the experiments can be carried out readily by sci- 

 entists from universities, from other Federal labo- 

 ratories, and, in some instances, from industrial 

 laboratories. The combustion research facility will 

 feature a variety of laser and other systems for 

 diagnosing fossil fuel flames and explosions. The 

 synchrotron radiation facility will provide a re- 

 markably useful source of electromagnetic radia- 

 tion for pioneering research in the materials, mole- 

 cular, and life sciences. 



These facilities reflect a trend underway in many 

 parts of science. More research in more fields is 

 becoming centered around major regional or na- 

 tional experimental facilities. Their importance to 

 basic energy research is almost sure to increase. 



Use of centralized facilities will continue to be a 

 way of life for most high energy and nuclear physi- 

 cists. Several of the construction projects now 

 underway for these fields were mentioned earlier. 

 The colliding beam facility known as ISABELLE 

 is expected to be the next step in implementing the 

 long range facility plans for high energy physics. 

 For heavy ion physics, the next major step in this 

 country is likely to be an additional stage of accel- 

 eration for the Holifield Heavy Ion Facility. 



In the general life sciences program, the re- 

 search plan includes six major topics, a number of 

 which were described earlier in the discussion of 

 types of relevance. The subjects emphasized in the 

 research plan in brief summary are: (1) Organ sys- 

 tems with rapid cell replacement, (2) model in vitro 

 cell systems, (3) damage indicators, (4) types of 

 damage and repair, (5) relating animal data to man, 

 and (6) bases for new screening and damage detec- 

 tion methods. 



No attempt has or will be made here to present a 

 comprehensive picture of areas of future empha- 

 sis. As this is written, the primary Federal respon- 

 sibility for energy R&D is being brought into the 

 new Department of Energy. The views of the fu- 

 ture are unusually clouded at this time. Still, some 

 features of the landscape can be discerned. They 

 form the general context in which the basic re- 

 search will be carried out. Continued urgent atten- 

 tion will be required on each means holding prom- 

 ise for meeting near term energy needs or for min- 

 imizing the growth of these needs. The necessity 

 for proceeding rapidly toward expanding our base 

 of energy resources for the longer term will de- 

 mand marshalling of an even greater fraction of 

 our national scientific and engineering talent than 

 is now devoted to this purpose. Difficult and, at 

 times, distressing choices will also be demanded. 

 The place of basic research in this enterprise has 

 yet to be spelled out. Experience calls for a sub- 

 stantial role for programs of sustaining research, 

 for incorporation of technology-focused basic re- 

 search within the framework of the longer term 



development efforts, and for the welcoming of 

 special basic research missions. 



Organization and Management of 

 Research Activities 



It is already clear as this is written that scientific 

 activities within the Department of Energy will be 

 organized rather differently from the way they 

 were within ERDA. A brief historical sketch 

 seems in order. This section will highlight some 

 features'of ERDA's approach and will avoid fore- 

 casts concerning the Department of Energy. 



The Energy Reorganization Act establishing 

 ERDA fixed the central features of the program 

 management structure. The act called for six pro- 

 gram assistant administrators, one for research, 

 development, and demonstration concerning each 

 of the following areas: Fossil energy; conserva- 

 tion; environment and safety; nuclear energy; na- 

 tional security; and solar, geothermal, and ad- 

 vanced energy systems. A number of program divi- 

 sions report to each assistant administrator. The 

 work of the divisions is clearly described by the 

 name of the area except in perhaps three in- 

 stances. The national security area includes the iner- 

 tial fusion program. The advanced energy systems 

 area includes the magnetic fusion energy program, 

 as well as the physical research programs — high 

 energy and nuclear physics and basic energy sci- 

 ences. The Assistant Administrator for Environ- 

 ment and Safety has been assigned broad responsi- 

 bilities for assuring the adequacy of environmental 

 R&D throughout the agency. A post of Deputy 

 Assistant Administrator for Physical Research was 

 also established by ERDA in the Office of the As- 

 sistant Administrator for Solar, Geothermal and 

 Advanced Energy Systems with line responsibility 

 for the high energy and nuclear physics and the 

 basic energy sciences programs, and, in addition, 

 with overview responsibilities for physical re- 

 search activities in other parts of the agency. 



More than 99 percent of ERDA's RD&D is car- 

 ried out under a variety of contracts. The staffs of 

 the ERDA program divisions are responsible for 

 program formulation, allocation of funds, and pro- 

 gram review. A major part of the responsibilities 

 for negotiating and administering contracts and 

 overseeing contractor performance is carried out 

 by ERDA field offices. The basic research funded 

 by ERDA is carried out primarily at universities 

 and at government-owned, contractor-operated 

 laboratories. For funding basic research by indivi- 

 dual investigators at universities, the mechanics of 

 the process used by ERDA has ordinarily been 

 similar to the one used by NSF — with unsolicited 



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ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION 



