there is inadequate understanding of science policy and of the incentive mechanisms for science and technology to meet today's needs. We need better to understand and be able to predict the patterns of research and development, the mechanisms which lead to invention, innovation, and the diffusion of technology, and the role that these processes play in promoting our social and economic well-being. Much can be learned from the experiences of this and other nations with different policies for science; but this Nation, which led in the industrial revolution, must take the lead in this new challenge.

Since its inception, the National Science Foundation has been concerned with the understanding and development of national science policies. The National Science Board in particular has had a major concern in this area and has contributed both directly and indirectly to national science policy. The President in his recent budget message to the Congress asked the Foundation to accept added responsibility in designing and testing new incentive mechanisms to encourage solutions to economic and technological problems. The Foundation views this increased responsibility as a challenge and an opportunity to contribute further to the effective utilization of science. We recognize that the new incentives program is an experiment whose potential benefits justify the risks involved. In spite of the hazards, we are convinced that the Federal Government should undertake this program.

And finally, in a more philosophical vein, I should like to comment briefly about the moral and ethical problems posed by developments in the biological, behavioral, and other sciences.

As science probes ever closer to the origins of life, the determinates of social behavior, and the limits of man's ability to influence his environment and that of his neighbor, the moral and ethical implications of scientific research and technological development must be considered. It is essential that citizens generally understand and discuss the possible impacts of these new developments. Scientists must assume a major responsibility in initiating the studies and discussion which will provide a sound platform for intelligent policy decision by making clear the scientific possibilities. We in the Foundation will be addressing ourselves to these problems in the years ahead.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize the necessity for a balanced national program in science. A strong, diversified and stable base for the support of science is important to the well being of our country. We rely upon our base of science and technology as the key to our national security, economic growth and prosperity, and our ability to exploit future opportunities. We must increase continually the fundamental knowledge of which it is made.

I strongly support the fiscal year 1973 program of the National Science Foundation, which we will be discussing in detail with Mr. Davis and his subcommittee, since I feel that this program represents a balanced program for the support of science and its utilization.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Doctor, for a very interesting and challenging statement.

We'll turn back to Dr. Stever.

FURTHER STATEMENT OF DR. H. GUYFORD STEVER

Dr. STEVER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would now like to provide an overview of our fiscal year 1973 activities. In developing this program, we paid a great deal of attention to its overall balance. Every attempt has been made to insure that the allocation of resources among the various activities will permit NSF to make significant progress towards the attainment of its important science objectives.

In this overview, I will first discuss those programs that are designed to accomplish objectives in the broad areas of research, including basic and problem-oriented research activities and the research programs conducted through the NSF-sponsored national research centers.

Next, I will review the special programs we plan to initiate to accomplish some of the specific new objectives included in the President's budget. These include a new experimental research and development incentives program, a national R. & D. assessment program, and a special program designed to upgrade the research management capabilities of academic institutions which are conducting federally-sponsored research. I will then move on to science education, international cooperative scientific activities, the intergovernmental science program, and other NSF programs such as computing activities in education and research.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT SUPPORT

The major NSF research activity is scientific research project support. This is our core program for fundamental research. We especially plan to expand research support for the environmental, biological, and social sciences, materials research and engineering, and to continue our programs in the other basic sciences. This activity gives scientists major opportunities to pursue research that is motivated principally by their own ideas and judgments as to the most important knowledge gaps in their particular areas of scientific interest. Proposals are judged on their scientific merit by experts in the field and funds are provided for those projects judged to be the most meritorious.

AN EXAMPLE OF BASIC RESEARCH CHANGING TO APPLIED

I know the members of this committee fully appreciate the fact that what at first appears to be only abstract basic research frequently yields findings with practical applications. I should like to cite an example.

As some of you may know, for several years NSF has supported basic research on the biology and chemistry of the so-called juvenile hormone of insects. This hormone is one of two which control the growth and development of all insects. Thirty-six years ago, Sir Vincent Wigglesworth of Cambridge University identified in insects the gland which produces this hormone and discovered its function. Twenty years later, in 1956, the natural hormone itself was first extracted from the giant silk moth by Dr. Carrol Williams of Harvard University. In 1967, with NSF support, Dr. Herbert A. Roeller

and his colleagues at the University of Wisconsin accurately described the chemical structure of the juvenile hormone found in the giant silk moth. Then, in 1968, Dr. Roeller succeeded in producing it artificially in the laboratory. By feeding quantities of this hormone to insects, it is possible to disrupt their normal growth pattern and actually prevent the insects from ever developing into the adult stage. This technique appears to have great potential for providing an effective means for controlling insect pest populations.

When a line of scientific endeavor reaches the point of potential application, serious questions need to be asked. In this case, the answers appear to indicate that the manmade juvenile hormone is nontoxic to higher animals and that, unlike many organic pesticides, the hormone breaks down in sunlight and, therefore, does not persist in the environment. This method of insect control is so promising that commercial development has already been started.

This is one illustration of the Foundation's continuing support of basic research in the biological regulation of pest populations in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These efforts are being closely coordinated with the Environmental Protection. Agency to insure that adequate safeguards are provided against unexpected side effects.

As you know, every basic research undertaking does not have an immediate payoff. Many of the research efforts NSF is supporting, particularly those in the physical sciences, are of primary importance because they are advancing the frontiers of knowledge. They are expanding our stock of basic scientific knowledge, which is vital if we are to meet the needs of future generations.

Today, research at the forefront of science has become much more complex. In many areas, new knowledge is more difficult to acquire, but its acquisition often has a multiplier effect. That is, it spurs further advances in related fields, because of the interrelationship of the various science disciplines.

INSTRUMENTATION IN FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH

Development of new instrumentation is basic to the ability of scientists to undertake research at the cutting edge of science. Extremely sensitive instruments are required to detect and measure phenomena which were previously unobservable. For example, certain tests on pollutants require instruments that can measure trace quantities of chemicals in concentrations as low as a few parts per billion. NSF is expanding its support of efforts to upgrade science instrumentation in the academic laboratories.

The decision to support or not support a particular research project is often conditioned upon the availability of instrumentation. Therefore, in fiscal year 1973, NSF plans to merge the specialized research facilities and equipment program into the scientific research project support program to tie these two interdependent programs together.

A SAMPLE OF BASIC RESEARCHES

The scientific research project support program covers a broad range of research investigations. For example, in fiscal year 1973, under NSF support:

Atmospheric scientists will expand their efforts to learn what

occurs in the high atmosphere when manmade contaminants are present. They will also be studying basic interactions between the lower atmosphere and the stratosphere and processes taking place in the magnetosphere.

Earth scientists will study the stresses and forces that are responsible for earthquakes. These efforts are expected to provide further insight into how we might develop accurate earthquake prediction capabilities.

Oceanographers will expand their studies of coastal areas and estuaries as well as selected efforts on the open seas. They will be examining the energy flow through marine ecosystems and will undertake a broad range of studies to increase our knowledge of the chemical, geological, physical, and biological processes taking place in the ocean environment.

Biological scientists will expand research efforts on human cell biology. They will also undertake expanded research initiatives on the basic biological processes involved in learning and memory.

Chemists will expand their research in such areas as the molecular dynamics of fluids, electrochemical studies, studies of inorganic and organometallic chemistry.

Astronomers will be exploring some of the basic phenomena assocated with gravitational forces, including expanded studies. of the so-called black holes in the universe, as well as other phenomena and physical processes taking place in deep space. Engineers will intensify investigations in network and circuit theories, electromagnetic control, theory, engineering chemistry, and other related areas.

Physicists will extend their investigations of nuclear force. laws, electromagnetics interactions, plasma stability, laser physics, and the physics of fundamental constants.

Scientists and engineers in materials research will advance. their studies in the technology of processing materials, in superhard materials, polymers, and other solid state phenomena. I doubt that we have ever been in a more exciting period of science. New scientific tools and instrumentation are opening windows through which we can gain new insight into some of the mysteries of the universe.

AN EXAMPLE OF BASIC RESEARCH EXPANDING OUR HORIZONS

For example, astronomers employing advanced radioastronomy techniques have confirmed one of the phenomena predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity: That is, that certain stars end their careers in a complete gravitational collapse. In these instances, a star has such a strong gravitational force that light which is near its surface cannot escape it. Thus, from an observational point of view, the collapsed star represents an invisible, but extremely massive object in space. Recently, scientists supported by NSF have found evidence that gravitational forces from such black holes do exist in space, and these invisible objects are affecting the movement of their neighboring stars. This discovery has proved important in explaining the behaviour of binary stars and other objects in

space and identifies a completely new class of objects to be added to our picture of the universe.

NATIONAL AND SPECIAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Now I would like to discuss the national and special research programs. These are highly coordinated efforts in coherent area research. They involve special funding and logistic arrangements to insure the accomplishment of their objectives. They also frequently require coordination and cooperation with other nations. Some of the highlights of this program include:

Expanded research on major ecosystems under the international biological program. This research is providing important new information about the function and structure of ecosystems. Such information is needed for intelligent management of our natural resources.

Preparation for the conduct of the Atlantic tropical experiment under the global atmospheric research program. This experiment is an international effort designed to determine the role that the tropics play in the general circulation of the atmosphere.

Studies on environmental forecasting, seabed assessment, and living resources in the marine environment supported under the International Decade of Ocean Exploration. These studies are helping to determine the resource potential of the sea floor and are extending knowledge of the total ocean environment.

Deep sea drilling in the Antarctic waters utilizing the drilling ship, Glomar Challenger. This is part of the continuing NSF ocean sediment coring program. Core samples from the ocean floor in Antarctic waters will provide important new data on the content and structure of the ocean floor and the movement of continental land masses in that region.

Research in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The NSF program for fiscal year 1973 places heavy emphasis on studies of environmental phenomena in the polar regions. Projects to be conducted in both areas include research on the influence of polar air masses on global atmospheric circulation, and a variety of studies on polar ecosystems.

Construction of one new research vessel to upgrade the academic research fleet. A number of the existing research vessels are so old that it's becoming economically impractical to operate them.

NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTERS

As you know, Mr. Chairman, the NSF supports five National Research Centers. These Centers provide the principal instrumentation and laboratory facilities for scientists conducting major research in the fields of astronomy and atmospheric sciences.

Two new 150-inch optical telescopes are under construction. One will go into operation at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona in the fall of 1973, and the other will be located at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The mirror for this second telescope is now undergoing grinding operations at Kitt