PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 39 



agencies engaged in oceanographic research activities, together with 

 six non-Federal scientists designated by the National Academy of 

 Sciences-National Research Council. When the National Science 

 Foundation was established, the Congress wisely provided for divisions 

 concerned with general branches of science as, for example, the mathe- 

 matical, physical, and engineering sciences, and the biological and 

 medical sciences. After careful consideration of the matter, we have 

 concluded that establishment of divisions on the basis suggested in the 

 bill would not be as sound an arrangement and could lead to distortion 

 and overlap in administration. Then, too, there would seem to be 

 equally appropriate reasons for establishing other divisions in the 

 Foundation for particular scientific disciplines which could lead to 

 further organizational difficulties, iit present, the Foundation is 

 supporting oceanographic research activities through its existing divi- 

 sions among which there is extremely close cooperation and coordina- 

 tion. To aid in carrying out these responsibilities, the Foundation 

 has three full-time persons on its staff primarily concerned with 

 oceanographic research matters, two in the Division of Mathematical, 

 Physical, and Engineering Sciences and one in the Division of Biological 

 and Medical Sciences. Our organizational arrangements for handling 

 cross -disciplinary fields such as oceanography is a matter to which we 

 are paying close attention, however, and we will not hesitate to change 

 them as circumstances warrant. 



One of the primary objectives of S. 901 is to assure that there is a 

 continuing national policy and program for carrying out the Nation's 

 oceanographic effort. Coordination of the activities of the Federal 

 agencies in this area is presently the responsibility of the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology, whose Chairman is the Special 

 Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and which 

 has established the Interagency Committee on Oceanography with 

 representation from various Federal agencies including the Founda- 

 tion. It is, of course, important, in the carrying out of the national 

 program, that full information be available with respect to the status 

 of the national effort, both public and private, and the needs in par- 

 ticular areas of this endeavor. The National Science Foundation, 

 in carrying on its support of basic research in oceanography and 

 related fields, keeps in close touch with oceanographic research ac- 

 tivities throughout the world. In this connection we are planning 

 to issue, at appropriate intervals, reports on the status of oceano- 

 graphic research together with assessments, as appropriate, of national 

 needs in this area. 



We are deeply mindful of the importance of oceanographic research 

 to the national welfare and are prepared to cooperate in any way 

 possible to assure that the oceanographic effort of the United States 

 is second to none. 



The Bureau of the Budget has advised us it has no objection to the 

 submission of this report from the standpoint of the administration's 

 program. 



Sincerely yours, 



Alan T, Waterman, Director. 



There are no changes in existing law. 



o 



