Uncovering new knowledge about the world we live in contributes to a richer life and we support this. We believe actions, including research, need to reflect the fundamental uncertainty that pervades our world. Greater knowledge implies a richer understanding of the interconnectedness of things rather than control. Y2K problems are an obvious example of the pitfalls of over confidence with a new technology. Knowledge in this sense is a route to humility rather than power.
Technology needs to fit people rather than forcing the people to fit the technology.
In other words, technology is our servant not our master. Experts on tap, not on top' is a phrase that reflects our view of the role of science in the community. We need to do much more to ensure that information becomes knowledge and that knowledge becomes wisdom. All publicly funded research will have to have an ethical basis and serve a demonstrated need, and the results will become public property. We believe curiosity about the world is a valid reason for research, provided it is tempered by ethics.