From: ichihara@rikvax.riken.go.jp (Takashi Ichihara)
Subject: WHAT'S NEW, Friday, 11 September 1992
Reply-To: ichihara@rikvax.riken.go.jp
Organization: RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-01 Japan
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 04:57:12 GMT

To: ichihara@rikvax.riken.go.jp
From: "Janice Smith" <VP.APS@STANFORD.BITNET>
Subject: What's New for 09-11-92

WHAT'S NEW, Friday, 11 September 1992              Washington, DC

1. THE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF NSF HAS BEEN APPOINTED
by James Duderstadt, chair of the National Science Board.  The
Commission was established at the request of Walter Massey, NSF
director, to aid in the Foundation's long-range planning process.
William Danforth, the chancellor of Washington University in St.
Louis, and Robert Galvin, former CEO of Motorola, will serve as
co-chairs of the 15-member commission.  Danforth is an MD, Galvin
is a lawyer.  The other members are: Jacqueline Barton, professor
of chemistry at Cal Tech; Lindy Boggs, former US Representative
from Louisiana; Lewis Branscomb, professor of public service at
Harvard; Peter Eisenberger, director of the Materials Institute
at Princeton; Marye Anne Fox, chemistry professor at University
of Texas; C. Peter Magrath, president, National Association of
State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; Ruben Mettler, former
CEO of TRW; Percy Pierre, research VP at Michigan State; Frank
Rhodes, president of Cornell; Earl Richardson, president, Morgan
State University; Ian Ross, president emeritus of AT&T Bell Labs;
William Rutter, CEO, Chiron Corp.; and Donna Shalala, chancellor
University of Wisconsin.  Fox, Rhodes and Ross are NSB members.

2. WHATEVER THE NSB COMMISSION DOES, IT'S GOING TO DO IT FAST!
The first of three open meetings will take place next Thursday,
17 Sept 92, and the commission's report is due in late November.
Written comments on how NSF can do more to link academic science
with industry must reach the Commission by 15 Oct 92. That leaves
scant opportunity to debate an issue of such profound importance
to American science.  Massey suggests that it may be time for NSF
to "accept a major role in fostering links between research and
technology."  The question is not whether the US needs a National
Competitiveness Agency, but whether NSF should be that agency.

3. MEANWHILE, THE SENATE PASSED A VA/HUD/IA APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The accompanying report language calls for the very changes in
the role of NSF that Massey recommends in his discussion paper to
the NSB (WN 28 Sep 92), but the NSF director would prefer to let
the Commission do its thing first. His concern was shared by APS
President Ernest Henley and Vice President Burton Richter, who
wrote to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee chair, Barbara
Mikulski.  They asked that the language mandating a new role for
NSF be deleted from the report in conference with the House, and
replaced with language taking note of the NSB planning process
and asking for a report on the results about a year from now.

4. AFTER 8 YEARS, THE ROLE OF "WHAT'S NEW" IS ALSO BEING REVIEWED
Suggestions for changes in coverage or format are welcome.  One
proposal under consideration would be to include a disclaimer in
every issue to the effect that subtly disguised editorial opinion
and commentary, which occasionally creeps into WN's coverage of
events, is the sole responsibility of the hot head that writes
this junk.  We currently include such a warning once a year.



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