January 2003 / No. 21

Science & Technology

Taking Initial Step on
Info Revolution

Tehran was host to a first-ever seminar under the title of “Iran & Information Society in 2022” in December. The seminar, – aimed to bring together thoughts and views on an “information society” in Iran and the region, – was inaugurated with messages from Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Koichiro Matsuura, the Director General of UNESCO.

In his message, President Khatami said the “communications revolution” has reduced distances in all spheres to an extent that one can no longer sit idly by, nor has the chance to ponder at lengths on a plan of action. We must plunge into this atmosphere and with active involvement seek to benefit from its opportunities. Fear of change must be substituted with new policies that facilitate the easy and speedy access to human experience and knowledge worldwide. Our country has immense potential and is capable and ready to indulge in the valuable achievements of the “communications revolution” and emerge as an “information society”. To this end we must proceed with new national resolve for the all-encompassing development and advancement of the country, starting from the introduction of new technologies and the establishment of scientific networks.

N. Jahangard, Director of the Supreme Information Communication Council and Presidential Advisor	Representative of Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO

The Director General of UNESCO, while reiterating the aims of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) set to be held in Geneva December 2003 and Tunisia in 2005, stated that these seminars provide a glimpse and backdrop to information and knowledge-based societies in which differences and diversity are respected and equitable development is achieved. UNESCO’s intergovernmental Information for All Program (IFAP) was suggested as a framework for international and regional cooperation, in an attempt to narrow the gap between information rich and information poor countries. On behalf of UNESCO, Matsuura sincerely thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts in research and planning for an information and communications era and congratulated Iran on its adequate preparation for its national and regional participation in WSIS.

In his speech, the Director of the Supreme Information Communication Council and Presidential Advisor, Nasrollah Jahangard said the aim of the seminar was to gather a collection of thoughts and views from the elite and academia on the national and international effects of the “communications revolution” for Iran, and how to better benefit from this phenomenon. He expressed hope that this seminar, and its subsequent global endeavors, will facilitate the establishment of a knowledge-based society in Iran.

The seminar was host to more than 20 university and executive figures, who delivered speeches on a range of issues. The seminar’s key concepts were attended to by Iran’s academia, outlines of which appear in the following reports.