SEA GRANT COLLEGES 213 



plied. We do have centers of excellence in the marine sciences now in 

 this country. We do not have centers of excellence in ocean ens^ineer- 

 ing or ocean technolo,5y. Only a few universities, such as the Univer- 

 sity of Rhode Island and the University of jMiami, have made any 

 effort in this latter direction. Further, at least in California, it would 

 be quite difficult to append a paraprofessional or technician training 

 program to those existing institutions which have some competence in 

 ocean matters. Thus it seems to me necessary to provide long-term 

 funding of an institutional nature in order to allow the institution to 

 develop a long-range balanced program. In this way the great need 

 for more applied research and training can best be met. 



A superior technology has plaj^ed a decisive role in allowing the 

 United States to compete succesfully in many fields in the world 

 market. The technical superiority which we enjoy has come about 

 largely because of our national commitment to higher education. In 

 order for us to recapture U.S. leadership in world fisheries, and to pre- 

 pare for the coming market in nonliving resource extraction, it is 

 essential that we provide the education base for an advanced tech- 

 nology. This brings me full circle to the urgency argument which 

 I advanced initially. The establishment of the kind of education 

 program which is visualized in S. 24?>0 must be regarded as a long 

 leacitime item. It is an essential precursor to any increase in activities 

 b}^ the United States in sea-based markets. 



Let me stress that I am wholly in favor of the bill. The adminis- 

 trative details, although important, should not be allowed to jeopardize 

 its early passage. For my own part, I am more concerned that the 

 philosophy of what is required be established, and that we immediately 

 go about the business of providing this long leadtime item. 



Senator Pell. Tliank you. Dr. Potter. I appreciate your testi- 

 mony very much. It was sharp and clear. 



So that we might have a better idea, what is the interest of General 

 Motors in the sea? I think this would personalize your testimony 

 even more. 



Dr. Potter. I head the sea operations department of our defense 

 research laboratories. Our major activity at Santa Barbara is related 

 to the various Navy programs in undersea instrumentation, acoustic 

 instrumentation, and antisubmarine warfare. 



In addition we have interests which are somewhat more broadly 

 based. 



Senator Pell. Thank you. I share some of your doubts about the 

 NSF as the administering agency. 



"V^Hiat is your reaction to the Smithsonian Institution, or do you have 

 anv other suggestions as to an administering agency ? 



Dr. Potter. I think from what I have heard — and the idea of the 

 Smithsonian was new to me until I read the testimony this morniner — 

 the Smithsonian would have the same three drawbacks that the Na- 

 tional Sr-ience Foundation woidd have. I believe that the staff of the 

 Science Foundation if given this responsibility certainly would do 

 their best to discharge it. I feel that the Science Foundation might 

 be a good interim solution. I agree with the other comments that 

 have been heard this morning. I would regard it as an interim solu- 

 tion and that at some point the administration be put in an activity 

 de^'^oted to the ocean. 



