Evening star., 1947-07-27
The Science Foundation

For the nrSt time IN ltS history, Jne
Nation now will have a permanent agency
for the peacetime mobilization of its scien-
tiflc talent sfof basic research and develop
ment. This has been made possible by
the legislation at last approved by Con-
gress after long debate and delay. That
the President will approve it is certain
No Federal undertaking could be more
obviously sound or more necessary. Indeed,
in some respects, considering the nature
of our age, it promises to be one of the
most important and most fruitful of our
Government projects.
Growing out of the temporary wartime
Office of Scientific Research and Develop
ment, the new agency-the National
Science Foundation-will function pri-
marily to keep America from tagging be-
hind the rest of the world in pure research
Its responsibilities will embrace every field
of xperiment-medcine mathematics,
physics, engineering, biology and national
defense. 1t will establish commissions on
cancer heart disease and infantile paral-
ySis, to cite but a few examples. It will
coordinate its programs with kindred
programs undertaken by other organiza-
tions, private and public. 1t will maintain
a complete register of our specialized
talent and serve in other ways as "a CEN
tral clearing house for information cover
ing all scientific and technical personnel
in the United States and its territories
and possessions"
Operating on a budget expected to
amount at first to about $25, ,0OO,OOO year,
the Foundation will carry out it's main
duties by cooperating closely with quail
fled universities and other institutions and
by lending support to their basic expert
mental work with loans, grants and other
types of assistance. Moreover-an. this
will be not the least important of it's activ-
ities-it will establish system of scholar
ships and fellowships to encourage the
growth of potential talent among young
men and women and to help promising
scientists to develop their gifts as fully as
possible. In other words, it will seek to
add to the Nations most vital natural
resource-brain power.
Under the bill finally enacted by Con-
gress, all the different operations of this
great enterprise are to be administered by
board of twenty-four menbers-indi-
viduals eminent in the fields of the funda
mental sciences, medical science, engi-
neering, education or public affairs" After
they are named by the President, they will
have to be confirmed by the Senate, and
they themselves will select their top direc-
tor. During debate on the measure, hot
issue was raised over whether this selection
should be the boards or the Presidents,
but the argument on both sides seemed
much ado about nothing when compared
to the overshadowing need to bring the
foundation into existence. The important
thing is that the need has at last been
met; the administrative setup which
can be changed if experience so dictates
Is of secondary interest.
What the Nation has reason to hope for
now is that the foundation will discharge
its responsibilities with vigor and vision.
In the age of electronics, supersonic
rockets, atomic energy and other wonders
capable of working either good or evil on
an enormous scale, this new agency has
a vital role to play in exploiting the from
tiers of knowledge to promote the health,
prosperity and security of our land It's
promise is great. If it is as fully supported
as it should be. it is likely-in time-to
yield dividends of almost incalculable
value.