U.S., Soviets Explore New Basic Science Pact

New YORK - The Soviet Union is considering proposals for a new science agreement with the United States that would replace a 1972 agreement that was allowed to lapse. The new agreement could he the highlight of this summer's superpower summit, if the two sides are unable to complete work by that time on a treaty to cut in half the number of strategic nuclear weapons. Negotiations on a basic sciences agreement could begin within several weeks, according to Rd Mcsweegan a microbiologist at the National Institutes of Health. As a AAAS fellow last year McSweegan was a member of the State Department team that visited Moscow last October for exploratory talks. American negotiators have proposed two significant changes in any future agreement with the Soviets. "We want it to be 'the basics,' said McSweegan "It's going to be in geology earth sciences, chemistry, life sciences, to take advantage of same of the fields where the Soviets are world-class," US. officials also envision a streamlined process that will allow individual scientists, no matter where they work, to initiate proposals for joint projects. The emphasis on pure science was controversial during exploratory talks last year, McSweegan said. The Soviet Site Committee for Science and Technology at first argued for restoration of the 1972 Umbrella Science and Technology Agreement, with access to applied science and technology. But another faction. represented by the Soviet Academy of Sciences, recognized the benefits of conducting basic research with American scientists. "I suppose on another level," McSweegan added, "The Soviet Academy members looked on it as a way of staving off pressure from Gorbachev to get more involved in applied R&D." An NSF official who requested anonymity agreed that the proposed pact should reduce the role of the bureaucracy with its attendant delays, added expense and political baggage. NSF would be the primary coordinating and funding body for U.S. scientists under the new agreement, with additional funding from the U.S. Geological Survey. Must scientists who have worried under the 1972 agreement were sorry to see it lapse in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the imposition of martial law in Poland and the downing of the KAL jetliner. But their experience was not universally positive. "Very often American scientific societies would send an invitation to send. let's say, five scientists." recalled Gerson Shere, a senior project manager at NSF. "They would name them. And then the group that actually came was quite different." Helen Whiteley of the University of Washington chaired the U.S. side of the microbiology working group under the 1972 agree ment. She also found problems with the kinds of scientists the Soviets were allowing to participate."The Russians were almost always heavily represented by administrative types, who were years away from the bench. The people we wanted to see were the scientists doing the work." But blame for the agreement's failures should be shared, said Arthur Bergles, an engineering pro fessor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who helped to set up a cooperative program in heat and mass transfer that was frozen after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. He found cumbersome the State Department-NSF committee that oversaw the exchanges. P> "Prospective collaborators would have to propose, convince the program manager and. of course, the peer reviewer that this was a worthy technical endeavor." Bergies said. "You've also got the program manager's feelings as to whether he wants to spend money supporting a Soviet scientist." Said Whiteley, "I started out thinking all the delays were going to be Soviet delays. But our State Department could be very slow in making some decisions, too." The peer review process itself could be a sticking point for the Soviets. "They don't understand peer review," said Bergles. "So they could never understand why we had a problem living up to our side of the bargain. All we could agree on was 'principle' and 'best efforts.' The proposed agreement is likely to face opposition in the United States. "There are allot of people in this town," McSweegan said, "who would love to torpedo it before it even leaves the dock."One obstacle is the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. McSweegan sees OSTP as bastion of resistance concerned more with the of American technology and know-how than with any gains in American scientists from international corporations . OSTP officials familiar with the negotiations refused to comment on the matter.But most US. participants seem to be in favor of strengthening ties with the Soviets. "I'm very much in favor," Whiteley said, "of people actually coming to this country, and our people going there to work. It's not only a scientific education, it's a political and cultural education." Stec is Soviet Affairs correspondent for the United Stations Radio Networks. BY JEFFREY MERVIS Washington-Once more, with feeling. That's how officials at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences seem to view a cooperative agreement with the Soviet Academy of Sciences. They hope the new five year agreement will lead to a more productive exchange of scientists than occurred under a nearly identical two-year pact that would have expired in April. "The impact of perestroika and glasnost was visible to our discussions," said NAS President Frank Press on his return from Moscow after signing the agreement January, 12 with his counterpart, Guriy Marchuk. "That attitude, combined with their promise of a more relaxed position on the refuseniks, point to greater openness in the relationship." In addition to annual meetings of the top officers of each academy, the agreement provides for: *Exchanges between other academy members involving at least six scholars from each side for two to four weeks. with an unspecified number of additional participants invited by the host country. *Eight workshops in the next two years with 10 scientists from each country chosen by organizers from a list approved by both academies; *A half dozen or so cooperative research projects, with topics and arrangements mutually agreed upon by each side; * Individual exchanges for as long as one year of up to 20 scientists annually from each country; *pledge of support for organizations and individuals seeking to serve as hosts for a range of activities not connected to either academy. Although none of these programs is new, the level of activity in the past two years was somewhat lower than NAS officials had hoped. For example, only one of four workshops scheduled under the previous agreement has been held, that being a meeting on condensed matter theory in December in Santa Barbara, Calif. The three other, plus four additional ones, are expected to take place this year. Beyond the Gates Because the agreement concentrates on those scientists and institutions affiliated with each academy, its scope is limited. Only 1 in 10 Soviet scientists works for an institute operated by the Soviet academy, and it traditionally has been difficult for U.S. scientists to visit, or host, scientists working at universities or institutes operated by one of the Soviet government ministries. The agreement pledges both parties to "facilitate the reception of scientists at institutes and research facilities located outside the jurisdiction of each side." And U.S. NAS officials are optimistic that the promise will be kept. "They suggested that travel restrictions will diminish," said Press. "and they offered to help us gain access to non-academy institutions." Any scientist Who wishes to participate next year in individual exchanges with Soviet colleagues or those in other Eastern Bloc countries must submit an application by the end of the month. All other exchange activities are initiated by NAS. including invitations to participate in workshops and cooperative research. Each side has agreed to evaluate after two years the scientific merits of the exchange and the degree to which its terms have been followed. A successful evaluation will extend the agreement for three more years. For more information contact The National Research Council's Office Of International Affairs 2101 Constitution Ave. Washington D.C. 20455; 12021334-2644.

U.S., Soviets Explore New Basic Science Pact

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