BASIC RESEARCH IN GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES 



society and of some sure-to-come practical benefit. The right 

 of inquiry and the depth of the search are sometimes alluded 

 to, but only as a passing reference to scientific complexity rather 

 than to the fundamental search of man. 



But I am getting ahead of my story. Let us agree that one 

 may look on research as a frame of mind which is always 

 questioning what is known and always seeking to know some- 

 thing better. And the research becomes more basic as we extend 

 our questioning closer to the frontier of understanding. Such 

 activity is vital to government laboratory programs, whether 

 such programs be primarily research, application, testing, or 

 evaluation. This is the argument of this talk. It will come as no 

 surprise to you that I consider basic research as essential to 

 government laboratories, but it may be a variation of your 

 awareness of our need to understand that I consider that basic 

 research may be applied to almost all our laboratory responsi- 

 bilities whether they be scientifically esoteric or so-called rou- 

 tine evaluation. 



My talk is limited to basic research in government labora- 

 tories. I will stress the special requirements of these laboratories. 

 We have our unique responsibilities and our special problems. 

 It is therefore logical to expect that, although government 

 laboratories share a number of problems, needs, and experiences 

 with other scientific organizations, they also have specific needs 

 related to their special roles. 



Problem of Placement of Research 



I might say at this point that basic research activities are 

 only one of the special problems of government laboratories. 

 Another general problem which the government now faces is 

 the establishment of criteria for the placement of research. 

 Should a given research program be placed in a government 

 laboratory or in a nongovernment institution? One aspect of 



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