THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Basic research seeks an understanding of the laws of nature without regard for specific utilitarian value. The real objective of basic research is not merely to discover a collection of separate facts by weighing this and measuring that, but to develop an understanding of nature by seeking out the why and how of nature's behavior. Basic research is important in several senses: it has very great intellectual and cultural value, it is the foundation upon which rests all of our technological advances, it is intimately involved in the education and training of first-class scientists and engineers. Applied research is carried out with practical and, usually, but not necessarily, specific objectives in mind. Such research may involve special measurements to yield data needed for some engineering purpose. It could be a broad study of high-temperature materials for application to many purposes. Much applied research seeks detailed information regarding a specific situation for which the general laws are known from basic research. Development is the systematic use of knowledge directed toward the design and production of useful prototypes, materials, devices, systems, methods, or processes. This includes the construction and testing of "hardware," including military weapons systems, space vehicles, nuclear reactors, and many other items great and small. This is the costliest aspect of the research and development spectrum, both in Government and in private industry. It is distinct and separate from research in that it applies the results of research to the production of end products. All three areas of activity are important. Applied research builds on the results of basic research. Development builds on both. The more complete our underlying knowledge, the easier the task of applied research and of development. In the broad sense, research is in this era the foundation upon which rests all technological development. AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 9 In the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the Congress made clear its judgment that basic research was of such national importance as to warrant a new agency and to authorize explicit Federal expenditures for this purpose. Among other things, the Foundation was authorized and directed 1. to develop a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences; 2. to support basic scientific research and to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and the general welfare; 3. at the request of the Secretary of Defense, to support specific defense research activities; 4. to award scholarships and graduate fellowships in the sciences; 5. to foster the interchange of scientific information; 'Public Law 81-507, 60 Stat. 149, 42 U.S.C. 1861-1881. 10 THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 6. to maintain a register of scientific and technical personnel and to serve as a central clearinghouse for information covering such personnel; 7. to evaluate scientific research undertaken by Federal agencies and to correlate the Foundation's research programs with other such programs; and 8. to cooperate in international scientific research activities. Since its establishment in 1950, the authority of the Foundation has undergone few amendments. The initial limitation on annual appropriations was removed in 1953. Responsibilities in weather modification and also in the science information area were added in 1958. The most significant and far-reaching change, however, occurred in 1962 when, under Reorganization Plan No. 2, elements of Government-wide policymaking and program evaluation (items 1 and 7 above) were transferred to a new Office of Science and Technology within the Executive Office of the President. Some 42 other Federal departments and agencies with interests in science and technology are engaged in or supporting research and development to fulfill their missions. The Foundation is one of them, and its growing contribution to the overall Federal scientific effort is indicated by the appropriations data shown in table I. Among these different agencies the Foundation is unique for only the NSF—and, in certain respects, the Smithsonian Institution-has an explicit mandate to sponsor basic research in science unrelated to a specific agency mission. TABLE 1.-National Science Foundation appropriations related to Federal obligations for research 2 Approximately 50 percent in recent years is devoted to research and facilities support. Basic research only at nonprofit institutions-"Federal Funds for Science, vol. tions"). 4 Not available. (presumably "obliga "Federal Funds for Scientific Activities in the Federal Government." Fiscal years 1953 and 1954, NSF 58-14, p. 105. "Federal Funds for Science," vol. V, p. 10. 7 Estimated. Requested. Source: National Science Foundation "Federal Funds for Science" and Federal Funds for Research Development and other Scientific Activities." THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION 11 Any idea that the Foundation exists without a central mission to give coherence and force to its operations is incorrect. The eight functions set out in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, comprise and outline a mission of great current and future importance, one that can affect the future of the country as dramatically as missions which leave more visible results, such as highways, dams and hospitals. Dr. Haworth described it as "the advancement of science in the national interest." 8 16* Dr. Hornig said it was * *to strengthen American science per se, *** 9 that *** the National Science Foundation, is, of course, the only agency which has as a fundamental responsibility the health of basic American science and science education.” 10 11 Dr. Waterman called it a "national program for the advancement of science.12 This mission extends to and impacts upon the whole of the Nation's scientific and engineering community wherever it is found: on campus, in industry and in government. As this report has said before, and will say again, the Foundation has the potential to become a powerful instrument of national policy for science, shaping it, interacting with it, and helping to carry it forward. The mission of the Foundation concerns the very science resources of the Nation to the end that no part of the country, no segment of its industry, no sector of its higher education should be closed off from the resources requisite to realize the promise of this scientific age. IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS MISSION Considering that the principal mission of the Foundation is to help maintain a vigorous and healthy scientific and technological base for the country as a whole, it is not surprising that its first years were devoted more to organizing and carrying out its support for basic research and science education than to influencing the shape of national science policy. NSF's early years were marked by a disparity between goals and resources. By virtue of its broad, comprehensive legislation assigning responsibility "to develop and encourage the pursuit of a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences," and the desire by its first Director to adhere to congressional intent, the Foundation started to plan and organize initial programs in support of the three primary components of a scientific capability: Research, manpower development, and communication. From a variety of options, the Foundation chose to support research through grants for individual projects rather than for programs or general institutional support. Most of these grants represented the undirected interest of the proposing scientists. Some, however, were attracted by the emphasis given by the Foundation to special areas of science selected for particular attention through the national research programs such as the International Geophysical Year. 10 THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 6. to maintain a register of scientific and technical pers. and to serve as a central clearinghouse for information cov such personnel; 7. to evaluate scientific research undertaken by Federal cies and to correlate the Foundation's research programs other such programs; and 8. to cooperate in international scientific research activi Since its establishment in 1950, the authority of the Foundati undergone few amendments. The initial limitation on annual priations was removed in 1953. Responsibilities in weather cation and also in the science information area were added irr The most significant and far-reaching change, however, occur 1962 when, under Reorganization Plan No. 2, elements of Gi ment-wide policymaking and program evaluation (items 1 above) were transferred to a new Office of Science and Tech within the Executive Office of the President. Some 42 other Federal departments and agencies with inte science and technology are engaged in or supporting resear development to fulfill their missions. The Foundation is one o and its growing contribution to the overall Federal scientific indicated by the appropriations data shown in table I. Amor the pote different agencies the Foundation is unique for only the NS.oe, in certain respects, the Smithsonian Institution-has and The mandate to sponsor basic research in science unrelated to as of the agency mission. Ge of its ind TABLE 1.-National Science Foundation appropriations related to Feder from the r MATION OF IT pal mission healthy scien it is not surp and carryi tion than to 's early year By virtu nsibility "to for the pro 916 and the desir the Foundation ort of the th 1,085 2,977 arch, manp ety of opti grants for ind titutional su ed interest of 2 Approximately 50 percent in recent years is devoted to research and facilities support. by the emph Basic research only at nonprofit institutions-"Federal Funds for Science, vol. I (prest tions").700 Source: National Science Foundation "Federal Funds for Science" and Federal Fur Development and other Scientific Activities." as on 4 to Dr. Horni THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION 11 Any idea that the Foundation exists without a central mission to to Dr. Waterman called it a "national program for the advancement lence.12 This mission extends to and impacts upon the whole of the Nation's ific and engineering community wherever it is found: on campus, dustry and in government. As this report has said before, and ay again, the Foundation has the potential to become a powerful ment of national policy for science, shaping it, interacting with ed helping to carry it forward. The mission of the Foundation s the very science resources of the Nation to the end that no the country, no segment of its industry, no sector of its higher on should be closed off from the resources requisite to realize xomise of this scientific age. IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS MISSION idering that the principal mission of the Foundation is to help a vigorous and healthy scientific and technological base ountry as a whole, it is not surprising that its first years were more to organizing and carrying out its support for basic and science education than to influencing the shape of naence policy. NSF's early years were marked by a disparity goals and resources. By virtue of its broad, comprehensive assigning responsibility "to develop and encourage the a national policy for the promotion of basic research and in the sciences," and the desire by its first Director to adhere Essional intent, the Foundation started to plan and organize Tams in support of the three primary components of a Capability: Research, manpower development, and comFrom a variety of options, the Foundation chose to earch through grants for individual projects rather than for or general institutional support. Most of these grants the undirected interest of the proposing scientists. Some, sere attracted by the emphasis given by the Foundation to of science selected for particular attention through the search programs such as the International Geophysical vol. II, question 4 to Dr. Hornig, p. 1103. M ON has Should ate it is cientists alysis or also has ndamental percent of support of basic |