German and American Academicians Gain Insights in Exchange

German and American leaders of academia and government came together at the National Academy of Sciences on December 14 and 15 to address “New Horizons in Research and Higher Education: Trends, Constraints, and Opportunities.” Speakers at this symposium of the German-American Academic Council (GAAC) found much in common, including concerns about an oversupply of PhDs; public attitudes toward science; budget pressures; declining support for long-term, basic research; increasing specialization within disciplines; the appropriate balance between university teaching and research; and how to shift limited funds to the most promising areas.

The first speaker was Frank Press, who has served as both Science Advisor to President Carter, and president of NAS. Press focused on the recent Academy report (see FYIs #171, #172) on federal R&D funding. He advocated a unified view of the U.S. federal science budget to optimize limited resources, but contended that “any proposal that tampers with” maintaining a strong S&T base in each of the mission agencies “would be a stupid thing to do.”

While Princeton University President Harold Shapiro noted that the American university system owes a lot to the German model, the German speakers found much to admire here. There was a consensus that German universities need to compete for projects and students to help raise quality. The Germans also praised the ability of American researchers to form their own companies. Cornelia Yzer, Parliamentary Secretary for the Education and Research Ministry, commended the U.S. venture capital market and stock market in promoting start-up companies.

Jurgen Mittelstrass of the University of Konstanz raised concerns about the balance between teaching and research which, in Germany, is weighted too heavily toward teaching. Gunter Stock of Schering AG pointed to the chronic underfunding of German education and academic infrastructure, and called for more and broader types of collaboration among industry, universities, and the public sector.

Among the American speakers, R. Thomas Weimer, staff director for the House Basic Research Subcommittee, pointed out that nearly 62 percent of the current Congress has served three years or less. He said, “If I were addressing a professional society...I would make the call for the need for continued education of these new Members and staffs.” While he did not regard new Members and the public as anti-science, he said “they are not prioritizing it above other elements.”

Reimar Lust, president of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, found in the Press report many “important points that we should take home.” He felt the best way to encourage German researchers to start up their own companies was for them to spend time in the U.S. While the older generation of scientists, and politicians, had spent significant time in America, he encouraged the Council to ensure that similar opportunities exist for the younger generation. “We must continue to learn from each other,” he concluded.