PAUL E. KLOPSTEG 



tion of direct government responsibility to train more research 

 scientists and teachers of science. It constitutes indirect but 

 important and effective support of research by government. 



Impetus to Science Given hy Government 



Recent events in the higher levels of the Executive Branch 

 of Government may be a memorable and perhaps historic step 

 in making a permanent and important place for science and 

 technology in the councils of government. The President's Sci- 

 ence Advisory Committee in its report of December 28, 1958, 

 to the President thoroughly reviewed the role of government in 

 strengthening American science. The report deals with basic 

 and applied research and with development. Its principal recom- 

 mendation was put in effect by executive order on March 13, 

 1959, to establish a Federal Council for Science and Tech- 

 nology, with the President's Special Assistant for Science and 

 Technology as chairman. The Council will undoubtedly 

 find in the other recommendations of the Committee a working 

 guide packed with problems, by which policies in science and 

 technology will be clarified and further developed. 



One of the major questions in the area of basic research 

 is the manner of allocating appropriations to departments and 

 agencies for intramural research and external support, princi- 

 pally in colleges and universities. Involved in this will be the 

 breakdown by fields of science, and the "proper" fraction of 

 funds for science and technology to be assigned to basic re- 

 search. Other policy decisions on matters noted in the report 

 should improve the coordination in basic research activities and 

 support among departments and agencies. To discuss the report 

 in detail would take far more time than can be devoted to it 

 here. 



Let us now have another look at the large facilities which 

 were mentioned earlier. Whether they be called laboratories, 



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