the large-scale programs and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. But he did 

 anticipate in fullest measure that important developments would occur and 

 that science and science education would be of immense importance in the 

 postwar growth of the United States. The closing words of his Report 

 were strongly prophetic: "On the wisdom with which we bring science to 

 bear against the problems of the coming years depends in large measure 

 our future as a nation." 



Science and Government 



Dr. Bush expressed the view that science is the proper concern of govern- 

 ment but pointed out that the Government had only begun to utilize science 

 in the Nation's welfare. He cited the absence within the Government of a 

 body charged with formulating or executing national science policy and 

 pointed out that there were no standing committees of the Congress devoted 

 to this important subject. At the present time, science policy is constantly 

 being made by the National Science Foundation with respect to basic re- 

 search; by the President's Science Advisory Committee in matters in which 

 the Chief Executive is responsible for direct action; and by the Federal Coun- 

 cil on Science and Technology on coordination and. planning that involve the 

 interaction of the agencies of the Government concerned with research and 

 development. 



There are now three standing committees in the Congress whose con- 

 cerns are directly related to science and technology: the Joint Committee 

 on Atomic Energy; the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space 

 Sciences; and the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Twenty- 

 four agencies within the Federal Government are responsible for the Gov- 

 ernment's obligation of funds for conduct of research and development, 

 although nine agencies account for 99 per cent of the total. 



The Importance of Basic Research 



The principal focus of Science, the Endless Frontier is the importance of 

 basic research. Of it. Dr. Bush said: 



Basic research leads to new knowledge. It provides scientific capital. It creates the 

 fund from which the practical applications of knowledge must be drawn. . . . Today, it 

 is truer than ever that basic research is the pacemaker of technological progress. ... A 

 nation which dei^ends upon others for its new basic scientific knowledge will be slow in 

 its industrial progress and weak in its competitive position in world trade, regardless of 

 its mechanical skill. 



Dr. Bush viewed the publicly and privately supported colleges and uni- 

 versities and the endowed research institutes as the centers of basic research 

 that must furnish both the new scientific knowledge and the trained research 

 workers. He pointed out that if they were to meet the rapidly increasing 

 demands of industry and government for new scientific knowledge, their 

 basic research would have to be strengthened by the use of public funds. 



Basic research is fundamental to all of the research and training needs 



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