Abstract
The circumstance of science and technology activities in Japan has seen considerable changes during the ten years since the enforcement of the Science and Technology Basic Law in 1995. A survey shows that the general public is now less interested in science and technology than ten years ago, while paying more attention to spiritual enrichment of life. In addition, pressure from decreasing birth rate is more evident than ever. Discussions on the Third Phase of the Science and Technology Basic Plan should, therefore, include such issues as S&T policies in relation to longterm national goals (including national security and competitiveness), recruitment of personnel in the S&T fields, and effective communications between S&T experts and the public.
