138 OCEANOGRAPHY 



tional legislative authority. Furthermore, the Foundation is engaged in the sup- 

 port of significant activities aimed at improving research and training in oceanog- 

 raphy. For these reasons, we do not favor enactment of H.R. 9361. We would 

 like to point out, however, that, while we believe that additional legislation is 

 not necessary, it is important that certain areas of science which appear to re- 

 quire urgent assistance in the national interest, be supported more intensively. 

 In recognition of the need for increased attention to the support of research in 

 oceanography, we have added to our earth sciences program a full-time oceanog- 

 rapher. We are also encouraging the submission of proposals to the Founda- 

 tion which will provide not only for the carrying on of research in the field of 

 oceanography, but which also have a strong emphasis on the training of re- 

 search workers in the field. Furthermore, the Foundation will consider sup- 

 port for programs of basic research covering a broad area or subarea of science 

 within which support may be provided for graduate thesis research in such 

 areas or subareas. In the field of oceanography, this type of research support 

 would appear to be particularly appropriate. These and other methods being 

 utilized by the Foundation in providing support for oceanographic research and 

 training are discussed in greater detail in subsequent portions of the letter. 



Our specific comments with respect to the bill are set forth below. 



First, we note that subsection 4, appearing on pages 3 and 4 of the bill, pro- 

 poses that the National Science Foundation, or other appropriate agency of the 

 Federal Government, establish a long-term fellowship program for the recruit- 

 ment of prospective oceauographers. Establishment of specialized fellowship 

 programs for particular areas of science would tend to lessen the high-quality 

 standards and the recognition which National Science Foundation fellowships 

 now have. Furthermore, we believe that sufficient fellowship aid for high- 

 quality students is available through various sources so as to enable financial 

 assistance to be provided to persons interested in entering the field of oceanog- 

 raphy. The problem is not so much that of making more fellowships available 

 as it is of stimulating students to take an interest in becoming oceauographers. 

 While the various disciplines that go to make up oceanography are referred to 

 in our fellowship literature, it is planned, in the announcement of fellowship 

 programs to operate in fiscal year 1961, to also specifically mention oceanography 

 and meteorology as examples of areas, among others, in which fellowship sup- 

 port from the Foundation will be available to qualified persons. 



Let us assure you that the National Science Foundation realizes the im- 

 portance and need of increased support of teaching and research requirements 

 in the field of oceanography. We are studying possible additional measures for 

 the support of faculty and graduate students in existing or new departments at 

 universities, covering critical areas of science, including oceanography. The 

 objective here would include support, extending into the future as far as possible, 

 of the research of faculty members who are engaged in such fields. As we are 

 sure you recognize, such forms of support must be worked out carefully in 

 terms of Government-university relationships in general, and especially with 

 respect to considerations of balance and judicial treatment as among university 

 departments and as among the various fields of science as noted above. 



H.R. 9361 further proposes that there be established in the National Science 

 Foundation a Division of Marine Sciences to develop and encourage a con- 

 tinuing national policy and program for the promotion of oceanographic re- 

 search, surveys, and education in the marine sciences, to recommend contracts, 

 grants, loans, or other forms of assistance for the development and operation of 

 a comprehensive national program of oceanographic research and education in 

 the marine sciences and to engage in other activities in the field. Oceanography 

 includes, or is related to, many fields of science and thrives best in intimate 

 contact with various scientific disciplines. We believe it more appropriate that 

 marine biology, for example, remain associated with activities in the area of 

 biological and medical sciences and that physical oceanography continue to be 

 associated with the earth sciences. However, as we mentioned earlier, we have 

 added a full-time oceanographer to our staff. We do not feel that the activities 

 contemplated for the proposed Division of Marine Sciences necessitate the 

 establishment of such a division but can more appropriately be carried out 

 within the framework of the Foundation's existing organizational structure. 



Section 4 of the bill would authorize appropriations, in addition to those 

 otherwise authorized for the activities of the National Science Foundation, to 

 provide funds for use in connection with specified oceanographic research ac- 

 tivities. It appears to us that considerable care must be exercised so as to 

 avoid creation of a general view that the provision of substantial additional 



