PREFACE 



The National Science Foundation was established in 1950 "To promote the 

 progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to 

 secure the national defense; and other purposes."' 



The National Science Board, the policymaking body of the Foundation, has 

 as its principal role the discharge of the basic mission "... to initiate and 

 support basic scientific research and programs to strengthen scientific research 

 potential and science education programs at all levels. . . ."- 



The Foundation is also obliged ". . .to evaluate the status and needs of the 

 various sciences as evidenced by programs, projects, and studies undertaken 

 by agencies of the Federal Government. . . ."'^ 



The National Science Board believes that the status and health of the scien- 

 tific enterprise in the United States are good and that our effort compares satis- 

 factorily with that of scientific communities abroad. 



The Board's last annual report to the Congress, Science Indicators — 1976. 

 described the overall U. S. effort. Our pool of scientific personnel continues to 

 be sufficient, in general, to meet the Nation's changing demands and needs. 

 This is due in large part to the strong programs of the so-called "mission agen- 

 cies" and the others not so classified, which together provide funding for the 

 entire spectrum of science. The vision and support of the legislative and execu- 

 tive branches of the Federal Government have enabled the scientific and edu- 

 cational communities to continue their roles of assisting in the solution of the 

 Nation's problems and improving the quality of life of our citizens. 



In 1977 the Congress reinstated in the National Science Foundation Act the 

 requirement that the Board render an annual report to the President for sub- 

 mission to the Congress dealing "... essentially, though not necessarily ex- 

 clusively, with policy issues or matters which affect the Foundation or with 

 which the Board in its official role as the policymaking body of the Foundation 

 is concerned. ""i 



For its 1978 report the National Science Board decided to review the contri- 

 butions of the mission agencies to the Nation's scientific endeavor. As a result 

 of this review of the agencies and their activities, the Board affirms its strong 

 belief in the value of multiple support of scientific research by the Federal 

 Government and in the key role of the mission agencies. 



The Board's assessment of the reports of the agencies reveals certain devel- 

 opments, trends, and constraints in the system that should be highlighted for 

 those responsible for research programs as well as for the legislative and exec- 

 utive branches. These are noted in the General Observations and Highlights 

 section of the Overview. 



Grover E. Murray, Chairman 

 Committee on Tenth NSB Report 

 National Science Board 



iPublic Law 507, 81st Cong. 



-Ibid. 



Mbid. 



■•FNjblic Law 507, 81st Cong., as amended. 



