922 



To the extent that this omission exists, it would seem to preclude 

 systematic evaluation, planning and priority setting of activities most 

 relevant to U.S. scientific and foreign policy interests. As described 

 throughout this study, American nongovernmental scientists abroad 

 frequently are perceived as representatives of the American govern- 

 mental or scientific community. However, because of the Foundation's 

 tradition of insulating science from poUtics, most NSF grantees are 

 not given intensive orientation to the cultural, social, and political 

 factors which may impact upon their overseas performance. Similarly, 

 many cannot understand the language of the nation they are visiting. 

 And the absence of an NSF-wide international activities coordination 

 mechanism probably contributes to the absence of accurate, system- 

 atically gathered and maintained information describing the scope 

 and impact of these activities. Generally, interpretation of the data 

 presented evokes questions as to whether these programs might better 

 serve their science and foreign policy objectives if they were more 

 tightly organized and administered. The importance of this obser- 

 vation is underscored by the Foundation's increasing programmatic 

 responsibilities for foreign and international science. 



THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 



One of the most important consequences of the slow growth of the 

 Foundation's authority for international science is the absence of a 

 centrahzed locus for planning, governing, and supporting international 

 science activities. The origin of the Office of International Programs 

 dates to 1955. During that year the Foundation established the Office 

 for the International Geophysical Year to administer U.S. participa- 

 tion in this international cooperative science program. ^^^ In 1959, the 

 name of the Office was changed to the Office of Special International 

 Programs to reflect the expansion of the Agency's programs following 

 launch of the 1959 amendments and emphasis on support of science 

 following the Soviet Sputnik. ^*° This office was given early responsi- 

 bility for directly administering some international programs, for 

 assisting in others, and for providing some liaison to the Department 

 of State. 



During 1961 the Foundation redesigriated its foreign programs 

 office, as the "Office of International Science Activities." In thelate 

 1960's, the name was changed again, to the "Office of International 

 Programs" (OIP). The OIP is responsible for administering programs 

 under the current program category, "International Cooperative 

 Scientific Activities." It is the only Foundation office which regularly 

 reports to the Department of State on foreign scientific activities.^*^ 

 In addition, staff members provide liaison with professional associa- 

 tions, the Office of the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of 

 Sciences, and the Bureau of International Scientific and Technological 

 Affairs (SCI), Department of State. However, staff members of other 

 divisions also perform these functions, from time to time if their 

 responsibilities warrant it."^ See figure 1. 



i3« U.S., National Science Foundation, Annual Report, FY 1960 1961, p. 130. 



>" National Science Foundation. Annval Report, FY 1969, 1960, p. 126. 



i« Interview, Dr. Raphael RonMn, NSF, February 26, 1971. 



"2 Interview with Mrs. Bertha Rubinstein, Division of Social Sciences, NSF, in which she said that the 

 Division of Social Sciences checks with the State Department before awarding funds for a potentially sensi- 

 tive social science research project In foreign countries even though the Foundation is exempt from Govern- 

 ment-wide guidelines to report to the Foreign Affairs Research Council before undertaking sponsorship of 

 foreign area research. 



