OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 145 



site to making a contribution. After more publicity on the true 

 content of the problems involved, materials engineers, for example, 

 recognized the similarities between developing a structiu-al metal 

 that could absorb the fatiguing effect of alternating load while possibly- 

 degraded by the effect of neutron bombardment in the same way that 

 in another application the degradation was brought about by effects 

 of sea water. 



Thus, at aU levels of professional skills, if there is sufficient moti- 

 vation, either through scientific challenge, job opportunities, salary, 

 or some intangible such as the lure of the sea itself, there should be 

 no insurmountable difficulty in expanding the numbers of professionals 

 in marine sciences by transfers from other fields as well as by training 

 new students — other fields for example, where relative emphasis may 

 be diminishing. 



According to Dr. James E. Lipp, of Lockheed Aircraft, who has 

 been a member of the NASCO panel on new devices to explore the 

 ocean : 



In my opinion, the estimate of the Committee on Oceanography — and here 

 I am speaking purely as an individual — that the research effort can double in 

 10 years and reach a level about one-tenth of our present space effort, is very 

 conservative. 



That estimate is based on the rate of training of new oceanographers, yet 

 I am reminded of the space program which in a few short years has exploded 

 from essentiall;/ no effort into a major profession. 



This has been done by drawing on industry for scientists and engineers, and 

 can be done again in developing the oceans. It is only necessary to provide the 

 same kind^of funding'and priorities that have been given to the space program.^s 



In historical perspective, future research administrators will prob- 

 ably agree that the crash expansion in space research has not been 

 accompanied by the thrifty utilization of resources, either manpower 

 or funds. But the fact remains, that prior to 1957, few engineers and 

 scientists were concerned with affairs in outer space, and there is 

 ample evidence that it attracted participants in large numbers, once 

 the decision to embark on an accelerated program was made a matter 

 of national purpose. By the benefit of advanced planning in oceanic 

 research, losses in effectiveness during expansion could be minimized. 



But robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the preferred solution to in- 

 creasing numbers of trained manpower. Solutions to this problem 

 considered by the NASCO Committee lie in simultaneously expanding 

 the teaching facilities, and increasing the numbers of students who 

 wish to make a career of oceanography. 



H.R. 6298, now pending, singles out oceanography as a field in 

 which applicants for fellowships may receive a priority for Govern- 

 ment support over the general run of applicants. Although seem- 

 ingly artificial in fertilizing this area, this procedure is probably more 

 certain of success that if the otherwise random processes were allowed 

 to continue. On the other hand, it has been argued that by smgling 

 out any special field for such attention, some side effects by establish- 

 ing precedent might well cripple the remedy itself. 



The far broader question about which many science administrators 

 are tip toeing is whether, at any time, specific fields of science, deemed 

 in the interest of national security, should be singled out for special 

 attention. One of the rare examples of the approach has been the 



M "Frontiers In Oceanic Research," op. clt., p. 72. 



