We have no national policy for science. The Government has only begun 

 to utilize science in the Nation's welfare. There is no body within the Gov- 

 ernment charged with formulating or executing a national science policy. 

 There are no standing committees of the Congress devoted to this important 

 subject. Science has been in the wings. It should be brought to the center 

 of the stage — for in it lies much of our hope for the future. 



There are areas of science in which the public interest is acute but which 

 are likely to be cultivated inadequately if left without more support than will 

 come from private sources. These areas — such as research on military prob- 

 lems, agriculture, housing, public health, certain medical, research, and re- 

 search involving expensive capital facilities beyond the capacity of private 

 institutions — should be advanced by active Government support. To date, 

 with the exception of the intensive war research conducted by the Office of 

 Scientific Research and Development, such support has been meager and 

 intermittent. 



For reasons presented in this report we are entering a period when science 

 needs and deserves increased support from public funds. 



Freedom of Inquiry Must Be Preserved 



The publicly and privately supported colleges, universities, and research 

 institutes are the centers of basic research. They are the wellsprings of 

 knowledge and understanding. As long as they are vigorous and healthy 

 and their scientists are free to pursue the truth wherever it may lead, there 

 will be a flow of new scientific knowledge to those who can apply it to 

 practical problems in Government, in industrv, or elsewhere. 



Many of the lessons learned in the war-time application of science under 

 Government can be profitably applied in peace. The Government is pecul- 

 iarly fitted to perform certain functions, such as the coordination and support 

 of broad programs on problems of great national importance. But we must 

 proceed with caution in carrying over the methods which work in wartime 

 to the very different conditions of peace. We must remove the rigid controls 

 which we have had to impose, and recover freedom of inquiry and that 

 healthy competitive scientific spirit so necessary for expansion of the frontiers 

 of scientific knowledge. 



Scientific progress on a broad front results from the free play of free 

 intellects, working on subjects of their own choice, in the manner dictated 

 by their curiosity for exploration of the unknown. Freedom of inquiry must 

 be preserved under any plan for Government support of science in accord- 

 ance with the Five Fundamentals listed on page 32. 



The studv of the momentous questions presented in President Roosevelt's 

 letter has been made by able committees working diligently. This report 

 presents conclusions and recommendations based upon the studies of these 

 committees which appear in full as the appendices. Only in the creation of 

 one over-all mechanism rather than several does this report depart from the 

 specific recommendations of the committees. The members of the committees 

 have reviewed the recommendations in regard to the single mechanism and 

 have found this plan thoroughly acceptable. 



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