196 SEA GRANT COLLEGES 



STATEMENT OF DR. ATHELSTAN SPILHAUS, DEAN OF THE INSTI- 

 TUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 



Dr. Spilhaus. Senator, it is a particular honor to be invited to give 

 testimony before this important subcommittee on sea grant colleges, a 

 concept which I originally suggested, but I must say your remarks are 

 too gracious. If it were not for Senator Pell's interest, drive, and 

 imagination, none of us would be here today. 



In view of the fact that you will have statements from the na- 

 tional committee for a sea grant college, on which I serve, I will attempt 

 not to duplicate the statement of that committee. I will not say all 

 the things that I said at Rhode Island because I believe that they are 

 available in the Congressional Record should anyone want to read 

 them. 



The National Academy Committee of the National Academy of Sci- 

 ence, over the 10 or so years, contributed much to revitalizing, 

 strengthening, and formulating a national program in oceanography 

 and the marine sciences. We may well be proud of the work in marine 

 science Avhich is going on in the United States today. 



But in my opinion we are not doing enough to capitalize on our 

 excellent marine science by utilizing its findings to strengthen the U.S. 

 position in commercial and other nonmilitary uses of the sea. As 

 far as the exploitation of the sea for the benefit of our people is con- 

 cerned, and in comparison with Japan, U.S.S.R., and even Peru, we 

 are an underdeveloped nation. 



It was for this reason, in 1963 I proposed that the United States 

 take steps to make a lasting commitment to the sea through its many 

 excellent universities and colleges. And that we do this by using the 

 analogy of the land-grant colleges that contributed mightily to the 

 present leadership of the United States in the use of our land for 

 abundant food and natural resources and the application of the "me- 

 chanic arts" in our enterprising industry that gave people the things 

 they need. I proposed that we arrange to have sea grant colleges 

 with special funds and provisions that would dedicate their efforts 

 to the sea and the use of its natural resources for greater human 

 benefits. 



Sea grant colleges with continuing support would i3rovide the 

 focus needed to bring the United States rapidly to a position of 

 leadership in ocean engineering and aquaculture, and keep it there. 

 They would draw out and put our vast scientific knowledge of the sea 

 to use. We have a grand technological goal — a goal no less than the 

 peaceful exploitation, occupation, and colonization of the sea by man. 



And for this goal we need, on a long-term basis, not only to develop 

 marine technology, underwater prospecting, mining, fish and sea plant 

 farming, marine pharmacology, shipping and navigation, but we need 

 to relate all of these to social sciences, economics, sociology, psychology, 

 politics, and law because all are affected by an effort to colonize the 

 sea and all, in turn, affect the way we pioneer this new frontier. 



There are those who fear that emj^hasis on technology of the sea 

 will decrease the support of basic science. I believe exactly the re- 

 verse is true; history, even the most recent history, shows that science 

 blooms in an atmosphere of application — and so it will be for marine 

 science. In the sea ffrant colleg-es the marine focus would also be 



