WHOI-90-52

should make it easier to coordinate federal efforts and give tehnology concerns the prominence
they deserve. By creating the NGA Working Group, the states established a focal point for state
interactions; the Undersereta is the obvious foc point on the federal side. The states await
the fillng of this position with great interest.
Second, the federal governnt must tak more responsibilty for the quality of U. S. education.
The deficiencies in the nation's schools in adequately preparng its students for caeers in science
and technology have been sufficiently documente by literaly hundreds of reports. High
technology companies complain that they must stea personnel from one another because too few
qualified individuals are emerging from the educational system, that many of the best graduates
of science and engineering programs are foreigners who return home and that far to few women
and minorities are receiving tehnica training. What is eventualy at stae, in the words of
MIT's Philp Morrson, is the "essence of democracy" dividing our soiety into "islands of the
trained... with a se of onlookers--bemuse, indifferent and even hostile. "
NSF is working to reverse these disturbing trends, but it nees more resources to do the job.
NSF's 1990 budget request for its traditional programs for students and faculty at the
undergraduate through postdoctoral
levels should be considered a minimum. In addition, NSF's
pending plan to provide financial support to states that are undertng comprehensive K-12
school reforms deserves, and I am please to report, has recived, Congressional support and
funding.
Equally importt are NSF's efforts to assist minorities through increase university fellowships,
resech assistatships for high school students, planning grats for applicants and the newly
created minority resech centers of excellence program.
Scientific literacy for all Americas should be the nation's long-term goal. As the leading
federal agency for improving science and math education, NSF should be given the resources
it nees to se that this goal is reached. It seems incredible to me that a countr that ca put
men on the moon and send a satellte to Neptune canot educate its citizens to be able to compete
in a world that is rapidly being transformed by science and tehnology.
Third, thefederal governnt should increase its investmnt in researchfacUities and equipment.
The federal share of capita spending for university resech facilties has fallen from more than
20 percent in the 1960's and 1970's to less than 10 percent today. NSF estimates that the bil
for presently neeed repairs or renovations wil come to $3.6 bilion--more than four times what
universities have budgeted. In addition, universities nee $8.1 bilion to build new facilities, but
they have less than a third of the necessa funds. Only the federal government has the resources
to meet such a large shortfalL.
Congress has begun to respond by authorizing a 5-yea $800 milion academic resech facilties
modernization program administered by NSF to fund repairs, renovations and, in exceptional
cases, replacement of obsolete science and engineering facilties. Universities wil have to
provide 20-50 percent matching funds, no award ca exce $7 milion, and preference wil go
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