NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 



NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD 



WASHINGTON, D.C. 20550 



FIRST LETTER TO UNIVERSITY VICE-PRESIDENTS FOR RESEARCH 



Currently the National Science Board is preparing its Eighth Annual 

 Report to the President and to the Congress. The report will concentrate 

 on the circumstances which might affect the capacity of the Nation to 

 continue a strong position in science and technology. It will attempt 

 to identify and to study prospectively selected critical problems 



developing in the operating research sectors namely university, 



industry, Government laboratories and independent research institutes. 

 The report is not as much concerned with dollar support as with circum- 

 stances in the institutional, managerial or policy environment which 

 will influence the productivity of working scientists and engineers. 

 In order to identify critical problems for the university research 

 sector, the Committee on Eighth NSB Report is seeking input from 

 selected individuals with direct concern for research in U. S. academic 

 institutions . 



The Committee would very much appreciate learning about the two most 

 critical issues/problems facing fundamental (long term, basic) research, 

 as you see it, in the near term future. "Near term future" means issues 

 currently emerging or seen-to-be-emerging in the next decade or so. 

 For example, as you look ahead, in your capacity as 



what problems do you anticipate? What critical issues/problems will 

 condition scientific and technological research in the university and will 

 decrease its effectiveness unless properly addressed? Would you please 

 order your issues/problems "one" and "two" and then provide a brief 

 descriptive paragraph or so for each? Feel free to propose resolutions 

 or solutions. 



In addition to your views, the Committee expects to obtain the view 

 of the President of your university in a separate letter. 



100 APPENDIX B 



