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Physics funding—the evolving federal role

DEC 01, 1981
Fifty years ago, the US government funds devoted to research were negligible; now they are dominant—and the proposed cuts may drastically alter the way physics research is done.
Emanuel R. Piore

The role of the Federal government in support of physics has altered and grown over the last fifty years. In this article I will review the evolution of this role within the context of four time periods: about 1930 to 1940, 1940 to 1945 (World War II), 1945 to the present (post World War II); the fourth period is on the horizon as the administration in Washington strives for a balanced budget.

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More about the authors

Emanuel R. Piore, ONR.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 34, Number 12

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