Science and the Public Sector: A National Policy Overview

Abstract

Until recently, there has been little need for the scientist this country to question whether his work was useful. First, industry enlisted his knowledge and talents the search for new products. Then the Federal government began purchasing his services on a large scale. In the past two decades (19531973) for instance, the Federal government's expenditures for research and development (R&D) more than quadrupled. The Federal demand for R&D, however, has been leveling off. In the past ten years, although total Federal outlays approximately doubled, Federal R&D rose only 46 percenta. At the same time, Federal support of R&D programs of State and local government has been rising. Between 1965 and 1970, for instance, these disbursements increased from 45 million dollars to 99 million dollars and between 1970 and 1973 the amount doubled againb. This reversal the trend of Federal R&D expenditures can be expected to continue. It is keeping with the New Federalism policy which puts a premium on transferring money and responsibility for government programs to the State and local level. For the scientist and researcher, as well as for the government policymaker, this trend has brought a period of great uncertainty and flux. On the one hand, we are being told that the products of science must be brought more immediately to bear on the solution of domestic civil sector problems which are primarily the responsibility of State and local governments. Yet our reception the State capitols and city halls is often less than enthusiastic. As one former Governor put it, the idea of simply transferring our know-how from war and space needs to such problems as poverty, law enforcement, equal educational opportunities and environmental deterioration did not work0. The Council of State Governments its 1972 study found that although State governments have a growing need for technological innovation to increase productivity delivering services, they are in the main, poorly organized to perform the analysis and specification work needed for developing public technology.d In the cities, the level of technology for performing many local government services has been described as archaic.' Yet there is no question that State and local governments need the technology and knowledge that scientists have to