Nobel laureate and virologist David Baltimore gave his Presidential Address last night as he officially opened the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement in Boston.

He mainly talked about why he chose the theme for this year’s meeting, “A Global Perspective on Science and Technology,” reviewing the need for solutions to poverty, improved access to clean water, economic development and clean energy for all the world’s people.

He joined the call for a debate by the presidential candidates on science and technology, during which they should have to discuss positions on such topics as alternative energy, stem cells and the fact that “abstinence is not the only way to protect people from HIV.”

He discussed the disappointments and challenges faced so far by scientists working to come up with an AIDS vaccine.

He mentioned his travels to developing countries that are working to advance economic development by investing in better training in science and technology in academia. “Demand excellence” was no. 1 on his list of “Baltimore’s Rules of Academic Development,” which ended with “academic freedom is crucial” (otherwise governments dictate the direction of science). He also urges new institutions to stay small and focused, and to grow slowly.

More excerpts from his comments, many of them quite pointed and political, can be found here.

He ended his comments on a personal note, saying that he has lived a “life of denial” since 2001, denying responsibility for the actions of his country. He then asked if he had “the right of denial,” noting such incidents as the torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib.

Finally, he said he remained optimistic that our nation would begin to deal with global warming and that the “tide of religious-based anti-intellectualism is beginning to turn.”

There was plenty of applause, but no standing ovation.

Baltimore then introduced Paul Kagame, president of the Republic of Rwanda and the nation’s first democratically elected leader, who spoke about efforts to advance science and technology in his country as a central part of the plan to recover from the 1994 genocide. The United States is the nation’s role model, President Kagame said.

“Advancing science in the developing world is vital for creating an engaged, healthier and peaceful world,” he said. “Africa is no exception … and must improve science and technology to enhance our prospects for improving life.”

Kagame got a standing ovation.