From: rsherme@diamond.nswc.navy.mil (Russel Shermer (R43))
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: fyi #115: Change on the Horizon for NSF
Date: 26 Aug 92 22:21:10 GMT
Organization: NAVSWC DD White Oak Det.

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
Phone: (202) 332-9661
Email: fyi@aip.org

Change on the Horizon for NSF


FYI No. 115, August 26, 1992

The National Science Board has announced the formation of a Special
Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation.  This
announcement provides the latest evidence that the mission of the
40 year old agency will undergo substantial change.

NSF's reexamination of its mission is not unexpected.  It was
widely predicted that Dr. Walter Massey, the foundation's director
since early last year, would put his own stamp on the agency.  The
external environment has also changed, notably with the
transformation of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.  Budget
restraints have forced the foundation to contemplate a future which
no longer includes a doubling of its budget.  And finally, Congress
has urged the agency to reexamine its role, a recent example being
Senate Appropriations Committee report language stating, "...the
Committee believes that the new world order requires the Foundation
to take a more activist role in transferring the results of basic
research from the academic community into the market place" (see
FYI #112.)

Director Massey requested that the National Science Board establish
this Commission.  It will be composed of up to 15 individuals drawn
from academia, industry, and other sectors.  Three full meetings of
the Commission are planned, which will be open to the public.  A
final report must be submitted by the Commission to the Board 75
days after the first meeting, with the Commission's charter to
terminate in no more than four months.

In Massey's memorandum to the Board, he cites this Commission as a
"first step" for NSF in "expand[ing] on its success in supporting
research and education."  Massey states that the Commission will be
discussed with interested groups such as Members of Congress, the
National Research Council, Council on Competitiveness, Council of
Scientific Society Presidents, and the Industrial Research
Institute.

In an accompanying Discussion Paper to the Board, Massey clearly
indicates his thinking.  He presents three leadership options, the
first being reverting to a small agency predominately dedicated to
the support of individual investigators and small groups at
universities.  In doing so, Massey states, NSF would have to
discontinue important ongoing programs.  A second option would be
to continue present activities, although in doing so only "token
efforts" could be given to programs linking universities and
industry.

Massey then continues, "A third possibility, one that I prefer, is
to build on our traditional mission and exercise new leadership
across a broader spectrum of research areas.  NSF would adopt an
expanded portfolio of programs that would be integrated with
ongoing activities and closely aligned with industry and other
government agencies.  While it is difficult now to provide a
blueprint for NSF under this option, the agency would reflect some
of the following characteristics:

  "The intellectual boundaries between disciplines and between
types of research would be lowered and made more permeable.

  "NSF would encourage increased interaction in areas of national
concern between different institutional actors: academia, industry
(large and small), Federal, state, and local government.

  "Human resource development and education would be integrated and
expanded into all aspects of research activities and would link
industry, colleges and universities, two year colleges, and
technical institutes, and precollege students and teachers.

  "NSF would articulate and demonstrate in a more comprehensive
manner the outcomes and benefits of public investments in research
and education."

It should be noted that Director Massey is not the first agency
head to rethink his agency's mission.  In early July, at a
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board meeting, DOE Secretary James
Watkins spoke at length about a role for DOE in a new strategy for
economic competitiveness (see FYI #94.)  This role, he said, is
"what we are all about now."

This examination of NSF's mission is likely to cause considerable
discussion in the scientific community about foundation support for
individual investigators and small groups.  Many scientists
expressed caution about NSF support for new activities while the
agency's budget enjoyed substantial increases.  Given a future of
flat, or perhaps even declining, annual budgets, it will be, as
Director Massey acknowledges, a challenge to "provide a blueprint"
for this transition.


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Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
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