by a new conception of health and the quality of life and by the questions that technological progress poses for the future of human race and the environment. Scientific progress has always deeply modified social organisation and individual liife style and attitude, often indipendently from a public awareness of these transformations. Today, the relationship between science and economics is stronger than ever, and the pace of discoveries and their application is more and more rapid. Communicating to the public the potential and the limits of research is therefore indispensable to create a good relationship between science and society, between decision-makers and the citizen. Ten Nobel Laureates are invited to turn their attention to the major issues that have emerged from the redefinition of our conceptions of humanity, nature and society in the wake of scientific progress. Their lectures are divided into five sessions.

The sessions Research Priorities A scientific and technological advances over the last two hundred years have radically transformed the structure of our society. For this very reason, research priorities can no longer be selected solely on the basis of criteria laid down in laboratories or their related industries. The definition of what direction science should take in the future must take account of the new demand of society. Towards a Global Ethics Two-thirds of humanity have virtually no access to the benefits generated by scientific and technological progress. The needs and problems of the poorest regions of the globe are a starting point for a redefinition of research objectives aimed at bridging the enormous cultural and economic gap between North and South. New Technologies and Sustainable Growth The main problem facing humanity in the next century will be the development of technologies that foster economic growth and yet allow us to manage the environment more effectively: from superconductivity to new materials, from wiser use of energy resources to low-pollution industrial activity. Putting Biology at the Service of Humanity Advances in medicine and biology have conquered many diseases, improved the quality of life and extended life expectancy; and progress continues. But in many fields - genetics, biotechnologies, transplants, prolonging the lives of the incurably ill - new values and limits are required to establish an equilibrium between the identity of contemporary human beings and the power of their knowledge. The Responsibility of the Scientist The economic and social repercussions of scientific research are obvious to all: scientists can no longer seek refuge in an ivory tower, especially following the end of Cold War and the elimination of a world divided into ideological blocs. What are the new responsibilities of scientists towards society? Might these reponsibilities lead to a conscious self-limitation of their research?