Nader Says Scholars Should Help Prevent Technological Harm

Ralph Nader, author of controversial studies of automobile safety, last night called on university engineers to recognize the potentially harmful consequences of society's technological advances and inform the public of preventive measures.

Speaking at M.I.T., Nader said that, "the obstacles to change in the realm of public safety are non-technical. Given enough manpower and funds, man can solve almost any problem."

But Nader emphasized that society can't rely on industry to define the dangers of its products. It falls, then, to the university professor to uncover and publicize these deleterious side-effects, Nader said.

"We're in an era of corporate authoritarianism," Nader said, "which will continue until there is enough agitation from independent interests, such as university figures, to stimulate change."