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Editors' Column Government Spending for Science T h e fiscal year 1979 budget announced by President Carter emphasizes "basic" in science and technology. Monies earmarked for research and development (R+D), however, are not exactly plentiful. The zero-based budget Carter proposed increases proposed total federal spending 8.2% while funding for R + D activities would rise only 6.1% to $27.9 billion out of a total $500.2 billion budget. Basic research funding increases 10.9% to $3.65 billion. The greater increase in funding of basic research reflects the conclusions of experts t h a t although science is in good condition at present there are problems to be faced: • There are not enough young scientists doing basic research, partially because the tenure system tends to lock out new PhD's from university jobs. • There are fewer first-class research centers because the quality of once excellent science departments is declining. • Equipment is becoming obsolete because the country is beginning to lag in scientific instrumentation. • There are more conservative research proposals advanced probably because of the lack of available money for nonconventional studies. Increased funding for basic research has to mean a decrease elsewhere. Budget proposals suggest a decrease in demonstration projects or applications. However, specifics are not spelled out in each government agency's budget, and Congress or uncooperative agencies could ruin the budget philosophy that permits greater spending for basic research. Out of total research support of $829.2 million, the National Science Foundation (NSF) proposes 91% for basic research. The N S F budget shows an increase of $22.3 million to $268.3 million for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Engineering (MPE). The M P E budget includes $47.7 million for chemistry, $18.1 million for computer research, and $64.5 million for materials research. In these areas, M P E will provide strong support for high-quality research projects aimed at enriching our knowledge of materials, laws, and phenomena and will increase emphasis in computer research in nonnumeric computing and intelligent systems and research equipment. M P E will also broaden research on miniaturization necessary to further
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A Subsidiary of Liquid Air Corp. Copyright 1978 of North America CIRCLE 214 ON READER SERVICE CARD
490 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 50, NO. 4, APRIL 1978
developments in integrated circuits, magnetic memory systems, and optical communications systems and will provide for critically needed modernization and replacement of instruments at the Materials Research Laboratories. Among the other government agencies concerned with science, the National Institutes of Health is pleased with the back to basics budget philosophy even though the increase in their budget will be negated by inflation. T h e National Aeronautics and Space Administration wanted major budget emphasis placed on space applications and aeronautical research and technology and less emphasis on space sciences. However, in the final proposed budget the largest percentage increase went to space sciences. At the Environmental Protection Agency, the first agency to use zero-based budget techniques, the result is a diminished emphasis of programs of lesser importance with obvious greater emphasis on those programs that are more important, e.g., a 97% funding increase for the implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act. The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) is expected to get substantially more money, a budget increase of 20% to $66 million. The increase is for an expanded effort to establish standards and for maintenance of N B S ' basic science and engineering capability. In other government/science economic activities, Richard A. Atkinson, director of NSF, announced t h a t funding of university/industry cooperative research, aimed at both basic and applied investigations, will be given special attention in the competition for research support. Dr. Atkinson said that "while academic and industrial scientists working apart have been very productive, we believe that the special perspectives on research of scientists in both fields working together will act to produce beneficial results to the economy and speed solution of current and future societal needs". These cooperative efforts will require active participation by both university and industry. It is expected that an industrial firm or group of firms would contribute funds, personnel, or services reflecting their interest in the research. Jointly prepared proposals from cooperating institutions will compete with regular proposals, but cooperative projects would be a factor in the award decision process. A. A.
Husovsky
