Renewing U.S. Mathematics A Plan for the 1990s (1990) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
A Executive Summary of the 1984 Report
A Executive Summary of the 1984 Report
Pages 77-86
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 77... ...
Preliminary evidence presented to the Assembly by its Office of Mathematical Sciences had suggested that in the nation's major universities external support for mathematics had lagged considerably behind corresponding support in other fields of science. The evidence was sufficiently dramatic that the charge to the Committee contained more emphasis on financial support than is usual for a review of the health of a scientific fielcl.
|
From page 78... ...
The injection of federal funds into universities, combined with a pervasive sense of the importance of research, attracted numbers of the best young minds in the country into science and mathematics and propelled the United States into world leadership in the mathematical sciences. The field expanded and diversified enormously during this period.
|
From page 79... ...
Major research opportunities for the future exist in the study of nonlinear phenomena, discrete mathematics, probabilistic analysis, the mathematics of computation, the geometry of three- and four-dimensional manifolds, and many other areas.3 The infusion of mathematics into society will continue and accelerate, creating further opportunities and increased demand for mathematical scientists.
|
From page 80... ...
Our Committee has found the support situation in mathematics to be worse than the preliminary evidence suggested: Since the [ate 1960s, support for mathematical sciences research in the United States has declined substantially in constant dollars, and has come to be markedly out of balance with support for related scientific and technological efforts. Because of the growing reliance of these efforts on mathematics, strong action must be taken by the Administration, Congress, universities, and the mathematical sciences community to bring the support back into balance and provide for the future of the field.
|
From page 81... ...
increases in NSF funding in the years 1970-72 and thereafter, as well as support from other agencies; mathematics did not.6 This resulted in the present imbalance between support for mathematics and related sciences: Comparisons of Federal Support in Institutions of Higher Education for Three Fields of Science, 1980 Mathematical Chemistry Physics Sclences Doctoral scientists in R&D Faculty with primary or secondary activity in R&D Faculty in R&D federally supported Approximate annual Ph.D. production Graduate research assistants federally supported Postdoctorals federally supported 9,800 7,600 3,300 1,500 3,700 2,500 9,200 6,000 3,300 800 2,900 1,200 9,100 8,400 2,300 800 200 50 SOURCES: NRC Survey of Doctoral Recipients, National Science Board Status of Science Review.
|
From page 82... ...
These were often labelled "mathematical research" in federal support data. The category grew rapidly, masking the fact that support for fundamental research in the mathematical sciences shrank.
|
From page 83... ...
FUTURE SUPPORT A The Needs of Research Mathematical Scientists The research community in the mathematical sciences is concentrated heavily at academic institutions spread throughout the country.
|
From page 84... ...
We estimate that the federal support needed to strengthen mathematical research and graduate education is about $100 million more per year than the FY 1984 level of $78 million. Significant additional resources are needled in each of the six basic categories we identified earlier.
|
From page 85... ...
Since there is about a 15year delay between the entry of young people into the field and their attainment of the expected high level of performance, this decade of neglect alarms us. We urge immediate strong action, in the form of a five-year "ramping up" of federal support for the mathematical sciences (18% real growth annually, for five years)
|
From page 86... ...
The disparity is reflected in the working circumstances of their mathematical faculties and graduate students. As added resources become available, they must be used in part to ease the strain on the mathematical science departments, which embody mathematical research in the United States.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.