TIMOTHY JOHNSON: [Where] do the researchersof tomorrow come from today?
Are we developing adequately, in this country,a research program that will be in place 20
years from now, as well as next year?
We hear criticism, for example, that we havebeen, by decreasing funds and in other ways,
slowly dismantling our research establishmentto the point that in 20 years we may be facing
some disasters.
What kinds of plans are being made for thefuture?
DONALD S. FREDRICKSON: Well, we're holdingat about steady in size.
I don't think it's shrinking, but it's notgrowing very much.
Research is costly; inflation is somethingwe just manage to keep up with.
Each year, the National Institutes of Healthare the major trainers of a large number of
people--young people--some of them lookingfor the PhD degree, some in the medical degree,
and some not for doctorate degrees but forother roles to play.
So the federal government is taking a veryactive role in helping in meeting costs of
training, and we're keeping up.
But it's not an easy thing, because researchis getting more difficult.
It's a full-time career, and you've got tobe sure that when you embark upon it you will
have adequate support and opportunity to makethat your whole lifetime once you start.