BASIC RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES 



funds for general coverage in science. Gradually, however, as 

 the scope of federal research programs increased, the volume 

 of federal support to many institutions has disturbed the normal 

 balance of research and has caused financial strain through 

 government failure to pay full costs. 



At the present time, outstanding needs exist that are not 

 being met. Chief among these is the need for new or renovated 

 laboratories, for research and teaching equipment and facilities, 

 and, in certain fields, for costly modern research installations. 

 On top of this is the ever mounting cost of maintenance. The 

 situation appears to call for general aid to United States univer- 

 sities patterned somewhat after that provided universities in 

 the United Kingdom by the University Grants Committee. In 

 any event, the question arises of direct subsidy to educational 

 institutions in order to increase the over-all strength of their 

 departments and to provide greater flexibility in their adminis- 

 tration. 



Now, direct financial assistance to academic departments 

 or institutions raises a serious policy question: Should the 

 federal government break precedent and provide direct aid to 

 higher education in the fields of science? Can this be done 

 without danger of loss of independence of the institutions sup- 

 ported? Can this be done wisely and acceptably by selective 

 support in the manner of the current research support, or 

 should it be done universally according to some suitable for- 

 mula? Presumably, an obvious safeguard would be the provi- 

 sion for matching funds. Then there is the complicating factor 

 of two primary classes of institutions: public and private. De- 

 spite the difficulties, however, it is quite clear that the needs 

 are real and urgent. The responsibility of the federal govern- 

 ment is to learn the facts, point out the problem and its 

 urgency, and see that effective action is taken. In my opinion, 

 this means consideration both of ways of assisting state and 



35 



