NSF PR 97-73 - December 4, 1997
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Science Board Calls for Systematic R&D Priority-Setting
The National Science Board (NSB), concerned about
the future state of scientific research in the U.S.,
is calling for further study on how to set priorities.
In a working paper titled Government Funding
of Scientific Research, the Board calls for
"high-level coordination" of federally financed scientific
research, leading toward "systematic ways to reach
and prioritize decisions."
"With today's scarce resources, it is even more important
than ever that we reaffirm the validity of our Federal
science base, and act responsibly and intelligently
to direct it where it will do the most good," said
NSB Chairman Dick Zare. He emphasized that the working
paper "is not the final word, nor the end product,
of this process. It is meant to encourage much-needed
dialogue among appropriate stakeholders."
The paper points out that "there is no widely accepted
way for the Federal government in conjunction with
the scientific community to make priority decisions
about the allocation of resources in and across scientific
disciplines." It acknowledges previous studies and
discussions on the need to prioritize Federal R&D,
but points out that "no agreed upon method exists
for carrying out this task."
"Sometimes important decisions about the allocation
of limited resources happen by default, without explicitly
weighing of alternatives," the paper states. It adds,
however, that "further study is needed before a particular
methodology for setting priorities is adopted."
The board paper acknowledges the difficulty of the
task. "Although many scientists believe the task both
undesirable and undoable, the NSB believes that this
difficult task will become increasingly important
and must be faced over the next few years," it states.
The release of the working paper follows a resolution
in May in which the Board affirmed its support of
a balanced, integrated and coordinated Federal budget
for science and engineering research and education.
The Board is charged specifically to oversee the National
Science Foundation, and more generally to monitor
the health of science in the nation. The paper reflects
the Board's desire to engage more directly in the
second charge.
"We are asking difficult questions about a thorny
and controversial issue -- questions the Board believes
we must confront if we hope to achieve and follow
a coherent national science policy within the context
of constrained resources," said Zare.
Editors: The working paper is available at:
http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/documents/start.htm
The National Science Board (NSB) was established
by Congress in 1950 to serve both as an independent
national science policy body, and to oversee and guide
the activities of the National Science Foundation.
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