877 



Administratively, these programs share a number of deficiencies. 

 Most were initiated on an ad hoc basis in reaction to a particular 

 opportunity or problem. In neither their origins nor their operations 

 do they constitute part of a deliberately formulated and coherent 

 set of policies or programs for foreign and international science and 

 technology, or for foreign and international scientific and technical 

 exchange. There is little public information available about the size 

 and scope of activities conducted under them; most lack continuitj^; 

 there is little intra-agency or Government-wide evaluation of their 

 effectiveness or contribution to either science or diplomatic goals; 

 and there is an absence of formal and informal interagency liaison 

 arrangements, both in the United States and abroad, to coordinate 

 programs and to share experiences in program oversight. More 

 important, program achievements and limitations have not been 

 adequately described to the Congress, tending to prevent appropriate 

 legislative planning and oversight. 



Scientific exchange activities are becoming increasingly important 

 to U.S. foreign policy and to the Nation's expanding commitments 

 in scientific cooperation, sharing of information, solving of global 

 scientific and technological problems, and promoting the develop- 

 ment of science infrastructure in the less developed countries. With 

 respect to these trends the stud}'' indicates that scientific exchange 

 activities can generate and strengthen political relations and scientific 

 cooperation between the United States and other countries. However, it 

 also illustrates the programmatic implications of basic conflicts be- 

 tween science and pohtics. These include the difficulties of establishing 

 administrative arrangements to govern programs and of developing 

 program priorities which meet expanding foreign and international 

 scientific commitments. 



In relation to these issues activities of the following units are dis- 

 cussed: the International Committee of the Federal Council for 

 Science and Technology (IC, FCST), the Office of International Pro- 

 gi'ams (OIP), National Science Foundation; the Bureau of Inter- 

 national Scientific and Technological Affairs (SCI), Department of 

 State; and the science attache programs of the National Science 

 Foundation and the Department of State. 



Information Sources Used in the Study 



Limitations of readily available data preclude detailed analysis of 

 the programs treated in this study. However, an attempt is made to 

 describe the salient features of each agency's programs in terms of 

 numbers, types and location of exchanges, domestic and overseas 

 administrative apparatus, and where available, demonstrable evidence 

 of program achievements, especially in meeting goals of science and 

 foreign policy. 



For purposes of historical analysis, this stud}^ generally covers the 

 period of 1960-1970. More recent data are added, if warranted, to 

 update a progi'am. With several exceptions treatment is given only 

 to activities in support of sending abroad American nongovernmental 

 scientists. The exceptions are the cases of some quid pro quo bilateral 

 agreements in which the evolution and accomplishments of the pro- 

 gram are related to activities that bring foreign scientific and technical 

 personnel to this country. 



