ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
EDITORIAL
April 1961, Vol. 33, No. 4 APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS Director of Publications, C. B. Larrabee Editorial Director, Richard L. Kenyon Assistant to the Director of Publications, Joseph H . Kuney Assistant to the Editorial Director, Rodney N . Hader Director of Editorial Research, Robert F. Gould
ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
Federal R & D Exceeds $9 Billion
Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLETT
Managing Editor, ROBERT G. GIBBS
EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Phone REpublic 7-3337 Teletype WA 23 Associate Editors: G. Gladys Gordon, Stella Anderson, Katherine I. Biggs, Sue M . Solliday, Ruth Reynard Assistant Editors: Robert J. Kelley, Malvina B. Lester Editorial Assistants: Katherine H. Ginnane, Virginia E. Stewart, Lorraine M. Bertuzzi Layout and Production: Joseph Jacobs (Art Director), Melvin D . Buckner, Betty V. Kieffer, John V. Sinnett Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher
BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES CHICAGO 3, ILL. Room 926, 36 South Wabash Ave. Phone STate 2-5148 Teletype CG 725 Associate Editor in Charge: Arthur Poulos HOUSTON 2, T E X . 718 Melrose Bldg. Phone FAirfax 3-7107 Teletype HO 72 Associate Editor in Charge: Bruce F . Greek N E W YORK 16, Ν. Υ. 2 Park Ave. Phone ORegon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editor in Charge: William Q. Hull SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics' Institute Bldg., 57 Post St. Phone EXbrook 2-2895 Teletype SF 549 Associate Editor in Charge: Richard G. Newhall EASTON, PA. 20th and Northampton Sts. Phone BLackburn 8-9111 Teletype ESTN Pa 7048 Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Editorial Assistant: Elizabeth R. Rufe EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Phone Temple Bar 3605 Cable J I E C H E M Associate Editor in Charge: David E . Gushee Contributing Editor: R. H. Müller Advisory Board: F . E. Beamish, C. E . Bricker, D . D . DeFord, E. C. Dunlop, C. L. Luke, W. J. Mader, H. V. Malmstadt, W. B. Mason, F. W. Mitchell, Jr., M. L. Moss, Ν. Η. Nachtrieb, L. B . Rogers, B . F . Scribner, Sidney Siggia, F . H. Stross
T71VEN AFTER YEARS of exposure to federal government budget figures, •*-J we still do not fully comprehend the magnitude of expenditures which are in the order of billions of dollars. We felt this way again when we received a report concerning a, rela tively small part of the federal budget for 1961—the amount to be spent for research and development. According to the National Science Foundation, which prepared the report ("Federal Funds for Science, IX," Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C , 50 cents) the Federal Government will obligate $9.1 billion for the support of scien tific research and development in the fiscal year 1961. This includes $600 million for increase of R & D plants with $8.5 billion for research and development. Approximately $850 million of the total will go for basic research. The $9.1 billion figure compares with $8.6 billion for 1960 and $7.4 billion for 1959. As was the case last year, the Department of Defense, Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration account for 90 % of the total. Government R & D expenditures account for about two thirds of all R & D funds spent in this country. This means that the U. S. is spend ing $13 to $14 million a year on R & D. It is of interest to note that during 1960, when the government allo cated $747 million for basic research, 44% of this total went to educa tional institutions, 14% to profit organizations, 30% to federal agencies, and 12% to other groups. Some of this research is being car ried out in foreign countries. The basic research program includes physical sciences (44%), space sciences and operations research (29%), life sciences (24%), psycho logical sciences (2%), and social sciences ( 1 % ) . Federal R & D expenditures have increased from $74 million a year in 1940 to $8.6 billion in 1960. It is significant to note that obligations for R & D in 1961 of $9.1 billion are about the same as the total federal budget in 1940. The large sums available eliminate one major obstacle to progress in scientific research and development. The biggest problem now is obtaining adequately trained men with the ideas and imagination to use these funds effectively. In particular we need scientists who will resist the temptation to initiate shallow and unrewarding research just because money is available to support it.
Advertising Management R E I N H O L D PUBLISHING CORP. (For Branch Offices see page 139 A) VOL. 33, NO. 4, APRIL 1961
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