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We read much about and are beginning to experience the severe shortfall in numbers of bright young people who are capable

of, and opting for, careers in mathematics, science and

engineering.

Coming needs for well prepared people, in the laboratories and plants which must plan to rescue the U.S. from severe shortages of energy, number far beyond the count of young people who will be emerging from the pipeline when needed. A disaster threatens in energy, as in all fields of science and technology.

The BES research program, in universities and in many projects at national laboratories, depends on faculty-guided efforts of graduate students and postdoctoral people in the very areas of science and engineering which will be crucial to economic and environmentally acceptable energy supply and conservation.

Therefore, as an essential part of the pipeline of wellprepared people in exactly those disciplines needed for continued energy viability, the BES program should be encouraged in every way possible, including providing for the full (though still constrained) BES request for FY 1990.

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SUMMARY

The Council for Chemical Research, for two reasons, urges that the Congress allow the full FY 1990 budget request of the Depart-ment of Energy's Basic Energy Sciences program. The $590 million request is 2.5% above the FY 1989 figure in real dollars, but it still falls short of the acutely growing need for new energy knowledge and for building, equipping and operating DOE's unique facilities for use of the U.S. scientific and engineering communities.

The Council's two

reasons for strong support of the BES request are (1) the bleak energy future now faced by the U.S., unless we move to add abundantly to our knowledge and put it to use, and (2) the vital training role of BES research, to help counter the

severe shortfall of well-prepared people in science and engineering, especially in energy fields.

Chairman Ford and Members of the Subcommittee, we thank you for your attention to our views. We hope that we have been helpful on a most important matter.

Respectfully yours,

Gubben Livel

C. Judson King
Chairman

Executive Summary and Recommendations

FRONTIERS IN
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

RESEARCH NEEDS
AND OPPORTUNITIES

Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers:
Research Needs and Opportunities

Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology

Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources
National Research Council

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C. 1988

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Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers: Research Needs and Opportunities