ABSTRACT
Science and technology (S & T) are not usually regarded as cultural, but some S & T exchanges have been a part of the cultural agreement since its inception. The United States and the Soviet Union have the world’s largest scientific communities, and it is understandable that there should be high interest in science exchanges on both sides. S & T exchanges between the two countries in the post-war period began in 1958 under the first cultural agreement which included exchanges of delegations in industry, agriculture and medicine. Human rights have also affected S & T exchanges with the Soviet Union. The structure of S & T exchanges was indeed in place in November 1985 when the Reagan-Gorbachev summit signalled renewed interest in exchanges. Often overlooked in evaluating S & T exchanges is the cultural or human factor, the effect on a Soviet scientist, indeed on all Soviet citizens, of a visit to the United States.
