needed, however, if the research community in 

 this time of economic conservation is to keep pace 

 with its counterparts in other nations. More impor- 

 tantly, it must sound the trumpet to this Nation 

 that it might be underinvesting in basic research to 

 the detriment of the Nation's future. 



Another area of concern should be the care with 

 which we approach areas of research to avoid du- 

 plication of effort or overlap. The Smithsonian has 

 taken great pains throughout its history to avoid 

 entering areas where mission agencies were 

 charged in carrying out work. It has, in fact, "spun 

 off" activities in the past (when they have become 

 large enough to survive on their own or were bet- 

 ter suited for mission-oriented agencies). Among 

 the activities derived from the Smithsonian are the 

 National Weather Service, Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries (now NMFS), and certain components of 

 NASA. 



Much of the Smithsonian's success over the past 

 years can be attributed to its policy to make its 

 information available to all who request it and not 

 to conduct any classified research. The latter has 



permitted the Smithsonian to work in any country 

 throughout the world whether the United States 

 recognizes that country or not and to work simul- 

 taneously in countries such as Israel and Egypt. 

 Such flexibility is the hallmark of the Smithsonian 

 and its passport to the world. A common bond, 

 based on science and not politics, is quickly 

 formed to the benefit of both countries involved. 



The Smithsonian will continue to accept the 

 challenges of the future while maintaining its long 

 tradition of expertise and research flexibility. As in 

 the past, the Institution will continue to take great 

 care to eliminate influences that may tend to dis- 

 tort observations or produce faulty results in re- 

 search. The Smithsonian will continue to recognize 

 that there is not a need to invent problems for in- 

 vestigation, for there are many urgent and practi- 

 cal problems to be met in conjunction with the 

 environment in which we live. Our efi'orts will con- 

 tinue to be supportive of other research 

 institutions and will be, in many instances, comple- 

 mentary to the general needs of the national and 

 international scholarly community. 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



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