WHAT'S NEW, Friday, 22 September 1989 Washington, DC
1.
THE NORMAL DURATION OF NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT
is being studied, as the shortage of funds for new starts remains a
critical problem in areas of basic science. To the top brass at
NSF, the obvious solution is to drop some of the older (I prefer
"more experienced") scientists who have been getting support for
years. The Physics Division in particular has a high proportion
of prior committments that make it difficult to fund new starts.
John Moore, a Hoover Institute economist who serves as deputy to
Erich Bloch, is looking into it. Sandra Toye, Controller, says
that no thought is being given to a fixed cutoff. However, if
the duration of NSF support becomes a consideration in the grant
renewal process, it moves the NSF in the direction of becoming a
seed-money agency. Who then would provide long-term support?
2
. NO STRINGS WERE ATTACHED TO THE MAGNETIC FUSION APPROPRIATION
for FY 90 (WN 15 Sep 89); it
was left to the Secretary of Energy
to decide how to use the $330M. It won't be used for construction
of the Compact Ignition Tokamak, if the controversial director of
the Office of Energy Research, Robert Hunter Jr, has his way. The
Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee,
Robert Roe (D-NJ), who was not happy with the authority given to
DOE by the Conference Report, lashed out at the Appropriations
Committee on the floor of the House. Roe defended the progress of
the magnetic fusion program and the need for the CIT. Hunter, a
Reagan holdover, wants magnetic confinement research to go back
to basics and stop building big machines. He has proposed the
transfer of $50M from magnetic to inertial confinement research.
3. THE STATE DEPARTMENT REMAINS OPPOSED TO REJOINING UNESCO
in spite of a change in leadership. Amadou M'bow, the controversial
Director General whose policies led to the withdrawl of the US
and UK, was replaced last November by a distinguished Spanish
biochemist, Frederico Mayor. In hearings before a House Committee
on Tuesday, however, witnesses were sharply devided over Mayor's
reform efforts. John Bolton, Assistant Secretary of State, took
aim at UNESCO's policies on freedom of information. A New World
Information and Communication Order was promoted by UNESCO to
"balance" what was viewed as media coverage biased against the
third world, by promoting biased reporting that favors the third
world. Bolton claimed Mayor only denounces NWICO when he is
speaking in the US or UK. Other witnesses took a more positive
view of Mayor's reforms, but the Washington Post reported only on
Bolton's testimony, confirming the third world view. Frank Press,
of the National Academy of Sciences argued: "We cannot be players
on the international scene if we are standing on the sidelines."
4. THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA,
Oct 1, will be marked by a government organized celebration in Tiananmen
Square. In the United States, the Chinese Students Association
plans for 10,000 demonstrators in front of the Chinese Embassy.
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