*********** 050293A.ENV *********** Country: Japan KEYWORDS: Japan, disaster mitigation, natural disasters, United Nations Msg. B contains the summary of the JAPAN PRIZE COMMEMORATIVE SPEECH-"SCIENCE, SERENDIPITY AND SOCIETY" By Dr. FRANK PRESS, President of the U.S. National Academy of Science. The prestigious Japan Prize was given for Dr. Press's contribution to the International Decade of Natural Disaster Mitigation run through the United Nations. Dr. Press briefly discussed the research climate in the United States which produced the "Golden Age" of science and cited the Office of Naval Research as one of the major factors in both promoting science and technology and developing new scientists. Dr. Press's doctoral work at Columbia was sponsored by ONR through grants to Prof. Maurice Ewing. In his talk, Dr. Press stressed the use of science and technology in mitigating the effects of natural disasters which is now possible due to a better understanding of natural processes and identification of hazardous areas. ************** END Msg. A.ENV **************