Prize winners, Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg at Finally, to insure adequate experimental facili- We have rapidly increased our program in gravitational physics in accord with the recent development of experimental and theoretical opportunities of high scientific merit. This area of fundamental interest to both physics and astronomy is at a forefront level of excitement with the possibility of detecting gravitational radiation and observing the consequences of the existence of black holes. Many activities in physics are producing basic results of importance to astronomy and other disciplines. Our program in nuclear science emphasizes topics such as nuclear matter at high compression, nonstatistical behavior in nuclear reactions, and the basic nature of nuclear forces. This activity and that in atomic, molecular, and plasma physics have contributed and continue to contribute so much to our basic understanding of nature and have also led to extremely practical, important technological devices. It is certainly worth remembering that the laser is a development of atomic physics; that ion implantation, a basic tool of the modern electronics industry, is a development of nuclear physics. These fields continue to provide basic knowledge and new technologies which are central to the activities of many areas of science. Without progress in physics, many activities in chemistry, materials science, and astronomy would suffer. Our planning reflects the fact that the unity of the discipline of physics is high. For example, the developments in elementary particle physics are likely to lead to the profound understanding. of the structure and dynamics of nuclei. Our program in physics in the 1981 budget request has been planned to provide strong, balanced research activities in the basic areas of physics. Chemistry is a most successful science enjoying one of its most exciting periods. It deals with the complex phenomena of molecular transformations. Developments in chemistry have had profound effects in diverse areas such as synthetic polymers, pharmaceuticals, food production and utilization. It is indeed hard to think of any aspect of modern life which is not profoundly affected by discoveries of chemistry over the past 50 years. The primary reason that we have the acute, precise science of molecular biology is due to the detailed knowledge that we have gained and continue to gain in chemistry. front. Advances in chemistry continue on a broad There are highlights and excitements such as the applications of lasers to chemistry, the knowledge of mechanisms of organic chemistry which permit synthesis of complex molecules to be planned in virtually an architectural manner. Theoretical developments that are occurring in chemistry extend over a vast array of topics ranging from the detailed understanding in terms of basic physical principles of nature and rates of chemical reactions through an attempt to understand catalytic activity. A large effort in quantum chemistry, understanding of chemical processes at the most fundamental physical level, continues to attract some of our very best minds. Our program in synthetic organic chemistry is small relative to its needs. dependent upon the National Institutes of Health for funding 80% of the activities in this area. We are Inorganic chemistry continues to hold great promise for revolutionary discovery. The 1979 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Professor Herbert C. Brown of Purdue University for his work in this field. In addition to the understanding of inorganic synthesis, the development of new inorganic products, and compounds which frequently have profound effects in the area of materials research, the whole subject of catalysis is intimately connected to this area of chemistry. There is a large effort directed toward the understanding of the fundamentals of catalysis. The importance of this area of science in which we have programs both in chemistry and in materials research cannot be underestimated both in its intellectual depth and its likely practical importance. As an example, platinum is a most ubiquitous catalyst and we are highly dependent on Soviet and South African sources for this metal. It is clear that the investment we are making in the fundamental understanding of catalytic activity is essential for the future. The utility of the fundamental understanding of chemical processes and analytical methodology to areas of concern such as environmental quality is clear. All too often we are faced with severe problems in which our basic understanding is too incomplete to permit rapid, efficient attack upon an urgent problem. It is noteworthy, for example, that many of the early warnings of severe concern for our environment have come from the academic community concerned with fundamental science. As we develop both the basic knowledge and basic methodologies for our understanding of chemistry, we will be in a much more secure position to efficiently attack these important problems. The balance in our chemistry program between theory and experiment appears good. Although it is clear that the needs for increased modern experimental capabilities are severe, the requested 1981 budget offers the ability to make progress in this problem. Thirty percent of the requested 1981 budget is devoted to materials research, the largest division of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. This division is responsible for both a number of disciplines and a variety of activities. Solid state physics, solid state chemistry, low temperature physics, condensed matter theory, ceramics, metallurgy and polymers are the research activities funded under this division. In addition, it is responsible for the 13 materials research laboratories which provide a focus for strong interdisciplinary activities. Several national facilities such as the Synchrotron Radiation Sources, the National Magnet Laboratory, the Low-Angle Neutron Scattering Facility are supported by this division. Materials research is a vast area of great intellectual promise that cannot be conveniently classified under a classical discipline. The understanding, in an accurate predictive manner, of the |