264 



STATEMENT OF ROBERT ABEL, DIRECTOR, SEA GRANT COLLEGE 

 PROGRAM, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 



Mr. Abel. I should like to introduce Dr. Randall Robertson, Associ- 

 ate Director of the National Science Foundation and Mr. Charles 

 Maechling, Jr., Deputy General Counsel. 



Mr. Chairman, I have a prepared statement which I would like to 

 introduce for the record, but time does grow short and with your 

 permission I would speak from it. 



Mr. Downing. You may proceed as you wish, Mr. Abel. 



(The statement follows:) 



Statement of Robert B. Abel, Head, Office of Sea Grant Programs, 

 National Science Foundation 



Mr. Chairman, gentlemen, I am happy to appear before you this morning to 

 discuss the progress of the National Sea Grant Program. Because you are all 

 familiar vv^ith the early history of its concept and formation, I propose to con- 

 centrate on more recent developments, following the passage of the Sea Grant 

 Act on October 15, 1966, and its signing into lav,^ on October 17, 1966. 



During the three months following the Act's passage, the National Council on 

 Marine Resources and Engineering Development considered the program and 

 endorsed the National Science Foundation's plans for its implementation. A 

 budget level of $4 million was established for Fiscal Year 1968. In its first report 

 to the President, the Marine Science Council stated that the Sea Grant Program, 

 highlighted as a new initiative, would be implemented immediately. Chapter 6 

 of the Council's first report, "Marine Science Affairs — A Year of Transition," 

 placed the program in the perspective in which it would be viewed and imple- 

 mented by the Executive Branch of Government. I would like to offer that chap- 

 ter for the record. 



Coincident with the issuance of the Council's report, the National Science 

 Foundation established the Office of Sea Grant Programs, reporting directly to 

 the Associate Director for Research. During the ensuing months, staff members 

 were hired ; at the present time the staff is complete, with the complement shown 

 on this table, which I offer for the record. 



I might add that acquiring the proper staff was not simple. It was necessary 

 to obtain a high level of competence and broad experience, with a combination 

 of backgrounds that would cover the great scope of the Sea Grant Program. The 

 nature of the program also required that the staff be imaginative, because it 

 became clear very early that many institutions were looking to the staff for 

 broad guidance and for specific ideas on useful activities. We interviewed a 

 number of top-notch people. Finally, we arrived at what I consider a happy 

 combination of staff talents and personalities. 



During the period of program organization, inquiries poured in from institu- 

 tions of all kinds, and the demand for information on the program grew rapidly. 

 However, the program could not begin officially until funds were available. It 

 was not until .June of 1967 that the Congress approved the Foundation's request 

 to re-program $1 million of its previously appropriated funds with which to get 

 the program underway. Immediately thereafter, on June 8, 1967, the Foundation 

 issued the official announcement of the program — Important Notice to Presidcvts 

 of Universities and Colleges. Subject: The National Sea Grant Program. 



This announcement, which I would like to offer for the record, included the 

 general program considerations, concept, objectives, and scope. It outlined the 

 generalized criteria under which proposals would be judged, and the method of 

 administration. 



The National Science Foundation plans to administer the program in two main 

 divisions : 



Sea Grant Institutional Support will be focused in institutions engaged in 

 "broad-based marine resources program that include research, education, and ad- 

 visory services — that is, all three major elements prescribed under the Sea Grant 



