Areas of future emphasis. In all science discipline 

 areas, long-range projections of research priorities 

 are, for the most part, continuations of existing 

 programs. Slight expansions are projected during 

 the next three years in a few areas. The most sig- 

 nificant change is a major proposed expansion in 

 the study of the living resources and oceanography 

 of the southern oceans. Initiation of the West Ant- 

 artic Ice Stream Project to determine whether or 

 not that feature is in a state of stagnation or on the 

 brink of a catastrophic collapse is planned as the 

 Ross Ice Shelf Project draws to a close in FY 

 1979. 



During the next decade, continued emphasis 

 must be given to research on the living resources 

 and oceanography of the southern seas. A major 

 geological drilling effort in the Dufek Mountains is 

 planned for the 1981-86 timeframe. Near the end 

 of the West Antarctic Ice Stream Project, plans 

 call for initiation of the Ronne Ice Shelf Project to 

 be conducted in the pattern of the Ross Ice Shelf 

 Project and toward the same general objectives. 



Interagency consultation. In the Antarctic, pre- 

 sent Federal policy requires other agencies to 

 come to DPP for funding of research projects or 

 for the logistics support with which to conduct 

 their in-house supported research. Informal con- 

 sultation is fostered by this Office and the other 

 agencies interested in pursuing antarctic research. 

 For example, there is the cooperative university- 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration- 

 NSF support of the rocket and balloon studies at 

 Siple Station in conjunction and in coordination 

 with ionospheric sounding by the VLF antenna at 

 that station. In addition to direct coordination, an 

 attempt is made to utilize reviewers and utilize 

 comments from specialists in these other agencies 

 in the process of defining and implementing joint 

 research activities. 



In the Arctic, the Interagency Arctic Research 

 Coordinating Committee (lARCC), chaired by the 

 NSF, provides a formal forum for consultation and 

 coordination of efl'ort on research projects of mu- 



tual interest. This has worked about as well as the 

 representatives from each agency collectively wish 

 it to work. In some instances, this forum has pro- 

 vided a meaningful way for consultation and coordi- 

 nation; in others, it has not worked so well. In ad- 

 dition to, and probably more important than, the 

 formal meetings of lARCC, is the fact that agency 

 representatives soon get to know each other. This 

 very quickly has led to an informal consultation 

 and coordination of efforts among the agencies, 

 more often than not, on a bilateral basis. The same 

 mechanisms apply both for basic and applied re- 

 search projects and other activities. 



Support of research projects in foreign countries. 



The Division supports a few research projects in 

 foreign countries, all of which have an extremely 

 important basic research component. In fact, this 

 is the major criterion by which foreign investiga- 

 tors are selected. 



The major problem identified in connection with 

 international cooperative research programs is a 

 general tendency to expect the United States to 

 assume the major funding responsibility. This is 

 particularly true when major logistics and equip- 

 ment support is required. There is a tendency for 

 the other partners to keep all of their funds in sci- 

 entific programs. There is a general unwillingness 

 to provide even token amounts of money to sup- 

 port their logistics effort. In conjunction with this, 

 however, they do wish to be equal partners in the 

 decisionmaking and in sharing in the results of the 

 activities the United States supports. 



In the future, continued problems of this nature 

 are anticipated. There tends to be an increasing 

 awareness of national priorities, and with the de- 

 creasing amount of money available for science 

 support, it may become increasingly difficult to 

 fund proposals received from foreign countries in 

 potential competition with U. S. investigators. In 

 joint research projects with some nations, U. S. 

 foreign policy certainly will be a major factor in 

 the decision to carry out joint activities. 



DIRECTORATE FOR BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL 



SCIENCES 



BBS Mission 



The Directorate for Biological, Behavioral, and 

 Social Sciences (BBS) supports basic research that 

 seeks to augment knowledge and understanding of 

 fundamental life processes, factors pertaining to 

 man as an individual and as a member of society. 



and the behavior, organization, and development 

 of human societies and other biological communi- 

 ties. A companion and interrelated goal of the 

 Directorate's support activities is to develop and 

 maintain research resources, complex data sets 

 and analyses, innovative techniques, and advanced 

 methodologies to be used for further research, 

 both fundamental and applied. 



NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 205 



