58 MARINE SCIENCES AND RESEARCH ACT 
a full-time oceanographer. We are also encouraging the submission 
of proposals to the Foundation which will provide not only for the 
-carrying on of research in the field of oceanography, but which also 
have a strong emphasis on the training of research workers in the field. 
Furthermore, the Foundation will consider support for programs of basic 
research covering a broad area or subarea of science within which 
support may be provided for graduate thesis research in such areas or 
subareas. In the field of oceanography this type of research support 
would appear to be particularly appropriate. These and other 
methods being utilized by the Foundation in providing support for 
oceanographic research and training are discussed in greater detail in 
subsequent portions of the letter. 
Our specific comments with respect to the bill are set forth below. 
First, we note that subsection 4, appearing on pages 3 and 4 of the 
bill, proposes that the National Science Foundation, or other ap- 
propriate agency of the Federal Government, establish a long-term 
fellowship program for the recruitment of prospective oceanographers. 
Establishment of specialized fellowship programs for particular areas 
of science would tend to lessen the high-quality standards and the 
recognition which National Science Foundation fellowships now have. 
Furthermore, we believe that sufficient fellowship aid for high quality 
students is available through various sources so as to enable financial 
assistance to be provided to persons interested in entering the field of 
oceanography. The problem is not so such that of making more fel- 
lowships available as it is of stimulating students to take an interest 
in becoming oceanographers. While the various disciplines that go 
to make up oceanography are referred to in our fellowship literature, 
it is planned, in the announcement of fellowship programs to operate 
in fiscal year 1961, to also specificially mention oceanography and 
meteorology as examples of areas, among others, in which fellowship 
support from the Foundation will be available to qualified persons. 
Let us assure you that the National Science Foundation realizes the 
importance and need of increased support of teaching and research 
requirements in the field of oceanography. We are studying possible 
additional measures for the support of faculty and graduate students 
in existing or new departments at universities, covering critical areas 
of science, including oceanography. The objective here would include 
support, extending into the future as far as possible, of the research 
of faculty members who are engaged in such fields. As we are sure 
you recognize, such forms of support must be worked out carefully in 
terms of Government-university relationships in general, and espe- 
cially with respect to considerations of balance and judicial treatment 
as among university departments and as among the various fields of 
science as noted above. 
S. 2692 further proposes that there be established in the National 
Science Foundation a Division of Marine Sciences to develop and 
encourage a continuing national policy and program for the promotion 
of oceanographic research, surveys, and education in the marine 
sciences, to recommend contracts, grants, loans, or other forms of 
assistance for the development and operation of a comprehensive 
national program of oceanographic research and education in the 
marine sciences and to engage in other activities in the field. Ocea- 
nography includes, or is related to, many fields of science and thrives 
best in intimate contact with various scientific disciplines. We be- 
lieve it more appropriate that marine biology, for example, remain 
