BASIC RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES 



The President's Science Advisory Committee, drawn from non- 

 government scientists and engineers, considers important scien- 

 tific and technical matters in relation to government policy, 

 with special reference to national security. The presence in the 

 White House of the Special Assistant to the President for 

 Science and Technology makes available to the President at all 

 times advice and counsel on the wide range of scientific and 

 technical affairs. 



In spite of the growth and strength of federal programs in 

 research and development and the assets that have been de- 

 scribed, it is clear that the potential of the country in science 

 and technology is far from being realized. The element most 

 requiring attention is a greater degree of support throughout 

 the country for basic research and for the education and train- 

 ing of scientists and engineers. For this realization of our full 

 potential there must be widespread public recognition, under- 

 standing, and appreciation of the importance of intellectual and 

 scholarly activity, and the pursuit of excellence in all fields of 

 intellectual endeavor. Only in this way will the country be able 

 to engage successfully in world competition. Only in this way 

 will our nation be capable of leadership and collaboration 

 amono the nations of the world in the vast new vistas which 

 science is disclosing. 



The most important and enduring element in basic re- 

 search is still expressed in the trite phrase, "the pursuit of 

 truth." This theme moves through the lives and works of our 

 most outstanding men of science, arts, and letters. The creative 

 instinct or urge, its integrity, its imaginative and constructive 

 approach toward man's problems and aspirations undoubtedly 

 represents the highest and noblest use of his talents, as stated 

 so clearly by Bronowski in Science and Human Values: 



Whether our work is art or science or the daily work of society, 

 it is only the form in which we explore our experience which is 

 different; the need to explore remains the same. This is why, at 



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