[soc.culture.japan] Kahaner Report: Office of Japan Affairs & Nat Science Foundation

rick@cs.arizona.edu (Rick Schlichting) (10/22/90)

  [Dr. David Kahaner is a numerical analyst visiting Japan for two-years
   under the auspices of the Office of Naval Research-Far East (ONRFE).  
   The following is the professional opinion of David Kahaner and in no 
   way has the blessing of the US Government or any agency of it.  All 
   information is dated and of limited life time.  This disclaimer should 
   be noted on ANY attribution.]

  [Copies of previous reports written by Kahaner can be obtained from
   host cs.arizona.edu using anonymous FTP.]

To: Distribution
From: David K. Kahaner ONRFE [kahaner@xroads.cc.u-tokyo.ac.jp]
Re: Information from Office of Japanese Affairs & Nat Science Foundation
Date: 17 Oct 1990

I. Office of Japanese Affairs.
In 1988 the National Research Council, the operating arm of both the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, 
established the Office of Japan Affairs. The primary objectives of OJA 
are to provide a resource to the Academy complex and the broader U.S. 
science and engineering communities for information on Japanese science 
and technolody, to promote better working relationships between the 
technical communities in the two countries by developing a process of 
deepened dialogue on issues of mutual concern, and to address policy 
issues surrounding a changing U.S.-Japan science and technology 
relationship. 

OJA's Director is Martha C. Harris. Ms. Harris has recently sent me 
copies of three reports from her office and I want to pass their titles 
on to all those interested in Japanese science. They are accurate and 
well written. 
 (1) Approaches to Robotics in the United States and Japan
 (2) Science, Technology, and the Future of the U.S.-Japan Relationship
 (3) Japanese to English Machine Translation (Report of a Symposium held 
      December 7, 1989).
For copies of these reports contact OJA at the address below.
 Office of Japan Affairs
 National Research Council
 2101 Constitution Ave, N.W.
 Washington DC 20418
 Telephone: (202) 334-2815

II. National Science Foundation.
Alex De Angelis, who was in Japan representing NSF from 1986 to 1989 
wrote to remind people about NSF's generous program to support U.S.  
scientists in Japan. I have met several of these researchers and I can 
attest that they are having both a professionally stimulating and a 
culturally fascinating experience.  A portion of his letter is reporduced 
below.  

I would like to let all the readers of your reports know that we here in 
the NSF Japan Program are quite eager to support research by American 
scientists and engineers who wish to visit Japanese corporate 
laboratories.  We have devised what I think is a very attractive package 
of support which can include up to 50% salary plus cost of living 
adjustment (example, if annual salary is $55,000 the cost of living 
adjustment for a family of 2 is $19,400.), education expenses for the 
children, round trip plane fare to Japan for the whole family, return 
fare for the P.I. half way during his/her visit to Japan so that they can 
keep in touch back home, internal travel in Japan for professional 
reasons, housing, support after returning to the U.S. for travel around 
the country to talk about their research experiences, etc.  

Anyone who is interested should contact me, Alex De Angelis, Senior 
Program Manager, Japan Program, National Science Foundation, 1800 G 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20550 (202)357-9558.  

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