piner@pur-phy.UUCP (Richard Piner) (01/18/86)
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 1986 4:24 PM EST Msg: JGIG-2159-7657 From: RPARK To: WHATSNEW Subj: What's New, 17 January 1986 Washington, DC 1. MERIT REVIEW IN THE AWARD OF RESEARCH FUNDING received an heroic endorsement from the President of Cornell University, Frank Rhodes. An amendment, introduced by Senator Hatfield (R-Ore.) to the continuing resolution for the Department of Defense, provided $10 million for supercomputer development. These funds were identified in the conference report with Cornell University, but in a respectful but firm message to members of Congress, Rhodes declared that "Cornell University will not accept funding awards which bypass normal review procedures." Cornell had already submitted a proposal for such a computer through normal channels, but is unwilling to accept the supercomputer if a circumvention of normal agency review procedures is involved. This stand on principal is in marked contrast to numerous other universities that have been all too willing to jeopardize the merit review process by direct appeals to Congress. (See for example other reports in W.N. 3 Jan 86, 13 Dec 85, 26 Jul 85, 12 Jul 85, 24 May 85, 25 Jan 85.) 2. THE LONG-AWAITED PACKARD-BROMLEY REPORT on the health of U.S. universities and colleges was presented at an open meeting of the White House Science Council this morning in draft form. Although Edward Teller, a member of the Council, emphasized that there has been little opportunity for the Council to study the report or to have input to the Packard-Bromley panel, indications from council chairman Solomon Buchsbaum and Acting White House Science Advisor, John McTague, were that the report would be accepted with only minor changes. The report concludes that "Our universities today simply cannot respond to society's expectations for them, or discharge their national responsibilities in research and education, without substantially increased support." Many of the specific recommendations contained in the report, such as changes in indirect cost reimbursement and the establishment of university-based research and technology centers, are essentially identical to recommendations that have been coming out of OSTP and NSF in recent months. (See for example W.N. 27 Dec 85, 29 Nov 85.) Indeed, one of the most intriguing questions is why the draft report was released now--just days before the President announces his sequestration order for FY 86 funds and his Gramm-Rudman constrained budget for FY 87, and only a month after the departure of Keyworth. The release of the report has been expected for many months, but it is unusual for a draft version to be presented in an open meeting. Robert L. Park (202) 429-1946 American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 1/17/86