small programs as the questions bein,2; asked may require. There is a 

 separate and distinct need for support of big multidisciplinary approaches 

 to complex problems — whether they be national or international. 

 For the remainder of the decade we recommend that: 



• There should he a eoneerted effort to encourage greater inter- 

 national cooperation in ocean research, with special emphasis on 

 fostering the groictJi of oceanographic co?npetence in the devel- 

 oping coastal nations. There is a distinct possibility that in the 

 future, oaean research will be much more subject to the control 

 of coastal nations than it has been in the past. Many of these 

 nations are less developed technologically than the United States, 

 and many find difficulty in contributing to such research or in 

 using its results. Until they have their own oceanographic exper- 

 tise, these governments may be disinclined to agree to proposals 

 for oceanic research in waters under their jurisdiction. 



It is clearly in our own interest to foster a willingness on the 

 part of coastal nations to support and cooperate in marine- 

 related studies. In fact, this will be essential for full development 

 of the global ocean monitoring system that was one of the original 

 IDOE goals, and that seems lincreasingly necessary if we are to 

 understand global ocean interactions, establish a basis for inter- 

 national pollution control, and make headway in understanding 

 and predicting climatic change. We made this point, in the 

 broader context of Law of the Sea negotiations, in our First 

 Annual Report three years ago. It deserves both reiteration and 

 emphasis. 



This recommendation is still valid. To implement it will cost 

 money. The development of international competence and co- 

 operation should not be at the expense of ongoing studies. NSF, 

 in cooperation with other Federal agencies having similar goals, 

 should take steps to identify suitable means for accomplishing 

 this end, assess costs, and seek whatever additional funds are 

 required. 



• There should be increased emphasis on assuring realization of the 

 .practical implications of ongoing and planned IDOE research. 



The IDOE Office is presently considering ways to incorporate 

 into its program studies of the potential practical benefits of its 

 oceanic research. While plans are not yet sufficiently formulated 

 for us to comment on them, we commend this intent. We par- 

 ticularly urge that the mission agencies, and those industries 

 which represent potential users, be brought into the process. 



• The IDOE Office should seek ways to support individual scien- 

 tists wishing to participate in IDOE projects of other nations, 



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