NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 



NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD 



WASHINGTON, D.C. 20550 



LETTER TO UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTAL 

 CHAIRMEN 



Dear Departmental Chairman: 



Currently the National Science Board is preparing its Eighth Annual 

 Report to the President and to the Congress. The report will concen- 

 trate 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 cir- 

 cumstances 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 

 departmental chairmen 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 departmental chair- 

 man, 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. 



On behalf of the National Science Board and its Committee on Eighth 

 NSB Report, I thank you for a quick reply. If at all possible, we 

 would very much appreciate having your comments within the next few 

 weeks or so. An addressed, franked envelope is enclosed. 



Many thanks for your time, interest and effort. 



Very truly yours , 



F. P. Thieme, Chairman 

 Committee on Eighth NSB Report 



Enclosures 



