145 



I understand the point about university graduate students pro- 

 moting and being involved in research and how that contributes 

 both to their education and to the ultimate success of research. 



But it's my understanding that the national laboratories tend to 

 hire the best and the brightest of the graduating students and 

 therefore, I think the same applies to — I don't thiiik the/re that 

 much older at that point. I think the same applies. 



And I'm just making the point that I think that, in many re- 

 spects, the national laboratories can offer the same assets, if you 

 will, that the universities offer. 



And I'll let you respond in a second, but I just want to conclude 

 by saying that, in New Mexico, there are a number of collaborative 

 projects which involve jointly the national laboratories and the uni- 

 versities and often industrial partners, also, which is the way I 

 hope the United States research and development will be fashioned 

 in the future. 



With that, if you'd like to make any comment, Dr. Press, or your 

 colleagues, you're more than welcome to. 



Dr. Press. Well, I'm sure that my colleagues will add to what I 

 have to say. 



I don't think the national laboratories in your state have to 

 worry about being evaluated and being judged by what they do for 

 their sponsoring agency. They're very good quality. And I don't 

 think anything in our recommendations should give them some se- 

 rious pause. 



When we speak about the universities and how their role should 

 receive special recognition, we have in mind the fact that they are 

 turning out the future leaders in science and technology that will 

 go to all of our industrial firms, as well as government laboratories 

 and teach other students. 



That has to be recognized. The teaching function and the role of 

 graduates is perhaps one of the most important products of the 

 universities. 



If you go to Silicon Valley and you say, why did all of your com- 

 panies locate there, the first thing they'll say is the graduates that 

 come out of this university that's nearby. 



And so, we want that recognized in the allocation process. We 

 think that's the right way to go. 



The notion of new liaisons as being pioneered at Los Alamos be- 

 tween a national laboratory and a university, and the synergism 

 that that might promote for education as well as for enhanced re- 

 search is a very good idea and I think it should be pursued. And 

 it is being followed, as you've just described. 



So I don't feel that anything we say should give you pause for 

 concern. 



Dr. Press. Would you like to say something? 



Dr. Fox. I could only amplify that. I know in my own field, chem- 

 istry, material science, that the program that has been developed 

 at New Mexico State University, because of the collaboration that 

 you referred to with Los Alamos and with Sandia, has made it real- 

 ly an extraordinarily strong program. 



All we're advocating in this report is that there be a better inte- 

 gration between the basic research and the technological develop- 

 ment and that as the national laboratories work toward the mis- 



