Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1974 (2. évfolyam, 3-5. szám)
1974 / 3. szám
HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER UNITED STATES- HUNGARIAN SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION In HSN nos. 1 and 2, we made efforts to review various professional and academic exchange and support programs now in existence between the U.S. and Hungary. In this issue we continue to report on both, governmental and private programs. N S F The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the U.S. Government, created by the Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. As part of its obligation to encourage international scientific and technological cooperation, the NSF administers a program in support of cooperation between scientists, engineers, scholars, and institutions of research and higher learning of the U.S. and Hungary. On July 7, 1972, an “Agreement on Scientific Cooperation Between the Institute for Cultural Relations of the Hungarian People’s Republic and the National Science Foundation of the United States of America” was signed in Budapest by Dr. T.B. Owen, Assistant Director for National and International Programs of the NSF, and Dr. Endre Rosta, President of the Institute for Cultural Relations (Kulturális Kapcsolatok Intézete - KKI). The Agreement provides for support of (1) cooperative research projects designed jointly and conducted collaboratively by scientists of the Ü.S. and Hungary; (2) small seminars in either country to exchange scientific information and ideas or to explore opportunities for collaborative research; and (3) short scientific visits for purposes of professional consultation and planning of cooperative scientific activities. Proposals in any branch of science and technology, including basicand applied aspects of the natural sciences and mathematics and the engineering sciences, business administration, and education. Thesocial sciences are not included by name in the NSF-KKI Agreement, but it is expected that application of the disciplines of the social sciences to societal problem areas which are addressed also by other disciplines of the natural sciences or engineering may be encouraged and supported within the Program. In general, Program activities are generated by direct scientist-to-scientist contact for project formulaton and proposal preparation, resulting in concurrent submissions by the interested American and Hungarian investigators of their respective proposals to the NSF and to the KKI. Each side administers its aspect of the Program in accordance with four general guidelines: (a) scientists of both Hungary and the U.S. must participate in éach project; (b) the responsible agencies of both the U.S. and Hungary must approve each project; (c) each country supports the cost of research and other scientific activities taking place within its territory, as well as the salaries and international travel of its own participants; and, (d) contributions of the U.S. and Hungary should be equitable. NSF funds allocated for support of cooperation with Hungary are provided to finance costs directly attributableto collaboration, but not to finance the basic costs of the underlying research in which the participants will engage; the underlying research of U.S. investigators may be financed from any other appropriate source, including, but not confined to, other research support programs of the Foundation. In the first year of the Agreement’s existence, four research projects have been implemented and are currently active. These are: (1) Luden Duckstein, Dept, of Systems and Industrial Engineering, U. of Arizona, Tucson, and István Bogárdi, Hungarian Water Resources Center, Budapest, on "Decision-Making Under Uncertainty in Hydrologic and Other Resource Systems;’’ (2) Edward A. Stanley, Dept, of Geology, U. of Georgia, Athens, and Miklós Kedves, U. of Szeged, on "Comparative Study of Normapolles Plant Microfossil Assemblages;" (3) Nicholas Grecz, Dept, of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, and József Farkas, Central Food Research Institute, Budapest, on "Biophysics and Biochemistry of Microorganisms;" and (4) James E. Boggs, Center for Structural Studies, U. of Texas, Austin, and István Hargittai, Center for Studies on Chemical Structures of the HAS, on "Molecular Structure Studies." The NSF has also supported short visits to Hungary by eight Americans for purposes of consultation or formulation of proposals with their Hungarian colleagues. Seven Hungarians were scheduled for U.S. visits commencing in the fall of 1973. The NSF’s Office of International Programs welcomes inquiries about potential cooperative projects, joint seminars, or scientific visits and will be pleased to provide further information. Write to Dr. Robert F. Hull, Program Manager, Office of International Programs, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550. (Telephone 202-632- 5756.) (Continued on page 4)
