with respect to earthquakes and other dynam- 

 ic hazards 



• To devise in situ and laboratory methods to 

 determine the dynamic properties of soils and 

 analytic procedures, including the potential 

 for failure of slopes, embankments, and 

 foundations 



• To increase the base of knowledge on alterna- 

 tive social adjustments to earthquakes and 

 other dynamic hazards, and to develop an 

 understanding of the factors that influence 

 public utilization of earthquake mitigation 

 methods 



• To identify and quantify chemical pollutants 

 in the environment, including but not limited 

 to those associated with known hazards 



• To define the exposure of ecosystems and 

 human populations to chemicals by determin- 

 ing chemical pathways and transformations in 

 the environment 



• To advance the technology of pollution diag- 

 nostics, including new measurement methods 

 for contaminants and screening techniques 

 for detecting adverse biological efl'ects 



• To investigate the interface of appropriate 

 biochemical (enzymatic) and chemical sys- 

 tems for converting lignocellulosic materials 



• To investigate nitrogen-fixing symbiotic 

 systems (bacteria/plants or algae/plants) for 

 enhancing this biological phenomenon. The 

 focus should be on the interrelationship of 

 nitrogen fixation with the overall biochemical 

 energetics of the organisms 



• To investigate the biophotolysis of water to 

 hydrogen gas with biological systems that ulti- 

 mately derive their energy from the sun. 



The following are just a few of the many areas 

 involving basic research not now supported but 

 deserving of support by the Foundation: 



• Bio-solar energy conversion. Emphasis 

 should be placed on examining plants and 

 microbes living in adverse or unusual habitats 

 for their adaptability characteristics in order 

 to understand the relevant phenomena and to 

 be able to manipulate these organisms for 

 enhanced net productivity of selective 

 constituents (chemicals, medicinal com- 

 pounds, solvents, etc.). Also, research should 

 be directed to assessing the potential of 

 biochemical fuel cells, especially enzymatic 

 fuel cells based on the substrate methanol, 

 and photo-biochemical energy converters (so- 

 lar energy to electricity). 



• Global CO-, problem. As industrialization has 

 occurred on a worldwide basis, more carbon 

 fuels are being burned, greatly increasing the 

 carbon dioxide input into the atmosphere. 

 The carbon cycle, as represented by carbon 



dioxide emission into the atmosphere and the 

 fixing of carbon by plants, is not adequately 

 understood. The consequences of increased 

 or decreased carbon dioxide in the global 

 atmosphere may substantially afi'ect the cli- 

 mate and, therefore, agriculture productivity. 

 Research initiatives are required to develop 

 an understanding of the sources, sinks, and 

 transformations of carbon as it interacts with 

 the atmosphere and biological materials. 



• Constrained economy. The constrained 

 economy program focuses on the problems 

 faced by the United States and the world as a 

 result of the growing number of environmen- 

 tal and other constraints that afi'ect economic 

 growth. In pursuing the study of these prob- 

 lems, it will be necessary to examine basic 

 economic theory to determine if it is adequate 

 for analysis and understanding of the transi- 

 tion from an economy of expansionary and 

 often wasteful growth to one more mindful of 

 the preservation of critical resources, the 

 quality of the environment, and the quality of 

 life. It may be necessary to expand the 

 definition of natural resources to include envi- 

 ronmental factors, and to develop new eco- 

 nomic tools to deal with production and con- 

 sumption decisions in relationship to the envi- 

 ronment. 



• Drought management. Research is needed in 

 order to understand more clearly how people 

 react to and deal with conditions of drought, 

 with particular emphasis placed on the social, 

 behavioral and economic aspects of the ac- 

 tions of individuals, families, institutions, and 

 governmental units. 



• Structural design. More fundamental knowl- 

 edge needs to be gained concerning the struc- 

 tural design process (mechanical, materials, 

 etc.). For example, very little is known about 

 the interaction of people and structures. More 

 basic knowledge is also needed in other areas 

 of design and engineering, e.g., machine de- 

 sign (kinematics and kinetics), human factors 

 research, and industrial engineering. 



Organization and Management of 

 Research Activities 



The RANN program is regularly coordinated 

 with other Federal agencies at three levels — poli- 

 cy, program, and project. Policy coordination is 

 achieved through the RANN Interagency Coordi- 

 nation Committee, made up of representatives of 

 more than 20 agencies. Program coordination takes 



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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 



