85 



Mr. CRAMER. Again, Dr. Lane, I do not see these budget figures 

 being plotted the way they are plotted on this chart here. 



I would ask you, as well, during that time to submit to us a plot- 

 ting of these figures, as well, so that we can make sure we have 

 an opportunity to clear that up. 



Dr. LANE. For the NSF, Mr. Cramer? 



Mr. Cramer. Yes, for the NSF. 



Dr. Lane. Surely we will do that. 



Mr. Cramer. Now I would like to jump into two other questions. 



It is my understanding that the size of the NSF's work force has 

 been fairly constant over the past several years while the programs 

 have in fact grown. 



Do you, in fact, have a staffing level and the resources needed 

 to administer the various activities that you have carried on? And 

 what has improved your productivity, which is what occurs to me 

 would have had to have been improved. 



Would you comment about that? 



Dr. Lane. I think I would like to offer an opening comment, and 

 then if I could ask my colleague, Dr. Petersen, to add to that it is 

 correct that our staffing level has been roughly constant for a dec- 

 ade or more, while the budget has gone up substantially and the 

 workload has gone up, as well. 



We have found many efficiencies during that period in how we 

 do work, and information technology has had a tremendous impact, 

 as it has on other organizations in doing their work. 



But there is no question. I can just give you an anecdote compar- 

 ing my own experience of 1979-1980 when I was in the Physics Di- 

 vision to my observation now. 



People are working much harder, and it is a much more complex 

 work environment. It is a good story because there is lots of inter- 

 action across interdisciplinary lines with other agencies, all good 

 kinds of things, but the workload is very heavy. 



We continue to look for how to get more with the resources avail- 

 able by streamlining our activities and also by making use of new 

 technologies. 



May I ask Dr. Petersen to add to my comments, if you would? 



Mr. Cramer. Sure. Briefly, if you would. 



Dr. Petersen. Thank you, Congressman Cramer. 



I would be happy to just add that the reason that we've been 

 able to do this at NSF, in addition to using good information tech- 

 nology and looking to every possible source of efficiency, is that we 

 have a very remarkable staff. 



The fact that we have increased our budget over the past 10, 12 

 years from about a billion to $3 billion, with increases in workload 

 and programs with a level staff, I think is truly remarkable. 



This is a very dedicated work force. We are stretched very thin 

 at this point, and we are very worried about future cuts if we have 

 a similar workload. 



I think we have explored every possible efficiency, and it may not 

 be possible to stretch further. 



Mr. CRAMER. If I could then, quickly, according to my notes your 

 NSF budget request provides $5 million for an increase in the Ad- 

 vanced Technology Education Program. 



