265 



(5) As to the applicability of criteria for the relative scientific 

 significance of competing research programs.^ 



Priority of high-energy physics mnong basic research disciplines 



High-energy physics has been fortunate in its acceptance by the 

 scientific community, in the number and eminence of advocates for its 

 support, and in the explicitness of plans for its development. The 

 leaders of the discipline have provided the Congress with a succession 

 of reports, studies, assessments, and policy documents over the past 

 decade, all conveying essentially the same themes : 



An understanding of the fundamental forces and nature of 

 matter is essential to provide an underpinning for all science; 



The quest for knowledge in high energy physics is exciting, 

 vigorous, rewarding, and intellectually extending; 



Most of the major recent scientific contributions to high-energy 

 physics have been made in the United States ; 



Costs of research in high-energy physics are rising and larger 

 support by the Government is essential to further progress; 

 The field is ripe for further exciting discoveries: 

 The manpower for research is available (and, indeed, there is 

 a surplus generated by the field) ; 



Close internntional collaboration in high-energj^ physics has 

 helped establish good relations, thereby "improving the image 

 of the United States abroad and * * * lessening of world 

 tensions." ^ 



- Dr. Philip H. Abelson, director of the Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington, in a round table discussion in hearings before the Subcommittee on Research, 

 Development, and Radiation, of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, Mar. 3. 1965. pro- 

 posed 3 major criteria by which to guide national policy in the allocation of funds for 

 basic research. These were ; "* * * importance to science, philosophical values, and con- 

 tributions to the material needs of society." U.S. Congress. Joint Committee on Atomic 

 Energy. 'High-Energy Physics, Research, Development, and Radiation of the * * * on 

 High-Energv Phvsics' Research." Mar. 2, 3. 4. and 5, 1965 (Washington, U.S. Government 

 Printing Office, 1965), pp. 209-21]l. 



Relative merit of several scientific activities follows : 



High-energy nuclear Uninanned space 



physics 10-' electron Materials sciences exploration Molecular biology 



volts 



Past Future Past Future Past Future Past Future 



Importance to science: 



Practitioners 5 55 55 55 5 



Scientists in other fields 3 54 44 45 5 



Philosophical values: 



Intellectual values. __ 5 53 34 45 5 



Interest to nonscientisls. 3 34 45 55 5 



International prestige 4 54 45 55 5 



Contributions to needs of society: 

 Energy, food, clothing, shelter, 



transportation, etc 5 5 2 4 2 3 



Health 113 4 12 5 5 



Defense 2 25 55 53 3 



International trade balance of 

 payments 05 50 33 3 



In the table the following scale has been employed: 



none 



1 slight 



2 moderate 



3 significant 



4 important 



5 very important 



The column headed "Past" refers to the last 10 years; the column headed "Future" is my guess as to 

 developments during the next 10 years. 



3 "Policy for National Action in the Field of High-Energy Physics" (U.S. Atomic Energy 

 Commission, Jan, 24, 1965i), especially p. 29. 



