doctorate institutions since 1968 (figure 3-12). A 

 slight shift from expenditures for basic to 

 applied research occurred after 1972 and is one 

 reason for this decline, the inclusion of scientists 

 and engineers from the new doctorate in- 

 stitutions is another, and the reduction in 

 constant dollar expenditures, particularly those 

 supported by the Federal Government, is a third 

 factor. Federal funds for basic research per 

 scientist and engineer declined almost 30 percent 

 between 1968 and 1974. Funds from other 

 sources decreased by a similar percentage after 

 1972, but the reduction in absolute terms was 

 much less than the Federal declines. 



The reductions in real expenditures for basir 

 research per scientist and engineer have oc 

 curred in several fields,-^ as shown in figure 3- 

 13. The largest decline was recorded in physics, 

 where such expenditures dropped almost 40 

 percent between 1966 and 1974. Decreases in 

 this field were due primarily to declines in 

 funding, rather than to increases in the number 

 of physicists. 



BASIC RESEARCH IN 



FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 



AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS 



ADMINISTERED BY UNIVERSITIES 



Federally Funded Research and Development 

 Centers (FFRDC's) are organizations financed 

 exclusively or primarily by the Federal Govern- 

 ment to perform R&D in relatively specific 

 areas, or in some instances to provide facilities at 

 universities for research and associated training 

 purposes. The Centers usually have a direct and 

 long-term relationship with their funding 

 agency, making it possible for them to maintain 

 instrumentation, facilities, and operational 

 support beyond the capabilities of single 

 educational or research institutions. Non- 

 Federal organizations — academic, industrial, or 

 nonprofit — administer the FFRDC's. 



In 1974, FFRDC's administered by universities 

 accounted for 7 percent of the Nation's total 



^•i The actual cost of conducting research differs substan- 

 tially from field to field, reflecting in part the extent to which 

 research depends upon special equipment, facilities, and 

 technical support staff. 



Figure 3-13 



Estimated Basic Research Expenditures 

 in Doctorate-granting Institutions per 

 Scientist or Engineer' by Selected 

 Fields, 1966-74 



(In constant 1967 dollars)-' 



15,000 



10,000 



5,000 



Physics 



Engineering 



Chemistry 



,,•• '••.^ Social sciences 



Mathematical sciences 



1966 



■68 



70 

 Fiscal years 



74 

 (Prelim.) 



1 Full-time equivalent basis 

 - GNP implicit price detlators used to convert 

 current dollars to constant 1967 dollars. 

 SOURCE: National Science Foundation. 



basic research expenditures, ^^ and 86 percent of 

 the Federal obligations for all FFRDC's. 2" These 

 Centers and their sponsoring agencies are: 



Atomic Energy Commission 



Ames Laboratory 



Argonne National Laboratory 



Brookhaven National Laboratory 



" Nnhoii.jf Pallems of R&D Resources, I95J-75, National 

 Science Foundation, (NSF 75-307). 



2" Federal Funds for Research, Derelopment, and Olher Scientific 

 Activities. Fiscal Years 1973, 1974 anii 1975, Vol. XXIIl, National 

 Science Foundation (NSF 74-320-A). 



67 



