365 



Dr. Robertson. The National Science Foundation lias a very broad 

 cliarter, to support basic research and education in the sciences, and 

 we are not limited to the support of colleges and universities. However, 

 our policy at this time, set by the National Science Board, is to con- 

 centrate most of our support in academic institutions where most of 

 the basic research is done, and where it also serves to train students. 

 We do support research in a number of nonprofit institutes, some of 

 which are closely related to the academic community, as in the case at 

 the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. There are a number of 

 other smaller nonprofit laboratories which we support. 



Mr. MosHER. On page 2 you refer to the fact of the short supply of 

 people trained for research, and on page 6 you refer to the constant 

 stream of recruits. Is this in pretty healthy balance? Granted the 

 short supply and the need to have more trained people, is the supply 

 of recruits sufficient? Are you getting all you can handle? Is the 

 academic community getting as much interest in this from young peo- 

 ple as is good ? 



Dr. Robertson. There has been a very sharp increase in the last 

 10 years in the number of people choosing to go on to graduate work 

 in marine sciences and related fields. I think that this flow could be 

 larger. 



Mr. MosHER. But it has increased? It is a popular field right 

 now? 



Dr. Robertson. It is a field that has been growing in popularity 

 very considerably. We have many more Ph. D.'s awarded in ocean 

 science today than we had 10 years ago. However, I would like to see 

 more and better people going into the field. I think we have tre- 

 mendous opportunity here and a tremendous and growing need for 

 people at all levels of training, not onl;^ Ph. D.'s but also people 

 with a bachelor's degree, for engineers trained in ocean-related work, 

 and for technicians. 



Mr. MosHER. So that part of your effort is to increase the flow of 

 recruits, to encourage it ? 



Dr. Robertson. It is. We feel that there is a need for more people. 



Mr. Mosher. I have one other question. 



Several times you referred to joint efforts and to joint funding with 

 other agencies and particularly with the Navy. What are the mecha- 

 nisms by which this is accomplished ? Are these bilateral efforts, or do 

 you work through the Marine Council ? Of course, you will keep the 

 Marine Council informed, but do you just go directly to the Navy, and 

 vice versa, to make these arrangements ? 



Dr. Robertson. These are bilateral or multilateral efforts where we 

 do keep the Marine Council fully informed, as we formerly kept the 

 ICO informed. We sit down together with the Navy and go over the 

 oceanographic research ships, for example, and work out a pattern 

 of support in which they provide some of the support through con- 

 tracts directly with institutions such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic 

 Institution, and we provide support through grants. We try to see that 

 these are carefully meshed and that the needs are provided without any 

 duplication. 



Mr. Mosher. Now, have there been any occasions where the Marine 

 Council has used the initiative that I think it is beginning to develop, 



