SEA GRANT COLLEGES 169 



Senator Pell. "WHien you say the State, it would either be the State 

 or private educational or business institutions within the State. You 

 don't mind where the money came from as long as it didn't come from 

 the Government. 



Dr. Robertson. I had in mind non-Federal funds, but sufficient 

 State participation to insure that the State itself, the State govern- 

 ment, is behind the venture. 



Senator Pell. I know we are very lucky in my own State of Rhode 

 Island where the university itself and tlie State — particularly the 

 university with great help from the Federal Government — have really 

 taken considerable initiative in this field. This is what you are driv- 

 ing at, I would imagine, in other States as well, that the initiative 

 should come locally and that the Federal Government would help it. 



Dr. Robertson. Yes. I think we should stimulate initiative, how- 

 ever, not simply wait passively for something to happen. 



Senator Pell. I think this bill would probably do that. There is 

 nothing that stimulates interest more than the prospect of funds, and 

 it has that effect, I have noticed. 



Now, another question with regard to the administration of the 

 bill. I notice that you believe the Foundation should not be assigned 

 responsibility for activity involving the development of system.s for 

 exploitation of the marine environment. The purpose of this bill is 

 basically exactly that, not development of new research or the devel- 

 opment of new knowledge. It is the practical exploitation from a 

 money-making or health or economic viewpoint of the information and 

 knowledge that we already have. So I would imagine you would 

 not be adverse to it being administered by the agency that might be 

 set up by the self -liquidating council under Senator Magnuson's bill, 

 or on a temporary basis by the Smithsonian Institution. Would that 

 be correct ? 



Dr. Robertson. I believe that the engineering dev^elopment of sys- 

 tems for exploitation of the resources of the sea should be done pri- 

 marily by industry and the Government support should come from 

 whatever agency of the Government has a mission to accomplish, 

 such as the exploitation of mineral resources. I believe that the ac- 

 ademic institutions should be involved in applied research and in the 

 exploration of new techniques, and in education which leads people to 

 engage in such activities. I believe that we can support: any program 

 which would be appropriate for an academic institution, be it basici 

 or applied. 



I simply feel that the management of engineering development pro- 

 grams should not be undertaken by the National Science FoundatioDi 

 but by mission oriented agencies in collaboration with industry. 



Senator Pell. But you have no strong view or preference as to 

 where this program should be administered. I think we all agree tho 

 program is probably a pretty sound idea and to the national interest. 

 The question is where it should be administered because where it should 

 be administered would give the cachet to the program as it goes along, 

 or the direx'tion, and as I understand your view, your interests are 

 mainly in this area of research and development of knowledge, but the 

 exploitation of knowledge would not necessarily come within your pur- 

 view or your practices even though it may be in the original mandate 

 from the Congress. 



