OCEANOGRAPHY 145 



With respect to the coordinating committee proposed in H.R. 10412, 

 as you know, the Inter- Agency Committee on Oceanography has been 

 established under tlie auspices of the Federal Council for Science and 

 Technology, with representation from agencies having a concern with 

 oceanographic activities, to act as a coordinating mechanism with 

 respect to Federal activities in oceanograpliy. We feel that this 

 committee will be an effective means for promoting coordination of 

 the national program. Under these circumstances, it appears that 

 the committee proposed in H.R. 10412 would unnecessarily duplicate 

 the activities of the Inter- Agency Committee. 



We are in agreement with the objectives of H.R. 12018, which 

 would establish a National Oceanographic Data Center and a National 

 Instrumentation Test and Calibration Center. Both of these proposed 

 centers are needed and their location within the executive branch is 

 presently being determined. 



We are mindful, as I mentioned earlier, of the great importance of 

 oceanographic research and stand ready to provide such assistance 

 and support as we can to promote its progress. I would like to ex- 

 press a word of caution, however. We must be careful to make sure 

 that various needy areas of science, of which there are a number, re- 

 ceive the support and assistance necessary for their continued ad- 

 vancement. New scientific frontiers are constantly opening up and 

 we must be certain that all needy scientific areas receive the maximum 

 support feasible. The possibility of overemphasizing one field to the 

 detriment of others is a constant danger which must be avoided. 

 Flexibility in this regard is highly important, and too rigid organiza- 

 tional arrangements aimed at a particular scientific field can be det- 

 rimental to the interests of science generally. Advancements in a 

 particular field of science, which appear to have no direct relationship 

 to other scientific fields often, at some later date, prove to have an 

 important connection and, in many cases, provide the approach for a 

 scientific breakthrough along completely unanticipated lines. That 

 is why support of science across a broad base is so vital. 



This concludes my statement, ]Mr. Chairman. We will be happy to 

 answer any questions you may have. 



I have also with me Dr. John Wilson, head of our Division of Bio- 

 logical and Medical Sciences, who can speak to our participation in 

 that. 



Mr. DixGELL. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Bauer. With respect to your charter established by the Na- 

 tional Science Foundation Act, section 1862 authorizes you and directs 

 you to develop a national policy for the promotion of basic research 

 and education in the sciences. 



You are also directed to initiate and support basic scientific research. 

 With that in your charter, why do we have to have a Federal Council 

 of Science and Technology ? 



Dr. Waterman. The most important reason, I think, is that we in 

 our charter are concerned with basic research and not at all with 

 development. Our charter states in ordinary broad terms we are 

 expected to provide support for basic scientific research, and for pro- 

 grams to strengthen scientific research potential, which includes our 

 education in the sciences programs. 



Whereas we do have the function of making surveys and analyses of 

 what is going on in the country in research and development generally, 



