132 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



Dr. Maxwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



It is a great privilege for me to appear before this committee as 

 Chairman of the Interagency Committee on Oceanography Research 

 Panel and to have this opportunity to provide you with some back- 

 ground on the Panel's objectives, history, its method of operation, 

 and a brief account of some of the Panel's accomplishments. 



The Panel on Oceanographic Research and Facilities, as it was 

 originally known, was established in June 1960 at the request of the 

 Interagency Committee on Oceanography (ICO) . Because the Panel 

 encompassed both research and facilities at that time, its scope was 

 considerably broader than at present. To illustrate this scope, ] 

 would like to read to you the letter of June 14, 1960, which authorized 

 the formal establishment of the Panel. 



From the Chairman, Interagency Committee on Oceanography, to 

 me via the Chief of Naval Research; subject: Oceanographic Research 

 and Facilities Panel, establishment of: 



1. This is to confirm my request to you at the meeting of the Interagency 

 Committee on Oceanography on June 10, 1960, to form a panel of representatives 

 to review critically for the ICO the oceanographic research programs and facilities 

 required of the various Federal agencies. You are to obtain assistance from each 

 of the member agencies represented on the ICO, including at least one repre- 

 sentative each from the National Science Foundation, Atomic Energy Commis- 

 sion, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and 

 Navy, both the Bureau of Ships, and the Office of Naval Research, who is 

 thoroughly familiar with his agency plans and budgets at the task level. 



2. The Panel thus formed shall immediately undertake the following tasks: 



(a) Review individual agency programs at the task level for technical validity, 

 for satisfying agency need, for proper balance of the overall agency program. 



(b) Determine the soundness of the continuing projects of the agency with 

 respect to agency as well as national needs. Determine how critical new or 

 augmented projects are to the agency or national needs. Recommend need for 

 support in critical areas not now included in the agency programs. 



(c) Consider adequacy of existing research facilities including laboratories, 

 instrumentation, vehicles, docks, and shop facilities. Recommend additional 

 facilities required to satisfy true requirements for the next several years. Con- 

 sider adequacy of numbers of personnel including professionals and technicians 

 for conduct of research programs by agencies at laboratories and aboard ship. 

 Recommend the number and specialty of additionally needed personnel to satisfy 

 the true requirements of the agency research programs for the next several years. 



(d) Compile and review the national research program for adequacy from the 

 national viewpoint, for desirable and/or unnecessary duplication and for adequate 

 balance of current and projected programs. Recommend additional projects to 

 provide balance or projects which should be eliminated. Consider the need for 

 increased support of research in critical oceanographic disciplines. 



(e) Consider the need for establishing one or more additional major oceano- 

 graphic centers. If determination is in the affirmative recommend where and 

 what organizations should be encouraged in the field of oceanography. 



(/) Determine current requirements for oceanographic research ships by insti- 

 tution and geographic areas. Comment on the adequacy of existing hulls at each 

 major laboratory and the need for additional ships to conduct projected programs. 

 Determine capability of other institutions to usefully employ oceanographic 

 ships now. If so, for what purposes and how would they be manned by scientific 

 personnel. Recommend schedule of priority for assignment of new ships to 

 laboratories, considering most logical support by geographic areas. 



(g) Consider carefully the extension of the agency programs into wider areas 

 of basic research. For example, see statement by Mr. Robert Paul, executive 

 secretary, Sport Fishing Institute, before the House Merchant Marine and 

 Fisheries Committee on May 20, 1960. Increase in basic research effort by 

 BCF is a good example. 



(h) Consider the preparation of a report to delineate the oceanographic research 

 programs of the separate agencies to indicate what areas of research are being 

 covered, by whom and at what level in the United States. 



3. A special panel under the chairmanship of Lt. Comdr. R. J. Alexander has 

 been established to review the overall oceanographic research and survey ship 



