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214 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION 



In addressing these policymakers one could point out that now, 

 with many fields of science and technology advancing rapidly at the 

 world level (not just at the U.S. level), we have the most convincing 

 argument of all for promoting the international mobility of young re- 

 searchers—to lead, to participate, to keep up, to provide a mature (a 

 world view) perspective as future managers of our research system, be 

 they in industry, university, or government. 



This analysis has shown that isolation is an imminent problem that 

 must be faced. The NSF graduate fellowship program currently en- 

 courages a trivial level of participation of fellows to attend foreign 

 institutions. This should be much enlarged. 



There is no longer a regular NSF postdoctoral fellowship program. 

 Serious and urgent attention should be devoted to devising mecha- 

 nisms to promote an increase in the overall postdoctoral appoint- 

 ments abroad from something less than 2 percent to the order of 5 

 percent. In this, it would be particularly important to give special at- 

 tention to the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences. 

 Whether the trends in postdoctural study abroad have declined or re- 

 mained relatively constant is not the point. Specific measures should 

 be established to encourage increases in foreign research appointments 

 in order to ensure our future participation in the advancement of sci- 

 ence as well as provide a vital supply of internationally minded re- 

 search managers. 



Coupled with meeting these needs is the enlargement of opportuni- 

 ties for young American scientists to participate in short-term training 

 schemes such as the NATO ASls as well as collaborative research 

 projects of all kinds, particularly those supported by the National Sci- 

 ence Foundation. 



The dynamic interaction of young American researchers with their 

 colleagues in the advanced countries of the Western world is funda- 

 mental to the health of our research system. The benefits to the United 

 States — its economy, its political system, its position in the world of 

 science and technology— lie in their hands and intellectual leadership. 



REFERENCES AND NOTES 



1. Commission on Human Resources, National Research Council. 1981. Postdoctoral Ap- 

 pointments and Disappointments. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. This 

 report presents findings on a broad range of issues concerning the importance of post- 

 doctoral fellowships to the U.S. research effort and the value of postdoctoral experience 

 to young scientists and engineers pursuing careers in research. Problems, issues, and 

 recommendations are discussed. These are relevant to this examination of U.S. post- 

 doctoral fellows attending foreign institutions. 



