DEC5 1963
UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA 4

The College

 

Division or Biotocy 3 December 1963

Dr. S. Fox

Dr. N. Horowitz

Dr. J. Lederbergp-
Dr. E. Levinthal

Dr. C. Pittendrigh
Dr, E. Pollard

Dr. O. Reynolds

Dr. W. Vishniac
Gentlemen:

I think you all are aware that the NASA program for sending life
detection experiments to Mars is beset with serious technical difficulties.
Some funding problems also are likely to become serious in the near
future. Both sorts of problems have long range budgetary and even
political implications. Workable solutions will depend in large measure
on support for NASA's exobiological objectives which only the scientific
community can provide. Critical budgetary decisions probably will be
influenced heavily by the interest shown by biologists, for that in turn
influences attitudes of the press and the public and, ultimately, of
Congress and the President. The support of biologists on scientific
grounds of course depends on the program being adequate not only in its
objectives but in its scope and cost relative to other uses of funds
allocated to space research.

I think it would be helpful if we talk over these matters as a group,
explore areas of concern to exobiology and to biologists, and try to
identify courses of action which we can implement or support directly.

Since most of us are going to be attending the Bioscience Subcommittee
meeting on the West Coast next week, that would be a good time for us to
get together for an evening's discussion. Dr. Josh Lederberg is saving
the evening of 12 December for this purpose and no conflicting meetings of
the Subcommittee are scheduled for that evening. We shall probably meet
at Rickey's, where most of us are staying, but the time and place is not
yet settled. At this point, I ask you only to save the evening of the 12th
for this discussion.

XERO

AER? ERO
pea XERO
C OnE.
Probably it will be best if we keep the session informal rather than
make it a part of NASA sponsored Bioscience Subcommittee activities.

Sincerely,

Allan H. Brown, Chairman
Life Sciences Committee, S. S. B.

P.S, Enclosed is a statement of views written by Colin Pittendrigh
which may provide something for you to chew on prior to our discussion
on the 12th,

: XERO XERO KERO _
sory ARBY XERO ERC