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Robert Post Outlines Current Materials Focus at OSTP An unprecedented opportunity exists today in OSTP to focus on materials, according to Robert Post, assistant to the Présidents science adviser, from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Speaking March 15 at the qUarterly trustées' luncheon of the Fédération of Materials Societies (FMS), Post described the materials aspects of OSTP's current activities. OSTP is looking at materials issues in three ways, through COMAT, PCAST, and the NCMC, he said. Based in OSTP, COMAT (Committee on Materials) represents an interagency coordination function for materials. PCAST (Présidents Council of Advisers for Science and Technology), chaired by Presidential science adviser Allan Bromley, is currently framing issues for the Président, one of them being materials. The NCMC (National Critical Materials Council) is due for rejuvenation, and Bromley now chairs that body. "With COMAT functioning with respect to agency interests, with PCAST having direct access to the Président, and with the Critical Materials Council garnering input from the industrial sector for the recommendation of policy, a great deal of materials-relevant activity is and will be ongoing at OSTP/' said Post. COMAT is preparing a "research and development crosscut" to assess materialsrelated activities from ail parts of the fédéral government, and Post anticipated the inclusion of state-funded and, to some extent, private-funded R&D in the assessment. Lyle Schwartz of N1ST leads this effort. "OSTP views materials as a key enabling technology, critical in many Systems," said Post, also noting that "a relatively small fraction of the R&D in materials is funded by the fédéral government." The majority of support and activity cornes from industry and résides in industry, primarily in médium- and small-sized companies. Thèse companies, said Post, hâve not had a cohérent voice in formulating materials policies. In identifying goals for the nation, Post included the continuation of long-term R&D support for development of the knowledge base and increased attention to commercialization of R&D results with emphasis on the synthesis and processing aspects highlighted in the récent National Académies' survey. Concerning the Académies' MS&E Study, said Post, it was Bromley who encouraged the Académies to hold régional meetings around the country to assess the
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appropriate means for implementing recommendations to the Study and to détermine appropriate rôles for government, industry and university sectors. The régional meetings are expected to define issues which will be correlated at the national level and presented as a distillation of materials science and engineering needs. In closing, Post noted that the key to success for the efforts now being initiated will be the development of a continuing process of évaluation which will involve, among other things, updating the référence documents presently being prepared. For example, the COMAT survey, which crosscuts ail government agencies, will be
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