During World War II, Joseph Needham was sent as the British Science Attache to the beleaguered Chinese government which was fighting off the invading Japanese Army. This visit by an eminent biologist and member of the Royal Society precipitated a life-long fascination with the development of Chinese science and technology. Forty years ago, Needham launched "Science and Civilization in China." It has grown to an international effort to document the full range of scientific and technological developments in traditional China, one of the most advanced of non-Western scientific traditions. 15 volumes have already been completed, 14 more are in various stages of completion. The NSF has been supporting American participation in this project for the past 10 years. With this grant, the project should reach completion with the final volume going to press in 1994. Not only will this grant provide support for the continuing research effort, but, as important, will provide support for 4 graduate students to train with Needham at his Institute in Cambridge. Thus, a new generation of students of Chinese science and technology will be prepared. To understand the nature of science and technology requires that it be studied from many different perspectives. Modern "S&T" (i.e. since the 17th century) have been principally a Western phenomena, but traditionally China has been in the forefront of scientific and technological development. To understand how S&T developed in China and to understand the differences in its culture which retarded the advance of "modern" science will greatly enhance our broader comprehension of how this peculiar human pursuit develops.
