study, some nine square miles of land area have 

 been monitored to determine the quantities of nu- 

 trients, sediments, bacteria, and pesticides entering 

 an estuary from its watershed. This research has 

 now enabled investigators at the Center to predict 

 the effects of future changes in land use over a 

 large geographical area on water quality. As a re- 

 sult, other Federal and State agencies are using 

 this information in their own land use and water 

 quality management programs. 



The Radiation Biology Laboratory has been 

 monitoring ultraviolet radiation (UV) for a num- 

 ber of years at stations throughtout the world. 

 Several sites were chosen for their relatively un- 

 disturbed nature, hence less damage to the envi- 

 ronment from UV is noticed. The continual moni- 

 toring activities will allow our scientists to inform 

 responsible managers of any variance in the UV, 

 and it is hoped that this will allow adequate time 

 by officials to take whatever necessary actions are 

 needed to halt potential harmful effects on the en- 

 vironment. 



At our Tropical Research Institute in Panama, 

 scientists are studying forest regeneration and 

 growth. In the tropics, the problems of replacing a 

 forest after its destruction are much different from 

 allowing a New England farm to lay fallow. Scien- 

 tists are concentrating on natural gaps caused by 

 tree falls or storms on our reserve on Barro Colo- 

 rado Island, larger gaps caused by farming on the 

 mainland, and an enormous area in a virgin forest 

 near the Colombia-Panama border which was de- 

 nuded by earthquake-induced landslides last fall. 

 The results of these studies of different area forest 

 gaps will help us understand how to conserve and 

 restore tropical forests, an ecosystem that may 

 have an important relationship to the water bal- 

 ance and weather beyond the limits of the Tropics 

 of Cancer and Capricorn. 



Smithsonian scholars are also engaged in studies 

 of natural habitats critical in the preservation of 

 endangered species, the preservation of economi- 

 cally important waterways in the United States, 

 and development of alternate food sources and 

 sources of energy. Moreover, at the National Zoo- 

 logical Park's Research and Conservation Center 

 at Front Royal, Virginia, research into the breed- 

 ing activity of endangered species is being carried 

 out. This research will ultimately lead to better 

 management of captive animals and provide great- 

 er knowledge in the fields of animal behavior and 

 reproduction. 



Organization and Management of 

 Research Activities 



Research at the Smithsonian is generally 

 screened at several levels concerning its utility, 



228 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



productivity, and duration. This is accomplished 

 by review at the department or division level, the 

 Director's level, by the Assistant Secretary, and in 

 some instances by the Secretary. The Secretary of 

 the Institution is charged with the overall policy 

 direction of the research with the Assistant Secre- 

 tary for Science as his principal adviser. By and 

 large, scientists are autonomous in the pursuit of 

 their research within the overall goals of each re- 

 search unit. The bureaus of the Smithsonian are 

 periodically subject to peer review by Visiting 

 Committees and through mechanisms such as the 

 Smithsonian's research awards program. The latter 

 program finances new or continuing research pro- 

 jects formerly eligible for support from the Nation- 

 al Science Foundation (NSF). The program main- 

 tains a distinguished outside advisory committee 

 which reviews the work of applicants. 



Certainly the prohibition of seeking funds from 

 the NSF has impinged greatly on the ability of the 

 Smithsonian to support its programs. Except for 

 strictly defined instances, the Smithsonian cannot 

 seek funds from the NSF and must find its outside 

 support from other organizations. Success with 

 foundations and other private organizations is 

 critical in order to undertake new enterprises out- 

 side the traditional interests of the Institution. 

 Quite often, we have found these new enterprises 

 to be discouraged by the Congress, which requires 

 going outside for assistance. Foundations, on the 

 other hand, have been reluctant to support the 

 types of projects proposed by the Smithsonian, 

 since it is felt that these areas are the responsibili- 

 ty of the Congress. In addition, trends within foun- 

 dations of late have favored the applied approach 

 or criteria which fit into the distinct mission or 

 traditional interest of the particular foundation. 

 This is an ominous sign since philanthropic organi- 

 zations have always been the lifeblood of change 

 in recent years as the Government's policy has 

 moved toward retrenchment. 



Additional difficulties are faced by the Smith- 

 sonian in meeting the goals and objectives of the 

 Federal personnel system. Hiring procedures and 

 salary limits quite often impede the progress of 

 research and result in the loss of top-level job can- 

 didates to private industry and academia. Added 

 inducements are necessary to acquire or retain 

 quality scientists. 



Another critical area which is in need of exten- 

 sive study is how the research community can best 

 relate its work to laymen. This is an era of great 

 skepticism in which motives are highly suspect and 

 traditional values are held up to ridicule. In part, 

 the Smithsonian has met this challenge through its 

 exhibits program, by an easy translation of re- 

 search results into highly educational and often- 

 times entertaining presentations. Much more is 



