921 



legislation to solve these problems. His proposal, enacted in 1968, 

 expanded the Foundation's mandate to "initiate and support specific 

 scientific activities in connection with matters relating to international 

 ■cooperation," and to support these activities on their ov^ti merits 

 rather than on their need to support the growth of domestic science. ^^^ 



The expansion of the Foundation's mandate is reflected in its 1973 

 •description of the 'International Cooperative Scientific Activities" 

 Program : 



(1) gain access to ideas, expertise, facilities, and methodology in other countries 

 for application to American scientific problems and to increase the productive 

 •capability of American scientists and institutions; (2) share expenses and talent 

 on global problems confronting advanced nations that are amenable to scientific 

 solutions; (3) permit U.S. ideas, plans, and programs to be presented to appro- 

 priate international scientific meetings and bodies ; and (4) support the President's 

 •announced "United States Foreign Policy for the 1970's," in which he stated 

 that, "It is settled U.S. policy to encourage international cooperation in basic 

 -science."*^* 



The Implications of Limited Authority 



As noted above, the bulk of the Foundation's international activities, 

 and specifically those which send abroad nongovernmental scientists, 

 began long before the Foundation was given a fully articulated man- 

 date to govern and implement them. The evolution and character 

 of NSF programs for the support of nongovernmental scientists abroad 

 reflect many of the difficulties which resulted from the slow evolu- 

 tionary growth of the Foundation's authorit}'. Although the Agency's 

 overseas activities have increased considerably since 1968, NSF 

 has not established a central organizational focus to provide for 

 general coordination of the science and foreign policy aspects of 

 the bulk of its foreign and international support activities. Programs 

 which send Americans abroad are planned, funded, and administered 

 by several different NSF divisions and offices. The Assistant Director 

 ior the Directorate of National and International Programs does not 

 have jurisdiction for implementing all of these activities. The Oflice 

 ■of International Programs, OIP, which is under the jurisdiction of 

 tthe Directorate, funds only about 5 percent of the Foundation's 

 international-related activities. The OIP appears to provide some 

 -assessment, coordination, and planning of the science and foreign 

 policy aspects of its own nongovernmental support programs. How- 

 ever, it is not evident that the Office of the Assistant Director for 

 JSTational and International Programs provides effective evaluation, 

 S3rnthesis, and priority setting for other international-related activities 

 supported by the Directorate or by other sections of the NSF. 



137 Statement of NSF in 1972 House NSF Authorization, Hearings, op. cit.: p. 344. The relevant pro-visions 

 -of the legislation are: 



". . . to initiate and support specific [and unclassified] scientific activities in connection -with matters 

 Telating to international cooperation or national security by making contracts or other arrangements . . . 

 '[See. 3(b)]: ■ . . , ^ 



"to [enter into arrangements] for the carrying on, by . . . the United States and foreign countnes, luclua- 

 •ing other government agencies of the United States and foreign countries, of such . . . activities . . . neces- 

 sary tocarryoutthepurposesof the Act, and at the request of the Secretary of State or . . . Defense, specific 

 ■activities in connection ■with matters relating to international cooperation . . ." [Sec. 13(a)]; 



"... to cooperate in any international scientific activities consistent ■with the purposes of this act •. • • . 

 to defray the expenses of representatives of Government agencies, and other organizations and of individual 

 scientists . . . ; to undertake programs . . . with foreign nationals for scientific study . . . ," (Sec. 9 (3)]: 



"to enter into . . . arrangements ... in foreign countries ... to cooperate in international scientific 

 activities . . . ■with the approval of the Secretary of State . . . ," [Sec. 13 (b) (1)]; 



to consult -with the Secretary of State in negotiations on scientific matters ■with other countries, [Sec. 13 

 W (2)1. _, 



"* U.S., National Science Foundation, Justification of Estimates of Appropriations to the Congress, FY 

 /975, 1972,p.H-l. 



