ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 75 



Earlier in this report it was stated why the activities and studies 

 above are imperative to the security of the Nation, how the United 

 States has lagged in providing proper ships and facilities for such 

 research and studies, and how it has neglected in the past the develop- 

 ment of new^ scientific instrmnents and vehicles for subsurface research 

 of intrmsic importance to effective antisubmarine warfare. 



The qualitj^ and numbers of the existing research fleet was detailed, 

 space and equipment lunitations that handicap scientists in many 

 of the Nation's marine laboratories was discussed, and the deterrents 

 to education and framing of marine scientists were considered earlier 

 in this report. 



This committee concurs in and commends the policy of the Depart- 

 ment of the Navy in centering its basic research efforts in universities 

 and colleges, marine laboratories, and other civilian institutions which 

 have placed emphasis on oceanographic or Great Lakes research. 



Scientists who today are making scientific studies of earth's deep 

 waters were all trained, both in the United States and in other coun- 

 tries, in universities and colleges, or in institutions and laboratories 

 affiliated with universities and colleges. Many of these institutions 

 of higher education are inland and not a few of them are located by 

 or close to the Great Lakes. But in all of these students received 

 the inspiration to pursue careers in, or related to, the marine sciences, 

 and the basic instruction. 



It is in these institutions also where these scientists are concentrated. 



As Dr. Maurice Ewing, Director of the Lamont Geological Observa- 

 tory, Columbia University, stated in his testimony before the com- 

 mittee at the hearings on S. 901 : 



The major part of the research effort should be situated 

 in academic institutions or in institutions or bureaus which 

 have the broad interest and intellectual vigor which charac- 

 terizes the finest academic institutions. It is very rarely that 

 one finds such characteristics dominant in a Government 

 bureau, and indeed, in general they probably are not the most 

 desirable characteristics for a Government bureau. But they 

 are essential to creative basic research. 



This is the policy the Office of Naval Research has followed since 

 its creation in 1946, but even the finest academic institutions cannot 

 meet all of the Navy's research requirements -with antiquated ships, 

 obsolete instruments, or overcrowded and inadequate laboratories 

 and facilities. 



As Dr. Ewing testified: 



We have seen the problems of Federal support of marine 

 research from their infancy. Our research group has been 

 built largely on the basis of Federal support. The most 

 severe limitations on this development has been the diffi- 

 culty of obtaining laboratories and shore facilities, and in 

 establishing faculty positions. 



Section 13 of S. 901 would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to 

 undertake and maintain a long-range program of expanded support to 

 civilian laboratories and universities in furtherance of basic research, 

 and to provide these institutions the necessary facilities to conduct 

 this research. 



