m: 



13 

 The Outlook for Ocean Science 



Maintaining diversity and balance in the funding of research and development is of 

 paramount importance to maintaining our nation's leadership role in science and technology. 

 As stated in the recommendations of Allocating Federal Funds for Science and Technology, 

 ". . . intpgr?fing the needs of a pluralistic research and development system requires a 

 comprehensive overview and careful planning." Such an integrated plan must recognize the 

 diverse roles various individuals, agencies, and research organizations play in our nation's 

 ocean science effort. Federal agency responsibilities range from the active promotion of the 

 health of basic science in NSF and ONR to the highly specific and focused research of the 

 mission agencies. To continue progress in our basic understanding of the ocean, the 

 excellent relationships of NSF and ONR with the academic community must be maintained 

 and strengthened. Other federal agencies that are involved in marine science and policy vary 

 widely in how they make use of the research potential represented by the academic 

 community. Stronger partnerships between academic and private-sector scientists and 

 NOAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the 

 U.S. Geological Survey, and the Minerals Management Service, would add diversity and 

 vitality to the national oceanographic effort. 



Again, academia and federal agencies should make greater efforts to develop stronger 

 relationships with private-sector scientists. As stated in Expanding the Uses of Naval Ocean 

 Science and Technology, "Ocean science research and technology development that lead to 



