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The scope and direction of grant programs in NSF and other agencies 

 that support environmental R&D activities in universities, nongovernmental 

 organizations, and elsewhere should be examined carefully to determine 

 if additional funding is needed to suppon certain kinds of research activ- 

 ities. NSF plays an essential role in ensuring that the United States has the 

 scientific disciplinary base necessary to support the nation's future environ- 

 mental R&D needs. Its experience in awarding federal grants based on merit 

 review procedures makes it an appropriate agency for supporting extramural 

 environmental research activities. 



We believe that NSF should substantially expand extramural grants 

 programs devoted to policy research, particularly research designed to 

 integrate the thinking across multiple disciplines (for example, energy, 

 environment, and economics; environmental health and economics; law, 

 regulatory strategies, and risk analysis). NSF should pay panicular atten- 

 tion to the adequacy of the nation's environmental science and technology 

 disciplinary base. Certain disciplines, such as environmental biology, will 

 require additional suppon as the nation and the world strive to achieve 

 sustainable development. The National Research Council's Comminee 

 on Enviroiunental Research is evaluating research and development op- 

 portunities and needs with respect to protecting the environment. Their 

 conclusions will be useful in identifying other areas that require more 

 federal support. 



In addition, NSF, with the assistance of the National Research Council, 

 should undertake a study of the fiiturc environmental R&D manpower needs 

 of the nation. In response to the findings and recommendations of this study, 

 NSF should expand existing and establish new competitive educational pro- 

 grams designed to train the physical, biological, and social scientists, engi- 

 neers, and policy analysts of the future. NSF should work with other federal 

 agencies, especially the Environmental Protection Agency (or a new Depart- 

 ment of the Environment), and leading investigators throughout the nation 

 to identify priority research needs and to dirca resources toward them. 



IMPROVING EDUCAnON 



■ Both government and the private sector should take deliberate steps to 

 improve educational programs in the environmental sciences. 



Undergraduate biological, physical, engineering, business, and eco- 

 nomics educational programs should include an environmental science 

 component in their curricula. Environmental issues cut across nearly all 

 disciplines; consequently, a broad range of academic courses should have 

 environmental componenu. Interdisciplinary studies courses are also needed 



