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WHAT'S NEW (Bob says), Friday, 25 Dec 92           Washington, DC

1. PCAST BOWS OUT WITH SOBERING REPORT ON RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES.
The system of research-intensive universities will not continue
to grow as it has, according to a report released Monday by the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and it
is time to adapt to a new "constrained-resource environment." The
report urges universities to adopt a more selective strategy. It
would be better to eliminate some departments or programs, the
panel says, than to sustain less than world-class activities in
every area.  Some of the harshest language is reserved for those
universities that indulge in academic pork.  Indeed, the panel
calls for ALL federal basic research funds to be allocated on a
merit review basis--including basic research at national labs.

2. "A FOOLISH CONSISTENCY IS THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS,"
according to Emerson.  Consistency is not generally a problem in
Washington.  Thus, while PCAST urges agencies "to refrain from
programs that would increase the research capacity of the system
of research universities," NSF's Current Operating Plan, which
was approved earlier this week (WN 18 Dec 92), includes $25M for
Experimental Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research.  EPSCOR
is intended to develop new research capacity in states receiving
relatively small amounts of federal research money. But EPSCOR is
also meant to satisfy the craving for academic pork.  Alas, it's
only an hors d'oeuvre; 18 states are eligible for EPSCOR, but
$25M is less than the earmarks for Wheeling Jesuit College alone.

3. IT'S NOT JUST CONGRESS -- EXECUTIVE-BRANCH PORK JUST AS SWEET.
DOE just announced an $8M grant to complete a Graduate Research
Center at Clark Atlanta University.  Since 1986, DOE has provided
$22.4M for the Center, which will conduct research and education
in "waste management."  They appear to be perfectly positioned.

4. THE NSF OPERATING PLAN SHOULD KEEP RESEARCH CAPACITY IN CHECK.
The emphasis is on "strategic research," which translates to the
seven "Presidential Initiatives": manufacturing research, up 19%;
advanced materials and processing, up 14%; biotechnology, up 9%,
high-performance computing, up 13%; global change, up 15%.  Where
did it come from?: astronomy, down 8%; physics, down 7%; no new
Science and Technology Centers and no increase in support levels.
The plan, contained in a letter from Walter Massey to Congress,
also raises the possibility of "furloughs" for NSF employees.

5. EDDIE CURRENTS: "DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN" FIGHTS EMF COVER-UP!
A new Hollywood film features Eddie Murphy as a two-bit shill who
gets into Congress (nothing new here). His epiphany comes when he
meets a bald eight-year old who got cancer from a power line that
runs by the playground.  Does he dismiss the kid with a nod and
Rogaine--or launch a crusade from his rookie seat on a fictitious
Power and Industry Committee?  Et tu Murphae!  If Murphy had kept
up with What's New (WN 20 Nov 92), we might have been spared.

Robert L. Park  (202) 662-8700      The American Physical Society

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