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ICSU has played an important role in the deliberations of the various
member international scientific unions, largely concerned with basic
science, and with such matters as nomenclature, fundamental standards,
etc., as well as specific scientific research requiring more than single-
nation activity.
lith the establishment of various United Nations organizations --
in particular, UNESCO and TMO (World Neteorological Organization) --
ICSU and these organizations deemed it appropriate to clarify their re-
lationships. Accordingly, in January, 1947, an agreement was established
between ICSU and UNESCO, calling in part for mutual recognition and
consideration, and reciprocal representation.
The undertaking of the International Geophysical Year by ICSU has
proceeded with knowledge of the activity on the part of UNESCO, and
direct participation in the planning by WMO. The scope and magnitude
of the program, however, precludes substantial UNESCO support, although
UNESCO plans to assist the ICSU secretariat to at least the extent of
$5,000 this coming, and $12,000 the following, year. Moreover, the
nature of the program, W hile calling for international collaboration on
a scientific level, does not envisage international collaboration on a
political or financial level. In part, this is so because of the mag-
nitude of the program: it is estimated that the overall international
program may reach 3100 million, a sum exceeding many tirest the funds
available to UNESCO; and, in part, because each Nation's program is
conceived of as within the prerogatives and total jurisdiction and option
of that particular country, the scope and magnitude of such programs de-
pending upon the interests and needs of each nation. In short, the
pattern is primarily one of unilateral activity, but coordinated into
multilateral activity because significant advantages are to be gained
from simultaneity of observations and exchange of information.
Description of the United States Program
National Science Foundation
On November 25, 1953, following informal discussions with members
of the U. S. National Committee for the International Geophysical Year,
the committee working on the program, the National Science Foundation
received a letter 'rom the Chairman of the National Research Council,
briefly describing the proposal and requesting the Foundation "to take
responsibility for obtaining and administering Government funds for the
contemplated work." in the course of this letter, the Council pointed
out: "In transmitting this recommendation
to you, we are mindful of
the advantages of integrated planning and of a unitary presentation for
financial support. It seems wholly appropriate to recommend that
the Foundation, as the civilian agency with the broadest scientific
responsibilities in the Federal Government, be requested to act as the
channel through which the integrated program is administered."
In response to this request, arrangements were made for represent-
atives from the National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council,
including members of the U. S. National Committee, to appear before the
- 3 -
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"ocrText": "ICSU has played an important role in the deliberations of the various\nmember international scientific unions, largely concerned with basic\nscience, and with such matters as nomenclature, fundamental standards,\netc., as well as specific scientific research requiring more than single-\nnation activity.\nlith the establishment of various United Nations organizations --\nin particular, UNESCO and TMO (World Neteorological Organization) --\nICSU and these organizations deemed it appropriate to clarify their re-\nlationships. Accordingly, in January, 1947, an agreement was established\nbetween ICSU and UNESCO, calling in part for mutual recognition and\nconsideration, and reciprocal representation.\nThe undertaking of the International Geophysical Year by ICSU has\nproceeded with knowledge of the activity on the part of UNESCO, and\ndirect participation in the planning by WMO. The scope and magnitude\nof the program, however, precludes substantial UNESCO support, although\nUNESCO plans to assist the ICSU secretariat to at least the extent of\n$5,000 this coming, and $12,000 the following, year. Moreover, the\nnature of the program, W hile calling for international collaboration on\na scientific level, does not envisage international collaboration on a\npolitical or financial level. In part, this is so because of the mag-\nnitude of the program: it is estimated that the overall international\nprogram may reach 3100 million, a sum exceeding many tirest the funds\navailable to UNESCO; and, in part, because each Nation's program is\nconceived of as within the prerogatives and total jurisdiction and option\nof that particular country, the scope and magnitude of such programs de-\npending upon the interests and needs of each nation. In short, the\npattern is primarily one of unilateral activity, but coordinated into\nmultilateral activity because significant advantages are to be gained\nfrom simultaneity of observations and exchange of information.\nDescription of the United States Program\nNational Science Foundation\nOn November 25, 1953, following informal discussions with members\nof the U. S. National Committee for the International Geophysical Year,\nthe committee working on the program, the National Science Foundation\nreceived a letter 'rom the Chairman of the National Research Council,\nbriefly describing the proposal and requesting the Foundation \"to take\nresponsibility for obtaining and administering Government funds for the\ncontemplated work.\" in the course of this letter, the Council pointed\nout: \"In transmitting this recommendation\nto you, we are mindful of\nthe advantages of integrated planning and of a unitary presentation for\nfinancial support. It seems wholly appropriate to recommend that\nthe Foundation, as the civilian agency with the broadest scientific\nresponsibilities in the Federal Government, be requested to act as the\nchannel through which the integrated program is administered.\"\nIn response to this request, arrangements were made for represent-\natives from the National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council,\nincluding members of the U. S. National Committee, to appear before the\n- 3 -"
}