377 



Mr. Downing. Write to his Congressman, the chairman says. 



Dr. Robertson. One object of our courses for secondary school 

 teachers is to inspire them with interest in this field, and also to give 

 them some knowledge of how to guide students. We are trying to 

 introduce some aspects of oceanography at the secondary school level, 

 both by acquainting the teachers with the field and by introducing 

 ocean science into some aspect of the science curriculum in the sec- 

 ondary schools. 



Usually a young man is inspired by a combination of an interest 

 in science and an interest in the sea. The sea attracts him as he swims in 

 it, or sails on it. Pie begins to visualize a goal in life of working on 

 some aspect of the sea. 



If he keeps that goal before him through college, he may do very 

 little actually with regard to the ocean, but he is doing chemistry, with 

 a view toward ending up as a chemical oceanographer. 



When he gets to graduate school, he perhaps enters into that field, 

 participates in cruises of the oceanographic ships, and so on. 



I think it is important that he be inspired early, and helped to con- 

 tinue this interest at all stages. Having things going on in oceanog- 

 raphy which he can see, having people involved in the field who can 

 lead and guide him is important for the young man. 



Mr. Karth. Would the gentleman yield there ? 



Mr. Downing. Yes. 



Mr. Karth. Doctor, doesn't the National Science Foundation fund 

 at all, undergraduate work for some interested students, such as my 

 colleague is asking about, in some universities around the country ? 



Dr. Robertson. Yes. 



Mr. Karth. Then the answer, I suppose, is to write to you and ask 

 how they might qualify for undergraduate funds ? 



Dr. Robertson. Yes. We are ready to help anyone who is interested 

 in this field. 



Some of our modes of support, as I mentioned in my statement, in- 

 clude provision to undergraduate colleges of research or educational 

 equipment in this field. 



We also have undergraduate research participation programs in 

 which we provide funds to the teacher so that undergraduate students 

 can participate in a beginning way in some research experiences. 



We have a number of programs of this kind, which will help in- 

 spire people to work in this and other scientific fields. 



Mr. Lennon. Will the gentleman yield to me specifically on this 

 question at this point, for my understanding ? 



Doctor, on page 16, in the last sentence, you refer specifically and 

 categorically to the work you are doing at the secondary school level, 

 which of course would be the high school student. 



Dr. Robertson. Right. 



Mr. Lennon. Then you go on to say that, "* * * the earth sciences 

 curriculum project" — which reaches, so you say, the secondary or high 

 school students — "includes such topics as composition of sea water, 

 ocean currents, and topography of ocean basins." 



Will you illustrate or demonstrate what the earth sciences curricu- 

 lum project is, and what secondary schools it is involved in under your 

 sponsorship ? 



86-705— 68— pt. 1 25 



