In a later efter we note some of the consequences of this rule riprnt and the universities. 18 de worth being that the practical need for connection between aufa ilafat am the murre of stratists is not the only reason for salue of any sharp ktparation between research and teaching. Ilr face that in the wider mense all first-rate research laboratories marind Rag an atmore of learning. Successful research can be de of a learning what has bot been taught before, and a good sientist waruing from others as a part of his campaign to find out some E It is not an aerident, therefore, that in any outstanding prental laboratory the atmosphere is reminiscent of the 12 h latuvalorie, metrrer, the prentist's conieru with "research • An ofta very strag: much exrellent basic work is done in pin in support of georral programs of applied research. We north learning, and traching are deeply connected processes al le for her wherever pasible. Not all basic research should I preferred in our universities, but where it is done sparately, e ild lor made to take advantage of its edurational value. Th. Jederal Guernment 360 graduate education, together. are the knotterd core of ton, all the will grow stronger together or not at all. Let us 8.*/******* of this primiple, first for the Government and "", The Federal Government, by it variul mix-2014 and ..", 1012!" entw, is the most powerful single forre in this *** all's safe are the natural hoolers and custodians of both hair do much to strengthen, and something to weaken 71.'.in rrrtt deadle Beith #ust do better in the years ***** 'lost, throwth many agenkle, new by far the most If...for rewarh in the universities In 1997 the 818- li powranh was att 70 ftrent. This astonishing er By: 3.5PS is the product of perul forry, all of them initiallr *. a (prite branches of the Government. The two most .If the firrnient in supporting parah hulp been defense prutlar threr fourths of all Federal funds for 11- ha sommarth in av, " #ith one or the other of the two majons, first n'rrraf in front 'th iniveres His to main advantage of marh. Historically, the earliext large pale re thome in the field of a riiulture, which unted the lovernment ALE 11**l!utio Then during World War II, American science offra'el ite paraithe al value and in the year after the war, agos. Os alu 11.2'n berg related to health developed large walle Po with the narratio. At first these relations were lauda ing nafnsation for servir rendered. Gorernment contracts and a great deal of paar h of high quality, they have, for prample, of ail of our re.arkable pwwt war effort in nuclear phyfis. Sur ;*4 fertilitet narrowly to the fields with high practical siguiti 3.. al apal stay the auta "pot of "parehase of services," which is implied in --07.88% ** ftrat, *** and is a foubtful ute. when applied to baste Haec tranh, almart by definition has no clearly predditable porniti add a Ple (ongress and the Federal agetuies involved have had to sory Brundly the motion of "prve prveel" in return for sinn *1*nt On retrante But conretely, the support of university research has ruf bg untrat rules which seriefly limit the ways in whub univers De cezjanuatre for their crets The whole framework is what ar. unmlletje The wonder is that it works as well as it down oplnt of view of this report, a partirularis grave ditents in the rh by Government contracts is that by its very nature support brush rh a merhaniam tends to separate perrh fruta elulot In want montract the pe peregnized "print" I "marih" ve if the namt has an interest in basie research in any given field. It inevitably spolated Interest in graduate education in the same fleeld 'l hue the CentrenTar de mana is an important element in the quality of any mtaelon aplented en tebo Carernment was armed earlier to "Mirengthenti merrn . » 36 22 Nothing to this report should be taken u a modification of that pois!!! ment is almost forced to work against its own interest as well as that of the university when it uses an instrument whose formal concern is with research results alone. It is greatly to the credit of many able public servants that this inherent difficulty has often been overcome by imaginative and farsighted 2018ministration. Many graduate students have been helped by contract funds in s fashion that is both constructive and proper. But the research contract, with its concept of services purchased, remains an imperfect instrument. ben vor 1 advancement of basic research as such it is awkward, because first-class researrt is really not a service to be contracted for. And for larger purposes it is wholly inadequate. All Government agencies are now empowered to use grants instead of contracts in supporting basic research; the National Science Foundation and the Satual Institutes of Health, particularly, have used this form extensively for some ypat The use of grants sometimes has the regrettable consequence of failing to provide for the full cost of the research that is supported, and sometimes the complexit of application and processing for even a small project grant compare nnfavorah's with the best practice of contracting agencies. But on balance and in the long run, the grant is a better instrument than the contract—it is more consistent · with the nature of basic research. Grants and contracts are both used to support specific research projects This is good, in and of itself-especially when such support is provided, * * often is, with a minimum of redtape and for broad objectives, with relativels long time schedules (3-year terms were recommended in an earlier repure), Support of good men or groups in specific projects can be particularly effective in insuring that excellent scientists and excellent problems are identified uberever they may be. While the process of evaluation and award is time consuming both for Government officials and for outside scientists who serve on advisory panels, it is well done, on the whole. But project support, in and of Iturlf, does not fully meet the needs of the Federal Government. We can understand this matter better if we consider for a moment the Federal Government's larger purposes in relation to basic research and graduate ulation. In addition to the research interests of particular agencies, the Guverument has two other more general responsibilities. One is its concern for the development of fields of basic and applied science which may be of general importance for the national security and the general welfare: the other is it concern for the strength of American science and higher education as a whole. There are many fields of science in which the United States could well become stronger and more active, both from the point of view of the national defense and from that of the public welfare. It is unfortunately not true that scientists always and automatically sort themselves out into the most relevant and produr tive fields of work. Science like any other human activity is subjert to the distortion of human frailty, and scientific fashion is not always sound. More over, even when individual scientists spot promising untilled fields (and it is scientists who do spot them) it is often hard to find funds and facilities for the new undertaking from within hard-pressed universities. We think it plain that the Federal Government should act in such areas of scientific promise. No other agency in our society is responsible for the national security, and a large field, full of new problems, such as space science or materials research, is potentially vital to our safety. No other agency in our society is responsible for the general welfare, and all major fields without exception can be expected to contribute to the general welfare. No other agency, finally, has the financial strength to provide the necessary support-and incentive for work in expensive new undertakings. It can be said without qualification that our society will be endangered and impoverished if these things are not done, and that only the Federal Government can take the leadershin to get them done. We do not mean, again, that only Federal action will be needed; we do mean that it must play a large initiating and sustaining role. When we construe the matter in this way, it becomes clear that no porrow or single-instrument method of action will serve the Government's purposes. For example, if oceanography is urgently important (as it is), if good oceanog raphers are scare (as they are), and if oceanographic facilities-esnecially modern seagoing vessels are almost nonexistent (also the case), the Federal Gorernment cannot discharge its responsibilities by signing a research contract with any one institution. It has to look at the whole subject and all its needs. It may be more important to buy some university a shin—as the National Science Foundation has recently done-than to execute a research contract for work under one of its professors. It may also be important to offer fellowships or te stani expense of a new set of courses. The Governinent will not be sann Interest if it cannot put its money freely wherever it sees of now Bride of need and opportunity, we are seeking to emphasize at Bow reed during We evuld also call attention to the many Larr altraly lef done, abuse and beyond the standard research beti Goveriti at, hax, of course, already built major research apreld met notably in the field of melear physis 6":98-e male gratis for truarih facilitie* as well as for remerch E the fir.de of bralth. The Natiunnl Science Foundation, with the -1.910rIn the lead. hs klanira lehtipa buh directsy . IT through un veriti, and treptly it bas pilared to 1 p heront to it on the polling fulls on a pipesfert Wormbestid *** s'en flir. Inste 14 of irallillig ar I luv!th the faison ship pral of the Ateinte Energy * Rap Bule Dibs the lattial Infelixe Eduka : no.worldbeu pore 1s whilanly jurii'it 11.*** Son 1. In gridte van lid bas risen: we **"1 ; # 1 tone like traite, lo show how general O'shill greater interest in the matters. It is quite 80 resurshid bensoring as fusible. This blunt stateas fron sietlał affection, or from professional athliation, Raw tallet erfres to twth. It is rather that the function of the que sof alatiy rritiral in portance to the national welfare. As po, hari ifaded in mal.y industries and goverament installa18.1, have an urally lost their hear mopoly on kientifie work. ".. that this pries should not go too far. For the universities {$Tv's scientist, as they are the natural centers for jointly trerarb and graduate education. 12.. prof.se har tanilg for many others besides the Federal 1 *** Curr,f1ee them.uites are not without resources, and they ant: alar and urgrut obligation to spread the Word of their high mission op bes have tripsids who can help. State governments, graduates, getpirate dans, and foundatiotis all have a part to play in strengthening as udvenaity. Morrer, a we shall prouintly see, the American ** "sho a spai opportunity and obilgation to me to it that its respon 1. adgaent and leadership in basic research and graduate education is to a.. theer things have beet pald, the first and greatest of responsible dark for tbe Frderal Governinent. No matter how many diverse ele 1985 sety may joun in their support (and the more the better), barle A graduate education are in the end, by their very bature, a problem as a where, and so for the National Government. There is not four f'allforala and another for Teras. A first rate program in ar!!! or (a.berti, ut must Dot be limited to New Englandern Science P.co by branble rivalry, but not by any effort to consider only narrow or ats bath basir teranih and graduate education must be stij ported 28. the weifare of swiety as a whole. It is in this large sense that ibe Prderal Gerema.cat IInevitably cptitral. erraadly, our universities have been slow in finding effective ways of 1 - 1entife spararh and training at all the new levels and in all the ye when the nge of slene n:n kes permitile. Graduate eduation is not ed as it shevald be. (utmaded rules of study too often Impuede the student's to the experience of modern siete. Remearch programs are fe often Los data from the mainstream of student life. Special remarch instal low often not imaginatively used as a source of learning and teaching de of study are ignored because they inconveniently crown des arti ntal Serung understanding of the meaning of the age of srirace is too $ ! and among university administrators. The universities themselves mart to do rurage the most important single task of the universities i to see to it that Susun standards of freedom and excellence are maintained in a period of sertion with government. While we do not share the nation that renant money is necessarily subversive of university freedoms, it is obvious mas are sale Federal spending like any other form of patronage has its Bauards In the record of the last 16 years, there is much more ground for hope than for fear, but occasionally government action has distorted the direction of research or unwisely discriminated against particular scientists on tr relevant grounds. It is to the credit of the Government that such cases have been the exception, not the rule, and we commend the good sense which has led the administration to oppose discriminatory and useless affidavits of disbelief as a condition for fellowship aid. But the first and greatest responsibility for keeping our universities free and self-reliant rests with the universities themselves with their faculties, their administrators, and their trustees. What they do not defend, others will not find it easy even to understand, while when they are stanch in their principles and vigilant in their practices, the record suggests that neither the Federal Government nor any other source of support is an overwhelming threat to them. ('our age and vigilance are essential, but there is no ground for a timid mistrust of government in and of itself. The right concept is that of partnership, with each partner respecting the rights and responsibilities of the other. For this there is need for a constant effort of communication and understanding, and we repear that the first responsibility here rests with university people. Yet the main trouble in the universities is not a failure of understanding er communication; it is lack of means. Typically the American university is trying to do too much with too little. Its salaries are low; its teaching assignments are high ; its scientific buildings and equipment are cramped or out of date or brott Modern science does not flourish in such circumstances. Dedication and talent are still the first requirements for scientific achievement, but in most branches of science today there is no escape from the need for expensive facilities and substantial numbers of colleagues. No university in this country today is doing what it should in science; none could be doing even as much as it is without the Federal support which has developed in the last 15 years. Thus partnership be tween the universities and the National Government is the indispensable basis of first-rate university work in science. The partnership is a fact. It has done much more good than harm. It seems certain to grow in importance unless the American people decide to accept 4 second-rate standing in terms of power, of comfort, and of knowledge. The broad problem which faces the Government and the universities is to make the partner ship fully fruitful. The remainder of this report is devoted to a number of spe cific issues on which it seems possible to make useful comments at this time But particular issues are subject to change from year to year, and we do not wish to put our main emphasis on any one question in itself. In a sense these comments are illustrative rather than exhaustive or definitive-the main thing, once again, is to think of basic research and graduate education together. The truth is as simple as it is important: Whether the quantity and quality of basic research and graduate education in the United States will be adequate or inadequate depends primarily upon the Government of the United States. From this responsibility the Federal Government has no escape. Either it will find the policies--and the resources—which permit our universities to flourish and their duties to be adequately discharged or no one will. It is much easier to state this general interest of the Federal Government than it is to delineate its consequences. Indeed, in the largest sense the consequences are too many for numbering, because in essence this general proposition should color every action of every Federal agency in all its dealing with our universities. With all their irritating faults, universities are essential agencies of our national hopes, and they must be treated accordingly. V. The job of the universities American universities are far from perfect, and their best spokesmen are the first to admit it. In a sense they do not have the excuse of government, which has entered the field only recently ; their very reason for being is that they should support the high purposes we are concerned with here. Basic research and graduate education-as we have said and all will easily agree--are of the very essence of the fundamental purposes of the American university. Yet many do much too little, and none does all it should, in these great areas. In the first place, it is often as hard for the university as for the government to keep it clearly in mind that basic research and scientific education go together. The first and simplest temptation, we fear, is the neglect of research. Most American universities have their origin in a public need for education-for instruction--for teaching——and in most of them there is still maintained the same artificial and fundamentally wrong division between research and teaching that bedevils the government's relations with universities. But while the government In a few morrrb than for teaching, the university, too often, Bank as a matter of mure, and for research only when special wm. The result is that in all but a few American universities frating avignment of the professors (significantly called his odsouth as to make it difficult for him to carry on any serious 20.1 fantjona vef his own. s bar the university Itself sometimes allows favored individuals sabing puede whatever. ax a means perhaps of attracting and keeping u-ariy mutstanding reputation. The danger in such a prartice is frisure to suggest that the very best men deserve exemption while in any individual case such arrangement may be justified, stofupfaber that universities and scientists themselves should home eaf teaching as well as research. This is not a rigid matter of un's time in qual but separate parts. In the best departments her time is mainly on rrpareh and men who are mainly fwled to held any individual to any arbitrary standard that 1 bat intial is that the environment as a whole should - of leaming, investigation, and teaching all together. Only le 7280","le fail to understand and support this image of their PINT HOME SPATII CONCIL'NIORS i despre strong support of van voed of m'lener the best is vastly more important than the Nalor to mareh in generally worse than useles, and the same por cald cof training It is, therefore, of first importance that na. were four both artivitim should aim at sustaining and reinforcing outork herrier it may be found. Both the Federal Government and $4.97 :eraturs heulit ke firm in their support of what is first rate 12pt marea hard charya in fe entwirt of buxhe remarch, the (overnment has ristally he sain Juignent of retro vientists, and in the main this Ibond that in these areas of rararrh in which Federal support has ahin Tetanding men have been able to attrart wtb-tantial support. "Le profeet method of rear h support his real values which ! .guin in or proper cubiern for additional methods of action. Nov.lt stands and broader chajertive are ineluded, we should abr of the need for amintire judgment. Vor seld we ever s111* - 31.tiflenters whhh have a deved fetanding muality are hat vn elf enstaining and free of need. Ilors of errollener arr urgently needed 'ph the importance of sustaining what is already outstanding, we gruptance from the country of an increase in the number of universities por rate preparrh and graduate teaching go forward together. The warm reynir a murite places with superior faculties and outstanding durats Existing strong institutions cannot fully meet the Na!n*ur reeds It is true that experienpicawting doubt on we werrabaalumut the optimum size of the university, and the universities which *** gtrat are larger than they experted to be 10 years ago. But there pa to ay huwth, and we must hope that where there were only a handsonally frot rate arndemle renters of vrience a generation ago and nay at a13 er 200 today, there will be 30 or 40 in another 15 years. Timely z boruwd support to the rising enters will be repaid many times over to mirty y Graduale duratum nerdo erpansion Molimme that the hasse structure of gradnate edhention is srund, we that university faculties ran do much to improve it. We believe that e despartant graduate degree for scientists will wontinue to be the Ph. I). v. te is the substance of kradunte training and not the formal title Do that roanta bat in our opinion there is not much point in denying the care of this particular degree as the outward symbol of advanced srientific Asaar bele report emphasizes, we believe that gradnate eduration leading MD bould include a genuine riperience of reaparrb It is errurienie ram that makes a man a solentist. We think this kind of graduate valu. |