Applying science and technology to development

institutions to focus on development needs. The project will be implemented by the National Academy of Science"s (NAS) Board on Science and Technology for International Development (BOSTID). The project will focus on scientific and technological aspects of problems related to health and human welfare, energy, increased food production, resource conservation and use, industrialization and employment (particularly rural), and development policy and planning. Program activities will be truly collaborative, based on personal contact between LDC scientists, engineers, and administrators and their U.S. counterparts. Research involving development engineering, pilot projects, and field testing will be emphasized. Implementation will consist of four integrated elements: (1) selective grants, overseen by the project-established Committee on Research Grants (CRG), to directly support R&D on high priority problems not currently receiving significant attention; (2) overseas workshops, seminars, advisory groups, and linkage activities; (3) studies on specific development problems, policy issues, and innovative technological applications; and (4) mechanisms such as seminars and panels to inform A.I.D. of important developments. Every effort will be made to include women, minority group members, and LDC participants on study and advisory panels and to fully utilize NAS resources. CRG grant criteria will stress: (1) program areas related to NAS activities or identified by NAS advisors; (2) both immediate and long-range problems; (3) institution strengthening in LDC"s (but not institution building); and (4) research done in LDC"s. Grants may be made in middle-income countries if the projects collaborate with LDC institutions or deal with a widespread LDC problem. The first 2 years will be devoted to identifying sound R&D projects and grantee institutions, developing a plan to allocate funds among research areas, and starting projects. Thereafter, at least 50% of funding will be for research grants and the rest for overseas activities, study reports, reports to A.I.D., and staffing.